Awahuri Bridge Enquiry

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 29, 5 September 1891, Page 3

Awahuri Bridge Enquiry

♦ The Commission appointed to settle in which local body the maintenance und control of the Awahuri Bridge should be vested resumed proceedings at the Court House on Friday morning, before H. W. Brabant, Esq., Commissioner. Mr Guy, on behalf of the Manawatu Boad Board, called Mr Ihle, who continued his evidence, stuted the total cost of repairs would be £359 11s. To Mr Fitzherbert (on behalf of Fitzherbert Koad Board) : The bridge was, in his opinion, constructed in a faulty manner. Most of the work he had mentioned should have hem done when the bridge was built. There could be no cost for maintenance for 6 or 7 years if repaired as he has suggested, i Mr Guy then called A. Pilkington, who said a great many of the Palmerston North tradesmen use the bridge. A great quantity of timber was carted over the bridge from the Feilding side. The farm* ers also used the bridge when conveying their grain to Palmerston. To Mr Prior (on behalf of the Feilding Borough Council) : Mr Grant had asked him to take a note of the different people passing over the bridge. This concluded the evidence on behalf of the \ianawatu Hoad Board. M r Prior then opened up the case for the Feilding Borough Council, and called Mr C. Bray, engineer to the Manchester Itoad Board, who said that from the northern portion of the Borough it would be nearer for the residents to come to Palmerston by way of Bunny thorpe. The Manchester Eoad Board were about to erect a bridge across the Oroua 394 feet long by 12 fee.! One side of the bridge will abut on the Mamiwatu County Council's and the other on the Manawatu Boad Board's jurisdiction. The Feild ing Borough had agreed to contribute one fourth of the cost, and the Manchester Road Board also agreed to give one fourth. The other bodies had refused to pay anything. It would be seven miles further round from Feilding to Palmerston to go by way of Menzies' bridge , but they ne^d not use the Awahuri bridge unless m time of flood or very wet weather. In. fine weather the road through Bunnythorpe was the shortest and best, but at present part of the road was impassable for want of metal.— Manawatu Times.