NEW BRIDGE OVER INANGAHUA RIVER

Grey River Argus, 29 October 1948, Page 2

NEW BRIDGE OVER INANGAHUA RIVER

County Council’s Scheme For Opening Up Country

(From our own Reporter) REEFTON, October 28. The erection of a bridge across the Inangahua River at Rotokohu, 10 miles from Reefton, to give access to thousands of acres of millable timber, sufficient to keep a mill going for 20 years, cutting at the rate of 6000 ft per day, was proposed at a meeting, yesterday morning, of the Inangahua County Council. Cr p. J. O’Regan said that if this area could be opened, many problems relating to the shortage of suitable mining timber would be solved. He said that the area, which was situated on the west bank of the liver, and stretched for over 20 miles along the bank towards Inangahua Landing, was the only large area containing mining timber left in the district.

The discussion arose out of a letter from Mr J. D. Andrews, requesting the Council to erect a swing bridge giving access to his property at Rotokolni.

Cr d’Regan said that the Council should support a plan for a traffic bridge. He pejnted out that the Council would have the difficulty in getting the Public Works Department to 'erect a swing bridge. Past experience was that three of these bridges had been washed away. A traffic bridge could come only alter considerable agitation. He added that the cost of a swing bridge would be in the vicinity of £9OO to £lOOO._ The chairman (Mr A. Topp) said that there were also good deposits of coal in the area, and Hon. M. Fagan, M.L.C., and Dr Scott had spent between £3OO and £5OO in putting in a tunnel, and they had discovered good coal. He added that th'e farming potentialities in the area were also promising. Cr O’Regan said that there was nothing to warrant the spending of! £lOOO bn a swing bridge. What was I needed was a traffic bridge to open | lhe area up so that the vast coal and , timber areas could be worked. Cr J. J. Coghlan said that there was a very good coal scam in the area, which, in places, was over 40 feet thick and 100 ft high

’ Cr J. E. Etheridge suggested obtaining assistance from the Mines Department to build the bridge.

BRIDGE OFFERED

A letter was received- from the resident civil engineer of the Railway Department, Mr W. E. Puddy, offering for sale a steel bridge, consisting of 21 spars each of two 66ft lattice ! girders, 'weighing 32.4 tons, with floor i beams and rail beams. Mr Puddy I said that six spans would be ready ; within eight or nine months, and the l balance over a period of years, del pending on the supply of material to replace them. Cr O’Regan said the Railway Department was replacing several of its bridge on the West Coast with stronger bridges in order that heavier raili way engines could be used. ■ Members expressed keen interest in the proposed development plan, and agreed that the bridge would be suitable for their requirements. A committee consisting of Crs. A. Topp and J. J. Coghlan was appointied to discuss the matter with the 1 Mines Department and the Forestry Department.

| Cr A. Topp presided, also present ibeing Crs J. S. McGregor, E. C. Chandler, P. J. O’Regan, W. Black-

adder, J. E. Etheridge, A. G. Wells., C. Coxall, T. E. Elgin, J. J. Coghlan, and Messrs C. A. Belcher (secretary), and W. C. Bolitho (county foreman).

MURRAY CREEK ROAD The deplorable state of the Murray Creek- road leading to Chandler and Party’s coal mine and open cast mines, was the subject of a letter from Mr C. E. Chandler, who said that little or no attempt had been made by the Council to improve the road since the state of the road had been discussed with the Coal Council some months ago. The letter stated that three heavy motor lorries were using the road, which had continued to deteriorate. Mr Chandler stated that he was prepared to make a lorry available and a digger for use on improving the road. He suggested that a suitable site for a quarry to procure metal would be near the Cement Town bridge.

Cr Etheridge said that the county foreman was making every effort to put the road in order. Mr Bolitho said that the Mines Department had granted £3OO to take the corners off the road, and for general surface improvements, but he felt that this sum was not sufficient as the work would no sooner have started than it would have to cease. “About 2000 yards of metal has been put on this road during the last eight months”, he said. Cr Coxall said that Air Chandler was doing a good job in the interests of Reef ton by employing men and ' getting out coal. He suggested that a meeting should be arranged between the Mines Department, Mr Chandler, and the Council, in an endeavour to find out the best way ol expending the grant from the Mines Department. Cr Etheridge said he could get no assistance from the Council, and ho 1 was confronted with bigger expenses than Mr Chandler. He said that he was supporting the action of the county foreman, and was not in favour of any sympathy being shown. Cr E. C. Chandler rose to a point of order, objecting to Cr Etheridge s inferences of sympathy. Cr Etheridge said that as he had to maintain his own road to his coal mine. It was about time Mr Chandler made an effort to improve his road. Cr Chandler said that it was not a question of sympathy; The road was a county road, and the county should make some effort to maintain it.

1 It was decided to spend the Govern- , ment grant of £3OO on the road, and that arrangements be made with Mr Chandler for the loan of road-making equipment. A letter was received from the ■resident engineer, Public Works Department, Mr A. B. Bremner, stating ithat, the, renewal of the Murray i Creek bridge at Black’s Point would ‘commence shortly. He requested the I Council to divert traffic by way of I the bridge 100 yards downstream and ! the two streets running parallel to land on each side of the creek. The work was expected to take longer (than three months, and the DenartI ment was prepared to maintain these I two streets, and the bridge, for the 'duration of. the work. The Department’s suggestion was accented.

In replv to an inquiry from the County Council on the gold mining position in Inangahua, the Minister of Mines (Hon. A. McLagan) sent a telegram stating that the matter had been referred to the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash.