ROADS AND BRIDGES

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11655, 20 October 1923, Page 6

ROADS AND BRIDGES

FOR WAIRARAPA SOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. A SYMPATHETIC REPLY* Next grants for certain roads and bridges were the object of a deputation to the Hon. ,T. G. Coates (Minister for Public Works) yesterday afternoon from the Wairarapa South County Council. Mr A. D. McLeod, M.P., introduced the deputation, which comprised. Messrs T. V. Moore (chairman), and County Councillors D. McGregor and G. Foreman. Air J. Hannah, district engineer to the Public Works Department, was present with the Minister. CONCRETE BRIDGE. Mr Moore said that the County Council desired a grant on next year’s Estimates towards replacing in concrete, which was just about as cheap as hardwood, the existing Kokotau bridge over the Ruamaihunga river, The present bridge was a wooden one, built some '26 years ago, and consisted of four spans, each 105 feet in lenigth. The estimated cost of erecting the concrete bridge was £14,000. The present bridge was supposed to carry a load of five tone, but was not safe now for more than half that load. He asked the Alin is ter to send the engineer up to oondemn the bridge, or to suggest what could be done to remedy matters. Mr Hannah thought that it ; was a matter for the District Highways Council to consider as well. The Alinister: At any rate, you would be the one to let me have a report, so you might arrange to let me have one; aud I will consider the question. TO REMOVE SLIPS. Air McGregor stated the case for a grant for removing slips from the Ala-hupruka-Longbush settlement road or Wainuioru road. The County Council, he aid, had raised £3OOO and the Government had granted a subsidy of £ISOO for metalling the road when it was first formed on the subdivision of tho land for soldier-settlement. The flood* this season had brought down a good many slips. Tho council had already spent £2OO on clearing them; but to complete the work was estimated to cost another £4OO to £SOO. They hoped to get a pound for pound subsidy towards the cost of removing tho slips Air McLeod strongly supported the plea. I think we could agree to the subsidy, remarked the Minister; and with this Air Hannah concurred. Mr McLeod spoke also erf the need for a subsidy over and above the County Council’s contribution to assist the local people to complete the IfWbo* span of the swing-bridge over Ti creek, which gave the children access to the district State school. NEW BRIDGE AT PAWA FLAT. Air Foreman urged the desirability of so locating the new bridge on the Flat Point road, over the Pawa creek, as to get rid of a dangerous bend an the road. Tho change proposed was estimated to cost £I2OO, but it would reduce the grade of the road some four feet and also shorten the road, which was a continuation of the main road from Alartinborough to Greytown, through to the coast. The Minister: We have no vote on the Estimates for it. This is for consideration for next year’s I Estimates, is it? Air Foreman : Yes. The Minister: Then your district engineer will go into it for me. There is only a certain amount of money, of course; and we have got to make it go round, and do the best we can with it. Mr AlcLeod said that lie thought it a very reasonable claim to make. The bridge took a lot of traffic to the coast. The Alinister said that lie would get the district engineer (Mr Hannah) to go into ail the matters they bad placed before him, and report to him; and he would take them into account when considering next yeaf’s Estimates.