THE HEATHCOTE BRIDGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXII, Issue 13550, 23 September 1904, Page 4

THE HEATHCOTE BRIDGE.

The public may be a little alarmed at the formidable resolution carried by the Woolston' Borough Council last evening regarding tram traffic over the Heathcot© Bridge. There has been much discussion concerning the stability of this (structure,, and the Woolston Council's action may appear to be' <luo to a. fear of serious accident. But the position is, happily, capable of a much less alarming explanation. The Council is ultimately responsible for the safety of the bridge, but as a precautionary measure it has had an agreement frith the Tramway Company relieving it from liability in respect to tram accidents. .The company's concession expires to-morrow, when the Tramway Board assumes legal control, and the. Council naturally seeks from the. Board a similar undertaking to that which the company has given. It is not directly interested in tramway affairs, and is really not called upon xo take on its (shoulders) even a shadow of liability for damages arising out of tram; accidents, however remote the danger may be. The bridge was built for ordinary traffic, and when the Tramway Company sought permission to run its cars across, it had, of course, to take whatever risks might ba involved. The company's successors will have to take the same risks now, and the Council is quite justified in protecting ifcGelf. The matter should not have been left until this eleventh hour, but the Board seems to have taken it for granted that the traffic would continue on the old lines, no difficulty of the kind being anticipated. If no action is taken until its next meeting, a week hence, the passengers will presumably have, to walk across the bridge, but there is surely some means by which this inconvenience can be avoided. The matter, we take it, is one for arrangement between the Board and the company, which will continue to manage the traffic on tho Board's behalf, and for the convenience of the public it should he settled without delay.