THE LOWER GORGE BRIDGE. DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 73, 23 September 1898, Page 2

THE L O WER GOR GE BRID GE. DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT.

A deputation consisting of Messrs. Gothavd (Mayor of Woodville), W. T. AVood (Mayor of Palmerston), Bolton, Burnett, and J. Cotter waited on the Premier and the Minister of Lauds last evening to urge the re-ereotion of the Lower Gorge Bridge. The deputation was introduced by Mr. O'Mear.i, M.U.R., and Messrs. F. Y. Lcthbridge and Fred. Pirani, M.H.R.'s, were also present. Mr. Gothard protested against Mr. Pirani being present, on the ground that it was a Woodville deputation, and as Mr. Pirani's views were probably opposed to theirs it was not desirable he should take part in the discussion. Mr. Pirani claimed the right to be present, on the ground that the bridge referred to was in his distriot. Mr. Lethbridge also maintained his right to be present, as the Chairman of the Manchester Road Board. The Premier said he could not object to the presence of the members referred to.although, uuless they formed part of the deputation, il. was unlikely they would take part in the diicussion. ■ Mr. O'Me,ara explained that the object of the deputation was to ask Government to compel the Manchester lload Board to re-erect the Lower Gorge Bridge under sub-section 10 of section 114 of the Public Works Act. The Board had not disgorged the £9000 it had received from tolls, and it was only fair it should be compelled to reerect the bridge. If the Board did not voluntarily carry out that work it was the duty of the Government to take the matter in hand and compel it to do its duty. Unfortunately the bridge was in "no man's land," and no 4 one local body was in the position of being responsible for its i-e-erection, but as the tolls had been paid to the Manchester Road Board that body should take' the work in hand. Mr. Gothard skid it was a considerable time since tho bridge was washed away, and absolutely nothing had been done towards its re-erection. They had come to. the conclusion that until some pressure was brought to bear on the Road Board the present unsatisfactory state of affairs would continue. The Board had received some £13,000 in tolls, he believed, although the exact amount could not be ascertained, and the settlers had come to the conclusion that that body was the proper one to proceed with the work of reconstruction. If the Government would not take the course suggested of compelling the Board to carry out the work, then the Government should rebuild the bridge itself. Mr. J. Cotter said that great inconvenience had been caused to the general public- b3 r the. attitude of the Manchester Board in regard to this bridge. The Board had passed a resolution several years ago agreeing never to enforce the collection of the bridge rate in No. 6 Ward, but to credit that ward with the tolls collected, undoubtedly with the intention of creating a sinking fund to provide for the re-erection of the bridge. In answer to Mr. Saddon, Mr. Cotter said about £11,000 had beeu collected in tolls, and £130 a year had been the cost of collection. Mr. W. T. Wood, speaking on behalf of the Palmerston Borqugh Council, said the Council was not a contributing body, and did not think it ought to be called" upon to assist in this matter. The ferry at the Gorge was almost useless, and it was necessnry that a bridge should be erected there. Mr. Burnett said Mr. Cotter and himself had interviewed the Manchester Road Board, but could get no satisfaction as to thereerection of the bridge. The Hon. J. M'Keiizie remarked that a pile bridge would cost £8000 and a cylinder bridge £14,000, and the Premier said his colleague had promised £4000 towards the bridge, subject to the approval of Parliament. Mr. Bolton pointed out that sonf? time ago the Manchester Road Board had offered to contribute £(3700 towards the re-erection of a cylinder bridge, so that it was not too much to pxpect it to pay £4000 towards the cost of a pile bridge. It was also pointed out that the Board's engineer had pronounced very strongly in favour of a pile bridge. Mr. Hogg expressed the opinion that wire suspension 'bridges were best for the back districts and the least expensive. The Premier said that as the Manchester Road Board had failed to compty with the law and re-erect the bridge it would be necessary to consider what steps should be taken in the matter. It would be only right to lay before the B^ard the statements made, and ask for an explanation. If that was not satisfactory, it would be necessary to.bring the whole matter before Cabinet, and 'decide whether the local bodies should be called on to re-erect the bridge, or whether Government should do it and charge them with the cost. Messrs. Lethbridge and Pirani declined to express their views, the latter stating that so many misstatements had been made by the Woodville members of the deputation that it would take some time to correct them. The interview then terminated.