The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1943. DRAW YOUR BLINDS—7.30 p.m. THE MAMGAHAO BRIDGE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXII, Issue 15242, 7 January 1943, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1943. DRAW YOUR BLINDS—7.3O p.m. THE MAMGAHAO BRIDGE.

Earlier tins week tlie i'aliiatua County Council advised tile public by advertisement thxfc it was found necessary to impose a restriction upon traffic using tlie Maugaliau bridge. Tlie maximum load permissible is three tons. The imposition of the restriction is of course 'n the interests of public safety as the County Overseer after an examination of the bridge came to tlie decision that the structure was definitely unsafe for heavier loads. The traffic of today is greater in all respects than that passing to and fro when the wooden structure was raised some fifty years ago. Since the war began and large defence undertakings were put into operation in the district, tlie peak loading has necessarily been increased. The Public Works "Department who were called upon, to transport much heavy material gave an undertaking that any damage accruing to tlie bridge would leadily be made good but when the County Counoil officers presented a report in August last expressing considerable concern at the deterioration evident, and subsequent to the receipt by the Department of a letter from the County asking tliat- something be done, tb e road was patched but nothing was done to the bridge. The imposition of a 3-ton limit is likely to prove of very great inconvenience to the farming community concerned now that a considerable amount of wool is coining in to the railway and while the dairy season has still several months to go. The difficulty of obtaining labour and the many other problems facing the Public Works Department are appreciated and hi war time, of course, defence projects must be given priority but nevertheless in the interests of maintaining primary production, there is urgency in the requested repairs being made to the bridge. It is sincerely to be hoped that the Department’s liability in the matter will not be forgotten and that the County Council —and other local bodies—will bring the question to the notice of the authorities with a view' to early prosecution of the essential repair work.