THE MANUHERIKIA RIVER BRIDGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 20

THE MANUHERIKIA RIVER BRIDGE.

At Alexandra on Tuesday a deputation consisting of the Mayor (Mr H. Symes), and Messrs Kelman, Spencer, and Schaumann, representing the Central Otago Dredgeownovs' Association, waited on the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister of Public Works (who was passing thiough Alexandra), in reference to a traffic bridge over the Manuherikia River and a load along the bank of the Molyneux River below Alexandra.

Mr Kelman said he had been asked by the Central Otago Dredgeowners' Association to impress upon the Minister the necessity of getting the bridge over the Manuherikia built, lie pointed out the necessity of a bridge being built in that part of the district on account of the mining industry. Mr Kelman also referied to the construction of n road alongside the Molyneux River below Alexandra on account of the dredges that were to be put on that part of the river.

Mi 1 Spencer and 3ir Symes also spoke on the subject, and both expris.«ed the opmion that the Government should assist in the matter.

The Minister said that the position was that the Government could not undertake work without the authority of Parliament. Ten miles of road down the river nvoxild mean a laige expenditure. It was desirable that an estimate should be made of the cost for five or ten miles, as fhoy would have to consider the ultimate expenditure.

Mr Kelman rcmtuked that there was a likelihood. **£ iiip x-oad beina ultimately carried on

to Roxburgh. The dredging companies interested would be willing to contribute tlieiß share of the expenditure.

The Minister promised to have a survey made of both sides of the river for five and ten miles respectively, and he would lay the" matter before the Hon Mr M'Gowan on his return to Wellington.

With regard to the bridge, the Ministsr stated, as Mr Kehnsii had said, that there was a doubt as to which side of the river the railway would be built. If on the west side, they would havd to approach the Lands and Mines department in regard to a bridge ; but if it was laid on tho east side, a bridge would have to be built by the Public Works department. The bridge, if built, would be constructed so that there would be a portion for each of the railway and ordinary traffic.