WHIRINAKI CROSSING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 86, Issue 7, 30 June 1944, Page 5

WHIRINAKI CROSSING

ACCESS FOR GALATEA

LOAN OF BAILEY BRIDGE

Intimation from the Minister •of Works,, that the Army had agreed to release a Bailey bridge for twelve months, in order to effect a temporary crossing' of the Whirinaki river at Galatea, pending the construction of a permanent structure, was received by the Whakatane County Council at its meeting last Tuesday. The bridge, is of the latest Army type, and is valued at £10,000. It will be erected by army personnel, for which the county will provide half the cost.. VX will be similar to the bridge erected at. Te Whaiti following the washouts, caused by the floods.. The cost to the. county is estimated at £435. . The question, of site occupied the council for some time Cr Cawte pressing for the earliest erection possible. The settlers of Galatea were paying at the rate of 5s per ton extra on all goods brought rourid by the divertionary route, while the county itself was loosing some £500 per quarter from timber royalties. Apart from that the. circuitous route was costing the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company 3 guineas per day for extra mileage. The engineer said he had been over the ground and could find no more suitable place other than I where, the old stream was crossed. It had been suggested by the P.W.D. engineer, Mr Ronayne, that a temporary bridge be constructed in the meantime. The councif decided that the Bailey Bridge be accepted and that it be understood that cost of dismantling, painting and return of bridge to Army Headquarters be subject. to £1 for £1 subsidy,, also that the District Engineer be advised when new site is decided upon and that plans and specifications be submitted to his office, as soon as possible. On the motion of the chairman it was decided to write thanking the Minister of Works (Hon. R. Semple) for his interest in securing the bridge for the use of the county as a temporary tideover.