BRIDGE INQUIRY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8789, 17 April 1907, Page 3

BRIDGE INQUIRY.

Sir W. G. Short commenced an in- ‘ quii'v at the Oouncil Chambers, 1 Kimbolton, yesterday, in the matter of the proposal to erect a bridge over , the Orona river at London’s ford. Mr Fitzhcrbert -was counsel for ; Pohangina County Oouncil and Mr Carty for the Kiwitea, the only two ' W bodies interested, and Mr i Bro'wii, chairman of the Poliaugina, - assisted by Of. Hammond, and Mr Carman, chairman of the Kiwitea, assisted by Mr Guthrie, watched the cases for their respective bodies. Tbe proposal, which lias been made . by the Poliaugina County Council, is, that a bridge shall be erected_ at , the site mentioned at a cost of £1605, the Poliaugina to pay two-thirds and j the Kiwitea Oouncil one-third of the i cost. The Kiwitea County Council mate , the following objections to contri- ‘ bating to the cost That the pro- . posed site is not on a main road and < the bridge would be of no benefit to j the Kiwitea County; that the proposed bridge is inadequate for the site; that the Poliaugina County is not prepared as a county to contribute to the cost of the same, and that the proposed bridge would be only one mile from the Apiti bridge. The plan is for an iron structure of two spans of 70 feet resting on concrete piers, the roadway to be 10 feet wide. After opening the enquiry the Commissioner and the export witnesses were taken to the bridge site, where the particulars of the _ proposed construction were explained, but no evidence was there taken. Samuel Jickeli, engineer for the Palmerston North Borough, with 31 years’ experience, stated that providing there was a good papa foundation the proposed bridge would he adequate for the site. If there was not a papa foundation the structure would he better erected on piles. Ho thought theie would be required au additional expenditure of £4O on the piers on account of an apparent alteration of the foundation since the plans were drawn, and ho would advise a protective work costing £SO to the abuttments. His estimate of the cost of the excavating for the central pier would be 30s a yard. Tho estimated cost for the bridge was rather low. The site was suitable and it would be a waste of money to erect a more costly structure. „ „ Mr R. S. Rounthwaitc, 0.E., the designer of the bridge, said he had not seen the Oroua river in flood. He had not ascertained the nature of the bottom at the site of the proposed bridge sufficiently to determine whether it would ho necessary to drive piles. He had had a free hand in the planning of the bridge and lie was satisfied that such a structure would remain stable under any ordinary circumstances. J. Scrimegonr, engaged delivering goods for a Kimbolton storekepeor during the past eight or nine years, crossed tho river about throe times a week. The course of the river at tho site of the proposed _ bridge had changed but very little during that time. He had never seen water on the dry flat at the approach to the proposed bridge. In case of flood it was necessary for him to go around by the Apiti'brioge. To reach, say, Mr Hammond’s house, ho would have to travel 24 miles, or three times the distance by London’s ford. The ford was dangerons when the water was dirty. He had once been forced by the flo©d five or sis chains down the river in endeavouring to cross. The people of Kimbolton desired the bridge erected. The inquiry was then adjourned until nine this morning.