BRIDGING THE RIVERS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 99, 24 April 1909, Page 5

BRIDGING THE RIVERS.

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—ln your issue of Tuesday last there appeared a letter on the above subject from Mr H. M. Reader. The writer is as inconsistent as ever, and the assertions he makes are both ridiculous and misleading. As to having tried our best for a bridge at the Renwick site I fail to remember any determined attempt being made to get the work done. Some two years or more ago a monster petition in favor of it was sent to Parliament, then in session. This petition was referred to the Public Petitions Committee and returned to Parliament for their favourable consideration. Owing:to the session then closing the matter was allowed to drop and has not since been brought up. This is the best' done so far, but it will not do for everybody to be so easily dismayed as Mr Reader. A bridge at what Mr Reader* terms a natural site, near Mr Squires', might be slightly shorter than one about opposite the mouth of the Kaituna Valley. I do not mean on the line flagged out by the Engineer two years ago, as that was inclining down . tEe Rtarer-bed, and at the widest possible place. /About twenty chains below the Engineer's line there is an excellent site for. a bridge, square across the stream, and with good protection for the approaches on either side. At present the whole of the water is flowing down the Wairau, and seems likely to remain so, as there is now a very considerable channel from the Opawa into the Wairau about mid-way between Rock Ferry and the ford-keep-er's cottage. This being so, a bridge over the Opawa is not now required on the route via Renwick. When the Government built the house and-gave the use of the land for a ford-keeper at the R,enwick crossing it was undoubtedly recognised that was the shortest and most siiitable road. It. is so still, and must remain so for all time. Of course nobody supposes for one instant that the Government will seriously consider a proposal to build a bridge near Mr Squires', about five miles from where the old ferry bridge is now being replaced.—l am, etc., Wm. HODGSON.