THE KIWITEA BRIDGE.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 38, 13 August 1895, Page 2

THE KIWITEA BRIDGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sip., — On perusing your paper of Friday, August 9th, I uoticed a report re the Kiwi tea bridge which had been prepared by Mr Holmes, Government Engineer. After reading the report and estimate carefully, I could not help being struck with the large amount provided for protective works. The first point which struck me was that for such a large sum a permanent breastwork, something after the same style as the one along the bank of the Makiuo in Hobson street, could be put in and the road carrier! straight along the original line. It also struck me that by carrying out the above ide.x the water cod .1 be con • lined, and the length of bridge reduced, thereby making a large saving on the bridge itself. I could not say what a strong breastwork built of ironbark timber would cost, but do not think it would cost more than, say, £2 per foot. Supposing, sir, the amount given above (£2 per foot) is something near the mark and that twenty chains of breastwork were required, that would give £2640 for protective "works. The estimated cost of the bridge is .£2324, and, assuming there would be a saving of £1000 on that, it would reduce it to £1324. There would, of course, be the old road to make up, which I may say would co3t £500. That would give £2640 for protective works, bridge £1824, making road £500, or a total of £4AM, thereby saving £1327, having a straight and permanent road, also Mr Retemeyer provided with a road and his property most effectually protected. The above are points which struck nic, and I felt that no harm could be done by ventilating this much vexed question, 1 am, etc., Ratepayer.