NOT THIS SUMMER.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 257, 30 October 1929, Page 9

NOT THIS SUMMER.

NEW WHAU BRIDGE. HARBOUR BOARD'S WISHES. REFERENCE TO A CANAL. "I given up hope of the new bridge being erected this summer," remarked the Mayor of New Lynn (Mr. C. F. Gardner) at last night's meeting of the Borough Council, when a letter was received from the Auckland Harbour Board on the subject, enclosing the joint report of the harbourmaster and engineer, setting out the board's requirements in respect to the construction of a new bridge over the Whau. The report pointed out the unsuitability of the arch span designs submitted on behalf of the Borough Council. "While agreeing in our report dated ord inst., to a clear span of 45ft 3in, it is obyiout that navigation would be materially improved by increasing this width; and' we do not consider that the 50ft originally stipulated is unreasonable. The headroom should be as great as it is possible to give without interfiling with the profile of the road and with a girder bridge of 50ft span it would be possible to give 14ft clear headroom in the centre, decreasing to not Jess than lift at the abutments.

"From a navigation point of view it it of paramount importance that the «fttre of the 50ft span should coincide with the probable centre-line of ;1 !I .V future canal, and that the abutmeu.s ehould be parallel to the centre-line oi iuch canal. To this end, and before approval can be given by the board to any specific design, it will be nece&saiy for a eurvey to be submitted extending from the railway bridge on the upstream side of the proposed bridge down to a point, say, 15 chains below the proposed bridge." The Harbour Board intimated that it was prepared to carry out any necessary survey at its own expense. The council decided to ask the to carry out its survey and supply lie fullest details in respect' to its refundments. In the meantime the council will fiat abandon its request for an arch span.