THE MANGERE BRIDGE.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 668, 16 September 1921, Page 7

THE MANGERE BRIDGE.

DAMAGED BY WIND AND TS9ES.

ALLOCATION OF COST.

AN INQUIRE TO BE HELL

Recently the Mangere bridge and its approaches suffered extensive damage by heavy gales and strong tides, and 'an inspection to ascertain the extent of the damage was made by the Manukau County engineer (Mr \V\ J. Lopdelli). The cost of repairing the damage, it is estimated, will be in the vicinity of £IOOO. Information regarding the allocation of the cost between the local bodies was ascertained from the firm of solicitors who conducted, the inquiry, held some time ago, and they replied stating that the warrant authorising the construction of the Mangere bridge allocates the c®st of the construction ‘ (not exceeding £10.650) as follows :—Mangere Rovd Board 60 per cent., Onehunga Borough Council 25 per cent., Auckland City Council 10 per cent., and Otahuhu Borough Council 5 per cent. The cost above the £16,650 to be borne by the Mangere Road Board. The care, control, and management of the bridge was vested in the Mangere Road Goard. The control of the approaches at the Mangere end was vested in the Mangere Road Board, and the approaches at the Onehunga end in the Onehunga Borough Council. They were of the opinion the question of cost of repairing the approaches could be dealt with by Governor’s warrant under the provisions of the Public Works Act, 1908, pursuant to an inquiry by a Magistrate or some other commissioner charged with the duty of reporting as to what was the proper proportion to be paid by the contributing bodies of lire cost of such repairs. They advised that application be made forthwith to the Minister of Public Works for the issue of such warrant, and that to* save time and unneccessarv friction a conference of contributing local bodies be to consider the matter. (The, Mangere Koacl Board having been merged into the County, the Council takes the place of the defunct Read Board.) The Council invited representatives of the bodies concerned to attend a conference, and they elicited replies from the Auckland City and the Otahuhu Borough Councils repudiating any liability in the matter, while the Onehunga* Borough Council agreed to a conference and appointed a representative to attend.

The chairman said that the conference was convened, but outside of the County and Onehunga Borough Council’s representatives, there was no one else present, and the conference therefore lapsed. \

On the motion of Crs House and Browne, it was decided to make application for a Governor’s warrant under the Public Works Act, to hold an-inquiry.

The engineer (Mr W. J. Lopdell) said he had inspected the bridge and lou'nd it to be faulty at the Mangere end, but there was nothing really dangerous. . It would be a difficult matter to effect repairs.