The Gorge Bridge.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 294, 17 June 1895, Page 2

The G orge Bridge.

, Mr 0. Hall, M. H.K., for Woodville, has received the following letter from the Minister of Lands :— g IB} — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th ult., in which you state that the lower Manawatu bridge has been washed away by the late floods, and that the road between the two bridges has been blocked by slips ; that you understand that the Manchester Boad Board, who erected this bridge by loan specially raised, does not intend to reinstate it, and that it ia also their intention to repudiate th* agreement made with the Waif awa and Pahiatua Counties to maintain and keep open the Manawatu Gorge road. You therefore -ask that the Government should reinstate the bridge, or pass v some legislation as will compel the local authority- to do so— for the reasons—that th c Manawatu Gorge is a pass connecting the east and west coasts, that it is a national highway, and that there is no extent of landsf abutting on the road which cookh&er* specially taxed JoritsnaD»iatea«w»asg^ In reply I haver to state that I a' m> not aware that the Manchester Boad ~ Board will repudiate its ability in this matter, but should they do co the question of the maintenance of the road will receive the careful considers^-' tion of the Government '. At the present time there are no funds, either for the maintenance of the road or for the re-construction of the bridge,, but both will be considered in framing the estimates for the current year. — I have the Honor to be, sir, your obedient servant. John Mackenzie,