TOWN TRAFFIC BRIDGE

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10907, 7 August 1928, Page 5

TOWN TRAFFIC BRIDGE

RIVER PROTECTION WORKS NO SUBSIDY FROM BOARD. In connection with the river protection work above the town traffic bridge the District Engineer ol the pW D (Mr R. H. P. Ronayiie) wrote to the Borough Council advising that the Mam Highways Board was not prepared, to subsidise tins work “As you are aware,” he:wrote, “numerous reports have been prepared dealing with this length of river above the existing bridge, and a subsidy will only, be made payable by the Main Highways Board on a. work of a substantial and permanent nature that will tend© to confine tlie river into a permanent channel tor all time. i. , „ “A 7 oar Council was advised as tai hack as 1913 as to the steps to be taken to confine the river to a narrow channel. Since that date very little work has been done. It should be borne in mind that tlie old structure will only last another four or. five years, and also by a small annual expenditure and confining .the liver to a narrow channel it might make it possible to reduce , the _ length of tlie new structure. It might mean that a bridge 300 feet long will only he necessary instead of a structure 630 feet long. This matter is of great importance in view of the saving to both .your Borough and the Mam Highways Board that will result when the time conies for building a new structure, and I think the work o, c confining the river should be started at an early .date.” The letter was before tlie Council last evening. Cr.' A. Ross: “They’re shuffling. Tlie Mayor: “I’d Tike to see how the river could be confined to a width of SOO feet.” Cr. Ross: “Seven years ago they said the bridge would only last four years. It’s still there and it'll last another seven years too.” The Mayor said 'lie disapproved, of the Board altogether. If ever the Council had a request to make, it had to go to the Board cap in hand, a*; it were. It seemed to him to be a “one man show.” The Board got its taxes out of tlie people by way of benzine, etc., and yet cavilled at everything the Council asked for. Cr. S. T. Tinney: “We ought not to tak© this lying down. What does he mean by a. small annual expenditure?” (referring to Mr Ronajne’s letter). . Cr. Ross : “He doesn’t know what* he’s talking about.” Cr. F. G. Bourke: “There is nothing more simple than for a man like Rcnayne to sit down and writ© letters. For him to sav, that we could reduce a bridge to half its length is ridiculous. There are a lot of jokers connected with this Highway Board who, if they lost their position® today, would be out ol a job.” On the motion of Cr. P. Tulloch. the Mayer and Cr. Tmney were authorised to frame a suitable reply to th.e engineer’s letter, pointing ou»> that the Council had done everything possible with in its means to protect the bridge in the past. The present work was of a substantial and permanent nature, and would further serve to protect th© bridge. Mr E. Fisher, river engineer, reported ais follows on the progress of tii© river protection work : “I laid the works off on June 18th last, wh.cn constructional operations commenced, subsequently when the tractor was available the work of cutting and hauling tlie heavy tree® required for the groyne® was executed, and fortunately fair weather piev: iled during this job. Since then th© groyne foundation work has boon con:, fated throughout the .system. 1 considered it advisable to advance the construction of several groynes nearest the bridge first, in order to. prevent the erosion from developing at a vital point, should a high flood occur during the construction of the works, and I purpose completing a section at the high rubble bank before proceeding with the works above this point. On the whole gjbod piv., press has been made, allowing for the adverse weather and river conditions. I consider the works sufficiently advanced to counter flood attacks.

“In defining the scop© of the works when laying them off on June 18th, Or. Ross was present, and we considered it advisable to extend the works an additional three chains upstream, which was subsequently approved by the Mayor, and this lm.s been done. The added works will increase my estimated cost from £l5O to. £lB7 10s; this includes engineering and supervision It will be necessary for tlie Council to confirm our action in extending the works. Givqn reasonable weather and river conditions. I expect to have the whole of the works completed in three weeks.”

The report was received and adopted