ABOUT BRIDGES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 16

ABOUT BRIDGES.

The question of the construction of budges throughout the district is of most vital interest to settlers generally, as the prosperity and progress of a particular district often depend on «>uch works being undertaken. That considerable difficulty is often experienced in getting the necessary grant from the Government for the purpose of building a bridge is undeniable, and then there is often subsequent trouble that causes delay, and perhaps unnecessary expeuse. To the latter fact reference was made at the recent opening of the Hamua-Hahanui (Eketahuna) bridge by the builder. Mr Joseph Daw-son He stated that he had nothing to urge against contracting, but tho experiences of cccitractorh — he had been one for over a score of years — wore often far from pleasant, especially in connection with Un\ ornment undertakings However competent, careful, honest, and straightforward they might be, they had to run the risk ot coming mto collision with official-* who w or© eithei iiiiroaonnblc 1 01 did not piopeily linden- tand what they were o\ci->ceing On one occasion, when lie was erecting a bridge, his foreman informed him that the clerk of works had condemned noar'y the whole of the timber. "What is to be done?" he asked " Lea\e him to me." re-plied the foreman. He left the matter to the foreman, and what happened? The condemned timber was carted away, mixed with a little frcoh stuff, and brought back, with the result that nearly the whole of it was subsequently passed and used But this wacit of practical knowledge and the frequent rejection of good timber not only made things unpleasant for the <-awmiller and the contractor, but largely increased the cost of the bridges.