THE RANGITATA BRIDGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1041, 6 September 1883, Page 2

THE RANGITATA BRIDGE.

We are indebted to the Timaru Herald for the subjoined report of what took place at yesterday’s meeting of the Geraldine County Council:—The Chairman, as a member of the deputation which waited upon the Ashburton County Council on August 15th, with reference to their claim for L3,90 ( 0, half the cost of the liangitata traffic bridge extension, reported the result of their interview with that Council. The deputation asked that the bridge should be inspected by a competent professional man, and the Ashburton Council refused point blank to ccnsent to the proposal; they were quite satisfied with the certificate of their own engineer. He did not think the Ashburton Council should be blamed for taking that view ; the work had been fully entrusted to them, and they had carried it out, they believed, with entire success. Another suggestion was that the bridge should be tested by a big flood, and as it happened, there was a big flood on the day the deputation went to Ashburton, and Mr Baxter, the Engineer, reported that the bridge stood securely. He (Mr Tripp) had been told by a resident on the river bank that the flood was the heaviest that had been seen in t le river for eleven years. He urged that this Council should decide to pay their share as soon as possible, without further wrangling, and should even apologise to the Ashburton Council for delaying to pay.

Mr Talbot, who was also a member of the deputation, said Mr Olulee told them before they went they could do no good, and they had done no good. The Ashburton Council assumed a tone of righ - eous indignation, because this Council hesitated about paying half the cost of the bridge, and would listen to nothing. They had no right to take that stand, seeing that they had built the bridge in the face of protests from this Council, and seei g that this Council had no guarantee that the work was what it claimed to be. This Council had heard reports from time to time that the piles were not being properly driven, and the Ashburton Council had never vouchsafed a clear explanation of these reports. They would have looked very foolish indeed if they had paid the money on their first demand, and then seen the bridge go down the river with ihe first fresh. They must have some certificate that the work was properly done. 1 In reply to a question, the Secretary stated thit he had not received a copy of the certificate given to the Ashburton Council by their Engineer. Some correspondence on the subject was then read. The |Ashburton Council wrote on the IGth August that a writ for the amount claimed bad been taken out, and asking for the name of the Council's solicitor, as no further delay would be granted. To this the Secretary immediately replied, by direction, that a meeting of the Council would be held on the 5bU September, and the Council would then decide what would be done. The Ashburton Council again wrote on the 21st, saying that they did not wish to put the Geraldine County Council to the trouble and expense of answering a writ, but the {repeated applications for delay seemed rather unreasonable, and suggesting that a special meeting of the Council should be called sooner, to consider the matter, and they would withhold ihe writ in the meantime.

Tiie Chairman again urged the Council to agree to pay without further delay, and not, jface the writ oh one hand, and have to meet ; a growing charge for interest on the pther. ile referred to minutes passed at a meeting in February, 1881, in which the Council (1) acknowledged its for half the cost of the bridge, and (2) de-1

cided to ask the Geraldine and Mount Peel Road Boards to each towards the cost, and falling their compliance to proceed to strike a 6d rate over the County. These minutes, it was stated, were passed before the work was commenced, and in March, 1881, a telegram was sent to the Ashburton Council, informing = them : that the resolutions passed in February weire to be adhered to only on ooiiditioU'tHat the plans were approved by the Geraldine Council. A second request had been recently made to the two Road Boards above named for a contribution of LI.OOO each towards the half cost of the bridge, and the;replies were now read. The. Mount *Peel Board “ could not entertain the proposal,” and the Geraldine Board “regretted that, they could not comply with the request.” •' Mr Clulee was disposed to take Mr Talbot’s view of the matter, to have the bridge examined and .reported on by a competent person.

The. Chairman expressed surprise. At, the last meeting Mr Clulee Wanted a flood test, and nothing but a flood ; but now that there had been a flood, that was not a satisfactory test. Mr Clulee said his conviction then was that the btidge would not stand a flood. Then they could not pay the money without something to show the Auditor. Mr Moody hid heard the flood,was not a heavy one, and that it ran under the old bridge. How would it do to refer the matter to the Auditor-General, to whom most disputes between public bodies were referred ? Mr Talbot said the Ashburton Council ref used to refer it to anyone. The Chairman spoke strongly against any further delay. The Ashburton Council complained that they were being made fools of by this Council, tmd they seemed te have got tbe idea that the people on this sde of the river were a lot of “dodgers.” Mr - ’lulee : Then let them agree to something reasonable. The t hairman : It is we who are unreasonable. We propose one thing one day and next day, decline to abide by it. It is like playing at ninepins, setting up things to be knocked down again. Mr Clulee hoped that at any rate the claim would not be admitted that day, in so small a meeting. After a little further discussion, it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr Moody, seconded by Mr Clulee—- “ That Messrs Meason and Marchanb, either or both, be appointed to report on the Ra gitata bridge and the suitability of the piles used by the Ashburton County Council ; also as to the manner in which the piles were driven, with power to take evidence as to the workm nship ; to report to this Council within 14 days if possible.” Mr Merchant being the Engineer to the Mount Cook Road Board, a resolution was passed, asking that Board as a special favor to allow Mr Marchant to act as proposed, .the matter being of importance to every riding in the County. It was also respired, on the motion of Mr Talbot, seconded by Mr Moody, that the Ashburton County Council be informed that this Council have taken steps to obtain a report upon the bridge extension, to be received and considered within 14 days, if possible, “ and that if the report is favorable this Council will pay its share of the coat.” ,

The Ashburton Council are also to be informed of the name of this Council’s solicitors. One member expressed a hope that the furnishing of the name would not be taken as an act of hostility; the Chairman said it had been asked for twice, and it was only right to give it. A third remarked that it might be sent and accepted as useful information, as one of the “ things not generally known.”