WAIRAU BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 51, 1 March 1923, Page 10

WAIRAU BRIDGE.

XOCAX. BODIES CONFER. NO DECISION REACHED. A report of a conference between local bodies interested in the erection of a new bridge over the Wairau Creek was presented to the Takapuna Borough Council last night. The conference was attended by Messrs. W. H. Hart, Gerald Jackson (engineer for Waitemata County Council). Councillor F. W. Suckling, and the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Gould), for Takapuna Borough Council, with Mr. F. E. Powell, engineer.

The Takapuna representatives produced a plan showing a route prepared by Mr. Powell and intimated that it was not advanced as a scheme desired by the Takapuna Borough Council, but as on* avoiding objectionable features of the bridge proposed by Mr. Jackson, in respect of which there was no possibility of agreement.

The cost of Mr. Powell's scheme (which had not yet been considered by the Takapuna Borough Council) was stated to be £9.200 for carriageway 24ft, asphalt path Bft wide, steel girder bridge and approaches and all filling, exclusiveof compensation. The Takapuna representatives stated that they would not recommend the council to contribute more than 20 per cent towards Mr. Powell's scheme and the Waitemata representatives refused to consider the alternative except on a 50-50 basis. The Takapuna representatives intimated that they would ask that the commission should be empowered to consider the alternative scheme. The Mayor informed the Borough Council last night that unless they were | prepared to advance on the offer they I had made the commission would proceed Jto deal with the matter. 1 The county council had committed the district to the site chosen by Mr. Jack- . s*n —but disapproved by Mr. Powell j before the borough was formed, but the municipal body wOUld still claim to be , heard before the commission on tliat question. If the commission decided that the borough should pay 50 per cent of the cost of whatever bridge was erected the payment would have to be made. The council was unanimous in opposing the suggested half-cost contribution, and adopted the report of the conference.