GOING TO FIGHT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17880, 23 June 1926, Page 12

GOING TO FIGHT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

BRIDGE DECISION IS DISASTROUS, SAYS “ RIVER BANK ” OWEN. W’* . “T regrd? very much the disastrous decision of the New Brighton Borough Council, ” said Mr R. B- Owen yesterday. in reference to the statements made at the council’s meeting on Monday night concerning the proposed raising of the new New Brighton bridge. “I don't think the Christchurch City Council were doing the fair thing when they offered to find only 17i per cent of the cost of the additional work,” he continued. “I should have thought that the}- would have subsidised the New Brighton Council to the extent of at least 50 per cent. A competent engineer told me that the additional expense could reasonably be estimated at £ldoo. The waterways to the city are. of the very, greatest importance. The Avon was the pioneers’ highway to the city, and; though succeeding generations have been too busily engaged in other necessary works to give it the attention it requires, we should be lacking in our duty if we failed to protect and also to develop it. I am sorry that. Mr Gamble should regard this matter as- a vision of! the future. He is aware that after many years’ work the Avon is just about to come into its own. The Drainage Board has definitely undertaken the work of dredging and making up lost time generally. “We will not take this lying down, and notice has been served on the New Brighton Borough Council warning them that action will be taken in the matter. A new bridge •is absolutely necessary. We will endeavour to arrange a conference with the City Council, and if no arrangement is arrived at, we shall organise a public fighting fund, and if necessary take the matter through the Courts to the Privy. Council.” The following is an extract from the notice served on the New Brighton Borough Council yesterday by Mr A. F. Wright, of Duncan, Cotterill and Co., solicitors: “We have to inform you that we have been instructed to institute a relator action at the suit of the Attorney-General against your council claiming an injunction preventing it from proceeding with the work of the erection of the proposed 1 ridge, without making due provision for the rights of the public using or likely to use the River Avon for navigation purposes. It is contended that the proposed clearance is utterly inadequate and a direct infringement of the rights of the public to use the river in a reasonable manner as a public waterway.”