THE TRAFFIC BRIDGE

Waipawa Mail, Volume LI, Issue 36, 9 December 1929, Page 3

THE TRAFFIC BRIDGE

QUESTION OF RECONSTRUCTION, “HYSTERICAL, OUTBURST.” At to-day's mooting of the VVaipawa County (\>uncil tin* following letter was received from the clerk of the Patangata County Council relative to the Waipukurau traffic bridge “That in view of the publicly expressed opinion of the engineer of the Waipawa County Council, that the Waipukurau tradio bridge will stand for another live years, and also a similar opinion by the Mayor and Cr. Chambers of the Waipukurau Borough Council, that this Council write to these local bodies pointing out that as the biidge is in their respective districts, the Patangata County Council doe* not desire to push the ie-conslructi<m of the bridge against their wishes; but in view of the considered opinion of its own engineer cannot accept any responsibility for delaying the matter. It is suggested that a* the views ol the actual own ets of tin* bridge favor delay, that these local bodies make arrangements for assuming control of the bridge as soon as possible, when they will then be in a position to take the matter up with the Main Highways Board.”

Cr. Paulsen described the discussion at the Patangata County Council meeting, as “a very amusing hysterical outburst.” It was, he said, extraordinary that members id' a local body should express themselves as did the speakers at the meeting in question. “Because their engineer considered the bridge should be rebuilt immediately we are expected to sit down like lambs and take hi opinion. Our engineer considets the bridge, with a few repairs, will last another five years. If the bridge is condemned by the Public Works I)e pnrtmcnt then there is no option Imt to proceed. But our objection was not in respect to the rebuilding of the bridge but to the Patangata County’s allocation of the proportion with which it i* proposed to saddle the County. In view of the reports of the previous Commissions the Waipawa County was quite right in objecting to the allocation. 1 strongly resent the attack on our engineer and the reflection east upon us as conn eillors. The letter was “received.”