WAIRAU CREEK BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19092, 10 August 1925, Page 11

WAIRAU CREEK BRIDGE.

SELECTION OF THE SITE.

ERECTION AT CRAIG ROAD.

LONG CONTROVERSY ENDED.

After a controversy' which has lasted for years, tho site of the proposed Wairau Creek bridge at Takapuna has been finally determined. The bridge is to be erected at the expense of tho Waitemata County Council at Craig Road, Castor Bay. This fact was made public by Mr. J. O'Halloran, member of the council for tho Takapuna Riding, who presided at a meeting of tho Castor Bay Ratepayers' Association, held at- the residence of tho chairman of the association, Mr. F. W. Retter, on Saturday afternoon. Evidence given at the commission of inquiry, it was stated, had been so much in favour of the Craig Road site instead of the.Omana,Road site, eight chains further up tho creek, that the Minister for .Marine had given his approval and had asked the County Council to forward plans'and specifications as soon as possible. Tho bridge would bo erected wholly at the cost of tho County Council. The Takapuna Borough Council, which opposed tho site, would not have to contribute.- The County Council, it was added, had agreed to this in osder to bring matters to a settlement and avoid further controversy. The fact that the Takapuna Borough Council would not bo required to contribute to the cost of the bridge was tho subject of adverse cojnment by one ratepayer, who said he did not mind having to pay a heavier share of the cost but that he raised the question as a matter of principle. Mr. G. Lethaby: The bridge is better than the principle. (Laughter and applause.) ' Mr. Retter said he hoped that the planswould soon be approved and the work commenced. Ho moved that tho Waitemata County Council be urged to expedite tho erection of the bridge. Ho said that tho council had £5500 on hand for the work and would not need to go to tho ratepayers for a further loan, as it had'tho right to raise 10 per cent, on its loan' of £IB,OOO to complete any works. . A Ratepayer: When tho bridge is completed, if I had my way, I would have the'whole of the mud flat at Castor Bay filled in and made into a park for the people. (Laughter and applause.) Mr. Rotter said ho had written to the Department of Health regarding the insanitary state of the mud flat.- Tho department had promised to send an inspector to view it.- He would like to see the fl ' filled in and made into a park. The creek would then be confined to a smaller channel and the flush of water would effect a great improvement. Tho motion was carried unanimously. Mr. H. Murray, engineer for the eastern portion of tho Waitemata County, said ho would forward the plans and specifications for the work to tho Minister within a day or two. ' "There i 3 really no need for tho resolution," ho added. _ "The County Council is right on the job."