The Gorge Bridge.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 10, 11 July 1896, Page 2

The Gorge Bridge.

Wellington, July 10. Messrs Gothard (Mayor of Woodville), Buick (Chairman of the Manawatu Road Board, T. Wood (Mayor of Palmerston), Dr Lemon (Chairman of the Fitzherbert Road Board), Bolton (Chairman of the Pahiatua County Council), and J. Cotter came down as a deputation to the Ministers on the Gorge bridge question. They did not approach the members for Palmerston, Waipawa, or Masterton, but asked the members for Otaki and Rangitikei to go with them to the Ministers. Eventually only the latter went. They saw Messrs Seddon and McKenzie together, and aske6 Government to contribute £12,000 to erect a new bridge. Government refused to do this, and suggested that if the local bodies would formulate a scheme Government would assist. There was considerable amusement among members of the House at the discomfiture of the deputation, who evidently expected to score a trump card by ignoring the member for Palmerston, and the comments on the bad taste of men who ought to have known something of Parliamentary etiquette, are painful and free. — Standard. This Day. Mr Stevens has been informed by Mr Wheeler, of the Manchester Road Board, that none of the other local bodies were willing to contribute towards the construction of the bridge, but the Manchester Road Board intend asking the Government to give them a subsidy of two-thirds of the amount for reconstruct ing the old bridge with ironbark and Jarrah piles, to cost about £4500.