N. WAIROA BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18685, 15 April 1924, Page 7

N. WAIROA BRIDGE.

ORIGINAL DESIGN STANDS. LIFT SPAN TO REMAIN MINISTER'S DEFINITE REPLY [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] DARGAVILLE. Monday. Having promised a deputation which waited upon him in Wellington in regard to alterations in the construction of the Wairoa bridge that he would give a reply within a week, the Minister for Marine, the Hon. Q. J. Anderson, lost no time in coming to Dargaville to see for himself the position as it affects the various interests concerned. He was accompanied by the Under-Secretary for the Marine Department, Mr. G. C. Godfrey, and Captain Whiteford, of the Marine Department, Auckland. Their mission was to hear the case of those who would be affected by the elimination of the lift ; span from *the bridge.

At Helensvillo the Minister was interviewed by Mr. 0. West, sawmuler, who emphasised the position as it would affect him with his rafting steamer, the Minerva, should the lift span be cut out

At Sail Point the attention of tne Minister was drawn by Captains Hammond and Menzies, who accompanied the party, to the need for a light, two accidents having occurred » within recent years. The request received a sympathetic hearing from the Minister. The party, accompanied by representatives of local bodies, and the Northern Wairoat Dairy Company, left by coat this morning for Tangowahine and Puke huia, whence'the party crossed over to Kirikopuni, returning to town by motorcar, when they were entertained at luncheon. The Minister later received deputations from . the Kaipara Steamship Company, the Northern Wairoa Dairy Company, Hoanga settlers, representative business men and ratepayers, members of the bridge conference and the county chairman. The first three deputations asked that the bridge bo completed according to the original undertaking and the last that the completion of the bridge be expedited by the suggested alteration. After reviewing the project exhaustively, the Minister informed the deputations that he had'decided ,', that the bridge must be completed according to the underaking given tby his predecessors in office, that was that provision must be made to enable shipping to use the river without hindrance of any kind. After the bridge, question had been disposed of the Minister was taken to Mangawhare foreshore, where he inspected the proposed work, making himself conversant with tho whole position. The Minister, who was paying his first visit to the Northern Wairoa Kiver, was greatly impressed with the possibilities of the waterway. He loft later m the evening for Helensville.