UNSAFE BRIDGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 269, 10 November 1923, Page 11

UNSAFE BRIDGES.

IN MATAMATA COUNTY. Tim iiues-km of repk-injr unsafe bridges with ooncrele wtruot-iire*. -H_s> <t_t?-__Bed by the Mata_n__a County Council on Friday, when Mr. Stofford drew attention to the fact that some time ago a report had been made condemning tome of the bridges. The bridge over the Waihou Blver near ColVey-'s old cheese factory ha<l been condemned by t_e late engineer, but notices informing the public of the fact had not been poeitod. There were many other unsafe bridges in the county. He pointed oivt t_wt tbe council should replace all these unsafe bridges with concrete ones and raise a, loan over -he whole eoun_y for the purpose. A policy of concrete, bridges should be considered, and be moved that the engineer go into the n_aibter and report regarding the bridges generally and the cost of replacing them where necessary. Mr. Darby, while he supported Mr. Stofford as to the necessity of froing thoroughly into the question of bridges, drew attention, however, to the met that the Public Works Department waa not building concrete bridges a.t Arapuni, but -were constructing in hardwood and ateel—he did not know the reason for this. The engineer «a_i __«.. the reason was because wooden bridges wero Cheaper, and by the time they commenced to rot they were out of the Government* handa and were the re_poas._4.ty of -he County Conociw. Mr. -Hofford'e motion waa carried.