SQUARE DEAL WANTED

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 71, 17 December 1928, Page 9

SQUARE DEAL WANTED

PORIRUA RESIDENTS AND OVERHEAD BRIDGE

When a letter was received at Friday’s meeting of the Makara County Council from the district engineer stating that the new overhead bridge across the railway at Johnsonville would be erected early next year, and that the warning device requested by the council would be unnecessary, it raised a storm of protest. Mr. E. Windley (chairman of the board) said that some time ago, realising that they had responsibilities in the matter the council had offered £lOOO in five-yearly payments of £2OO. The total cost of the proposed bridge would be £12,000. To his mind, however, the proposed bridge did not provide sufficient outlet for the water in flood-time in the deviation. The river was a tidal stream, and if the road was put across the land he would not like to say what was going to happen to East Porirua. There bad been floodings before. What would happen now that the water was going to be held back? No matter how many culverts were put in, the water was not going to get away as quickly as at present. As far as business, people were concerned, continued Mr. Windley, the deviation would take business away from them. If a suitable warning device were installed, the bridge would not be necessary. One erected at Waikanae bad proved quite satisfactory. By this means, the expenditure could be avoided. “Of course,' he added, "the Public Works Department might have some future plan or scheme in mind which might render it absolutely necessary to erect this bridge, but I do not thinkresidents and business people are getting a square deal.” Mr. Windley concluded by saying he intended to discuss the matter with the board interested in Porirua, and send a deputation to the Minister of Public Works. Councillor R. W. Bothamley declared that the Public Works engineers had no conception of Porirua in flood, and other councillors voiced their disapproval of the proposed scheme. Pending further action, the replies were received.