ASHBURTON TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1434, 20 January 1885, Page 2

ASHBURTON TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

The conference arranged between committees from the Ashburton County Council and the Ashburton Borough Council to discuss the construction of the Ashburton Traffic Bridge was held at the County Council Chambers this afternoon. The representatives present were : OountyCouncil—Messrs Walker, McLean, Taylor, Coster and Harper. Borough Council —His Worship the Mayor, and Messrs J.Orr, A. Harrison, Sealy, Thomas, and A. Orr. Mr W. 0. Walker occupied ho chair. The Chairman invited the Mayor to state what contribution the Borough was prepared to make towards the cost of the bridge. The Mayor, before indicating the intention of the Borough Council, would like to know if, in the event of their contribution being regarded as satisfactory by the representatives of the County Council, the Committee would give an assurance that the work would be undertaken. The Chairman said that although unable to give a distinct pledge on the subject, he felt confident that the recommendation of the Committee would be adopted by the Council. On the suggestion of the Mayor, Mr Baxter, County Engineer, submitted plans of the proposed bridge to the conference. The Engineer’s estimate of the cost of a bridge 2lft Gin wide, with a floor 20ft wide was considered. The bridge would carry traction engines or the heaviest vehicle, and would be about three chains lower down the river than the present bridge, in a line with'East street. The Mayor said he was deputed by the Borough Council to offer a contribution cf LI.OCO towards the construction of the bridge. This was considerably more than the Borough would bo required to pay under the Public Works Act. Under that Act the Borough’s contribution would have been about LGOO, but his colleagues felt this to be a work of very general importance, and one towards which they were prepared to make a liberal grant. At this stage the representative of the Borough Council withdrew to afford the Committee of the County Council an opportunity to discuss the offer. On resuming, the Chairman said the representatives of the County Council considered the offer made by the Borough Council a satisfactory one, and they were prepared to recommend the construction of the bridge by the Council. He suggested, however, that any cost beyond the Engineer’s estimate should be contributed, one part by the Borough and two parts by the Council. The represtmta lives of the Borough Cou n ■ oil retired to consider the suggestion made the Chairman, and on returning the Mayor said that his colleagues had agreed to the proposal, provided that a foot bridge was added to the structure, and that the Borough was not in any case called upon to contribute more than L 1,500 in all. The terms agreed to having been embodied in a resolution and adopted by the Conference, the proceedings were terminated by a vote of thanks to the Chairman.