NEW BRIGHTON BRIDGE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19544, 14 February 1929, Page 5

NEW BRIGHTON BRIDGE.

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S DECISION. MR R. B. OWEN'S OPINION. At the last meeting of the New Brighton Borough Council, it was decided to approach the Minister {or Marine (th« ilcn. Mr Cobbe) for his approval of the erection of the new bridge over the Avon at Sea view road with a clearance of tour feet six inches a bote high water mark, which was the height provided ior in the original plans. After considerable lnigauon, ana several conterences, however, a of s.x feet sis incncs was agreed upun. When witervieweu yesterduy on tiie iJorougb council's recurit decision, Air K. U. Owen described it as "raui* folly-'" , , , -Mr Owen said that tberfe was no ©slouso for the N<;w Brighton Couufeuioi's trying to throttle the river at the present fame. When the original warrant for the erection of the bridge with a clearance of only four feet Six inches was granted some three years ago, there was some excuse for the point of view of the late Mr J. Gamble, the then Mayor of New Brighton who pointed out to the Minister for Marine that the Avon as a waterway had gone to the dogs. At the commencement o! the litigation, the late Minister for Marine (.the Hon. Mr Anderson) had visited New Brighton to satisfy himself on the question. "However, the position to-day is completely reversed," added Mr Owen. "The river sweeper is within fcight of the New Brighton bridge and there is now a waterway with an average width , of 80ft and a depth of 4ft at low tide, j I am quit# sure that Christchurch citi- j zens will put up any money that may be needed to take the matter to the Privy Council. The Government has the matter in hand at present, and t can be understood that the opposition to the erection of a low bridge is neither dead ndr asleep." "I am of the opinion that completely \ new plans should be drawn providing for a bridge with one span of at least SO feet," continued Mr Owen. He said that lately he had been taking a great interest in the sewering of Bryndwr, where there were great follimes of water flowing just under the surface, in some places only two feet down. Sooner or later the city would have to tackle the problemof arresting these underground streams from the Waimakariri and turning them into the Avon. The present volume of wat'*r in the Avon was probably only about one-tenth of what in future would go down the river if a proper system of sub-soil drainage was carried out, and for that reason it would be ft very great mistake to erect a bridge which would act as a throttle. "Both the Government and the City Council admitted a grave mistake had been made in agreeing to the proposed plans of the bridge of the Borough Couficil," added Mr Owen. Finally after the case had been fought through the Dominion Law Courts, the right to appeal to the Privy Council had been granted our aide, the Government took the matter up and the Minister for Marine was sent down to straighten Matters out, and as a result of a conference with the Contributing bodies, a compromise was agreed upon of 6ft 6in, and the extra cost of the higher bridge allocated between the Tramway Board and the City Council. This we Hnder>Stood got over the objection of the Borough Council, who tad stated that they didn't care what the height of tlie bridge Was so long as the' New Brighton Borough Council hadn't fco pay." ''Later, when Sir Francis Bell was appointed Minister for Marine, a fresh attempt was made by the borough to side-track the agreement," said Mr Owen. "However, Sir Francis surprised the Borough CouftCil by informing them that the Government had withdrawn all warrants, and that tfiey would have to start all over again, and With no hope of getting a low slung bridge. It ifc understood that litigation and costs of plans, etc., has cost the borough ft very heavy Sum." Mr Owen said that lie was quite satisfied, that the Minister for Marine Would protect the interests of the community and ensure that the entrance to the city's waterway would not be permanentlv blocked by the erection of a low bridge.