“The Greatest Work on the East Coast.”

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 87, 17 December 1885, Page 2

“The Greatest Work on the East Coast.”

THE TURANGANUI BRIDGE. At the meeting of the Borough Council on Tuesday evening accounts ameun ing in the total to /?33 12s 3d came before the Board for payment in connection with the above disgraceful structure. It now becomes a question of how long the ratepayers will quietly submit to be fleeced in this manner for the purpose of prostituting a public position. It is evidently quite needless to expect any protection from the “ model Council”—as they were pleased to dub themselves a sho.it time ago when the question of dividing the Borough into Wards cropped up. The only possible remedy which presents itself is to call a public meeting and to demand the resignation of a Council which, at present, is only a medium for robbing and plundering the ratepayers, as it is evident that they will stick at nothing. Look at the foreshore valuations ; the purchase of the useless wharf store ; the scandalous decision on th? printing and advertising contract ; the construction of the “ moral fibre” bridge—the sort of “ moral fibre’’ which so exasperated Balaam. Then the toppling over of that unique structure, and the necessary bracing, lashing, tieing, and tinkering which then , took place; and now the carrying away of the gear and ripping up of the deck planks. All this has been submitted to and passed over, but the thing still continues without end. It is true some slight exception was made to paying one small claim of £6 13s from the Union Company for the expense they were put to in loading down the Snark in order to get her under the bridge : but if this amount had been included in the Engineer’s report it would have been passed without comment or hesitation. The following report was made by the Engineer :— Turargnnui Bridge.—The opening geai’ has been r-pai ed, and is now in working nrder. The suspension belts of the swing hive been screwt d np tight. Counter weight,* h vo been fitted at the ends of the swing, and a few planks in the deck have been replaced, and some other small repairs made. Cost of 1 »j airii g and np nin<? fjaar, 4s 9d ; labor screwing up, £l7 Cu. Cr Joyce asked what was the total amount the repairs to the bridge had cost. The Chairman said, the two items came to 19s 3d. Cr Joyce said there was a big difference between that amount and the estimate given previously. If this sort of thing was going to continue it would be more beneficial to the Council if the bridge went

down the river —as it probably would before long. They bad better give the bridge up altogether, and let it go down the liver at once. On lhe accounts coming forward, and referring to an amount of £6 13s from the Union Company, the Town Clerk said the agent claimed this amount for expenses they had been put to in providing bags for sand and cartage in loading down the Snark in order to get her under the bridge while the swing was unworkable. Mr Lambic had not charged the three guineas a day for detention. He (Mr Bourke) bad seen the agent, and had told him he had better get the necessary work done and the account would be paid by the Council. Cr Townley would ask if it was known whether the accident was caused by anything within the control of the Council. He thought they should hesitate before passing this account. Cr Joyce: What was the real cause of the accident ? That is the plainer way of putting it. The Engineer : Well—ah — overstrain —and— The Chairman : Was it not caused by opening the bridge to let the Snark pass through ? Cr Townley would move that the account stand over until next meeting, and that in the meantime the matter be enquired into. He certainly thought the Council should see what the account was for. The Chairman asked the Clerk whether the agent had been given to understand that the Council held itself responsible for this account.

Mr Bourke 'said yes. When he had spoken to Mr Lambie he thought the Company wou’d get the work dine cheapet than Hie Council. Cr Townley was not sure that the Council was liable. If they paid the demand right off they wou’d render themselves liable to serious claims. He wou’d like to know how it would be if the river dried up, and the Company could not get their boat up and down. Would the Council be liable for that. They ought to be very cautious how they recognised such claims as these, and the Clerk ought also to be very cautious how he committed the Council to any such thing. The Council

was certainly not morally responsible for this accident, and he was anything but sure that they had a right to pay. Cr Smith thought there was a great difference between the bridge obstructing the navigation of the river and the river drying up.

Cr Joyce said suppose the bridge was to drop into the river (and there were more unlikely things than that) and stop the passage altogether, could anyone sue the Council for that ? The Chairman was doubtful whether the Council had the full right to the bridge yet. The Council should be very careful over this matter, as it might lead to serious claims in the event of large vsssels coining up the river. Cr Townley moved that the account stand over until next meeting, and that a committee of Crs Tucker, Smith, Joyce, and Townley enquire into the claim and report to the next ordinary meeting of the Council. The motion was carried, and the subject dropped.