HIGH-LEVEL BRIDGE FOR CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Argus, Volume XV, Issue 6051, 26 September 1903, Page 2

HIGH-LEVEL BRIDGE FOR CAMBRIDGE.

At the meeting of the Cambridge Borough on Thursday evening, a considerable amount of correspondence was received about the matters pertaining to this bridge. On the 11th inst., Mr G. M. Fraser wrote stating he and Mr Brittain had cabied Messrs Brown and Co., of Liverpool, for a proper plan and details of the lengthened suspension bridge, but as yet baa not received any reply. He then continued :* I can give you a first class suspension bridge, 400 feet loug, width of roadway 16 feet, breaking strain of cables 1700 tonß, all of ironbark timber less the decking, which would last 50 years if painted on the r>est engineering authority I can get. Mr Napier Bell, Civil Engineer of New Zealand and Australia, is one of the best. The decking planks would be of kauri. The bridge would cost (we will not divulge the amount, but it is nearer £5,000 than £6,000) and this bridge would be approved of tiy the Government. The carrying capacity of it would be 3751hs per square foot, with its own weight takeu off. Mr R. Brittain informed the Council that be had cabled to Messrs Brown and (Jo , and had received a reply which had been delayed in transmission, stating that particulars would be sent by next mail. The Legal and Finance Committee reported as follows :—That Mr G. N. Fraser be requested to do as he proposes in his letters of the 11th and 18th insts.; and that the Council give him £5 towards the cost if his plans are not accepted. The Mayor said thty need not be afraid of suspension bridges, for Mr Fraser has sent a report upon the North Sydney suspension bridge, which he had erected, aud which was the second largest suspension bridge in the world. This report was then read. The Mayor said when Mr Fraser could carry out such a great work, there was pot the slightest doubt of his being a capable man. He then moved the adoption of the report Seconded by Cr. Dickinson and unanimously agreed to. Mr Fraser will at once be written to and asked to prepare plans of an ironbark and steel suspension bridge. The matter is being pushed on with all speed, and, when a reply is received from the Government re the subsidy, the contract for the erection of the bridge will doubtless soon he let.