THE AVON.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15868, 5 April 1917, Page 8

THE AVON.

PROPOSED BRIDGE AT

BURWOOD.

COMMISSION TO APPORTION COST

A Commission to apportion the cost of a proposed bridge over the Avon river at Francis street, Burwood, eat at the Magistrate's Couxt yesterday, Mr T. A. 15. Bailey, S.M., being ttic Commissioner. Mr Dougall appeared for the Waimairi County Council and Mr "Wilding, K.C., for the Heathcote County Council. One-half of the estimated cost of the bridgo (~1(J00) is being paid by the syndicate tliat Jtas purcnased land to winch the bridgo is to give access, and which is constructing a road thiougu what was once known as Kerr's cstaxo The Heathcote County Council having failed to arrive at an agreement witn ttic Waimairi County Council as to the proportion of the remainder of tho cost of tho structure which should bo borne by cach county—the proposal was that tho Waimairi and Heatiicoto Counties should each find £250 —tiic Commission was set up to determine the matter. Replying to the Commissioner, Mr Dougall said that he might set up, later, that tho city of Christchurch was as much interested in tho matter as tho Waimairi County Council. Mr Wilding, K.C., in opening the caso said that the whole question involved was the extent of the benefit that some of the residents of Waimairi County would receive from tho construction of the bridge and the evidenco he intended leading would show that such benefit would be very substantial. H'e indicated, on a map, to the Commissioner the position of tho proposed bridge, which is in the vicinity of the Burwood Anglican Church, whero tho North New Brighton tramway line turns northward. Counsel stated that the land, formerly known as Kerr's estate, consisting of 289 acrcs, was purchased about two years ago by several gentlemen with the intention of subdividing it into small holdings. Of tho total area, about 85 acrcs was p'f.ro sand and unsuitable for agricultural purposes; the remainder was good land. As to tho advantage that would accrue to some residents of tho Waimairi County from the bridge, counsel stated that it would provide a . more direct route to the heart of the city unencumbered with a tram Line, it.would provide the most direct route to places Vika Sumner, and it would be a -public utility. He dealt with the correspondence between the two county committees. The Waimairi Counts Council had objected to contributing towards the cost of the bridge, as it a construction would be for the, benefit only of land speculators, and those who made the profit should pay the" cost, It was also objected that the road connecting with the bridge ..would be of no use to resident 5 in "Waimairi. Counsel, commenting on tho first-stated objection, said that the settlement of the districts around the city had been due to land speculators, who were just as much producers and public benefactors as those who initiated the meat freezing and woollen industries in tho Dominion. A. K. Had field, land agent, stated that he had conducted' the negotiations in connexion with the purchase of the ! land. There was a tow-path along the river, and the construction of the bridge was not a legal necessity, as the road through the estate Would,not be a blind ono', as it Would, connect with the | tow-path. The Value" of Jancl in "Waimairi County in the vicinity of the ! bridge' wculd. he thought, be increased j in value as the-result- of the construction of the bridce. . To Mr Dougall: The work done by tlie syndicate on the block, and the construction of tho bridgo. would not increase tho value of the land 100 per cent. The land would still bo . subdivided if, from any cause, the bridge was nt>t built, and the land would be saleable if roaded. The land was 'lo chains, from- any other tram . lino but the Burwood tram. . • . Albert Ernest Craddoclr, managingdiroctor of Craddock, McCrostie, Ltd., who lives on the road opposite the block in question, stated that bridges and roads had the influence of increasing considerably the values of land. The erection of the bridge would bo of great advantage to the,residents in thel "Waimairi district. .' George Burton, a member of the Heathcote Covmty Council, said that he lived formerly in Francis street, Burwood. The question of erecting the bridge had been fully considered by the Council of which lie is a memlior. It would. nob have been fair for the Council 'tp ; tell, .'t»«J- syndicate to pay the whole cost of the bridge. A boat usedr'.to take children from 'the one side ofrtlie river to the. other, where a school was situated, and there was no doubt that ,if tho bridge erected, the children would go to the Burwood School. The advantage to the residents of Waimairi from tho a.rpal one. . ■ r To Mr Dougall ivNo great immediate advantage would accrue to tho Heathcoto County :Council from the increase of rates on the blocks affected if the bridgo were crected. George Mclntyre expressed the opinion that th© bridge would really be_ of. moro benefit to the people of Waimairi. than to . those of Heathcote, as the former would havo more, .inducejment to, visit, the opposite side. At 'any rate, as a general proposition, both sides would benefit equally. Sydney Thompson, a ratepayer in Waimairi, also considered that the bridge would be of benefit to the residents of Wuimairi and surrounding districts. . X,. V. Siddcll, clerk to the Hcathcote County Council, said that th& idea of the ercction of a bridge originated with Mr Barnes, tiioCouncil's engineer. Edward John Barnes stated that ho had been engineer to the Heathcote County, arid hnd designed the bridge, the life of which should be about 50 years. The Dallington and Bower bridges were old structures, and could not carry traction engine traffic. Witness had suggested to the agents of the land that if they wanted their plans passed, it would bo well to provide a bridge as there were 3} miles between the existing bridges. The proposed bridgo would ho of advantage to the residents of Burwood. To Mr Dougall: The heavy traffic in the district consisted of threshing machines and steam road rollers. F. W. Freeman, surveyor, stated that bo drew up the plans of the sub-divi-sion. Tike bridgo would improve the Waimairi district. Mr Dougall. addressing the Commission on behalf of the Waimairi County Council, said lie did not contend that there would bo no benefit to tho people in the vicinity of the bridge. If the land syhdicato had not come along and cut up the land, he did not think that tho proposal to erect the bridgo would have been. made. The Heathcote County would benefit- by the increased rates, as thero was provision for valuations being made' every year. The bridge was a necessity to people who took up the land, as it gave access to the nearest tramline. The bridge was for the benefit of tho syndicate which, according to the evidence was going to make a very great profit out of tho land once the bridgo wa« built. If the Heatlicotc County had driven a proper bargain, it would have made the syndicate pay the whole cost of the bridge. He contended that the EBeathcote County should have been more cantlid with the Waimairi County when negotiations were begun. He contended that it would bp ouite sufficient to expect the Waimairi County to find one-half of tho cost of maintaining the

