THE HUTT BRIDGE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4314, 25 March 1901, Page 7

THE HUTT BRIDGE

SPECIAL MEETING OP THE RIVER BOARD. A special meeting of the Hutt River Board (was held; oh. Saturday, evening. There were present —Messrs Sladden (chairman), Riddifdr’d, Fitzherbert and Foster. Messrs Alcason and Bunny, engineer and solicitor respectively to the Board, also attended. Tho business was mostly in connection with the new bridge. Thei Chairman commented!. upon tho uncertain position of affairs existing with regard to-the site of the bridge, and said that the only thing to be done by the Board was to try and-hasten the Government in determining the question one way or the'other.' He spoke of the urgent necessity of the site, being fixed upon as the protective and embankiflg work could not very -well be gone on with until the site was chosen. He thought it advisable that the members of-the district, besides the representatives of the Board and Council, should approach the Premier, and point out to him that the present site had been decided upon by their engineers, and suggest that the Government send out its own engineers and inspect for themselves. In this way, lie said, they could easily see which was the betteir site. As matters stood now the river improvement works were completely hung up. Of Course, he could understand the attitude the Premier had taken up when a petition, comparatively largely signed by people opposing the site, was presented to him. He thought, however, if Hie Borough Council could only get the Government to go into the mattetv it would establish a very good case well enough. Mr Poster spoke of the misapprehension that appeared to exist amongst certain people as to the direction in winch tho'traffic would be diverted. Bethought it advisable to write to the Hutt Borough Council and point out tho effects of postponing the settlement of the site might seriously affect the! plans of the River Board. ,! In reply to the chairman, Mr Meason said that if the old bridge site whs fixed upon the approaches would have to go through the cemetery. Then theke would bo three difficult angles entailed, which would make the approaches particularly bad. It was imperative that something should immediately be done for the protection of the river!-banks, which, he stated, were, in certain places, being rapidly wasted away by erdsion. Mr Fitzherbert was of opinion that it was not a question of sitel with many people, but was merely a question, of. blocking the work of the Board. He thought the Premier was altogether unjustified in inferring that a particular section of the community would be) benefited by the bridge being placed where suggested'. i This opinion was shared by Mr Ridcliford, who said) it was a good excuse on the part of the Government for {getting out of contributing its shard towards the cost of the work. j :t Air Bunny, as Mayor, melntioncd the great expense that had already been gone to, and said! that all the money would be thrown away if 'fresh-'arrangements were macld. The, Council would (have to bo satisfied that the site proposed was a wrong one before committing the borough, and ho thought it would take a lot to satisfy them in:this respect, seeing, that the) engineers engaged had given, their-utlquaiified! approval of the .site which had been chosen. Anyway, the best thing,.he .thought,, to be done under the‘circumstances was for,-the povesnment to, , appoint one if its own engineers to inspect the different sites. ■ It was finally decided to write to the Hutt Borough Council and point ioiit the effects that would result from the pcstpdnemdnt of the settlement of the site, and to ask its assistance in getting pressure brought to bear upon the Government to settle the question. j