bridge when erected. He called evidence. Albert Freeman, valuer, stated he had considerable experience. Hb hat I inspected the locality, and had known Kerr's farm for the past twenty years. The land, with 110 bridge, would bo quite unsuitable for subdividing into small lots. If anything could have cent Burwood ahead it would have been the tramway, but there had not been tho increased building in tho district as compared with other districts served by the trams. To Mr "Wilding: The poorness of the land in parts of Burwood was the reason the district stood still. 8. A. Staples, chairman of tho Wainiairi county, stated that prior to tho correspondents on the subject from tho Heathcote county, he had never heard of a request for a bridge in the locality. It was not till the Waimairi county engineer interviewed the Heathcote County Council that the Waimairi county got any information as to cutting up the land. He did not think that' a local authority should go out of its way to spend public monev .for the profit of private persons. His opinion was that tho bridgo would be of .no. benefit to residents in tho Waimairi county. To Mr Wilding: If Kerr's farm had been settled the two counties would have borne the cost; now it would benefit only a few people. J. H. Sliarpe, eugineer to the "Waimairi county, stated that lie had known the district for the past 48 years. Tho building of the bridge and construction of tho road might lessen the distance between Marshland to "Woolston, or Sumner, by about. 5 chains. The distance from Francis street by the existing route (practically following. . tho tram line) to Cathedral square was 330 chains; by tho proposed bridge and road it would be about 370 chains. Regarding alteration in the valuation, witness stated that a local body could get a revaluation .when desired by pay 7 ing for it. He cited instances in the Waimairi county where, on land being cut Tip, the owners had erected bridges at their own cost. In one case the bridgo .was' on the boundary. This concluded tho evidence. Replying to the Commissioner. Mr "Wilding said that no contract had been yet let for tho bridge, but material was on the ground. v The Commissioner said that he would forward his report as provided for by the Act