MOHAKA BRIDGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20042, 14 September 1939, Page 3

MOHAKA BRIDGE

RELIEF FOR SETTLERS NEW SCHEME SUGGESTED RE PR KSivXTATIOX PI, AXX IvD SUBSIDY OF £2 FOR £! (Special lo llie rierald.) WAIROA, this day. A decision that representations lie made to the Minister of Public Works for a subsidy of £2 for £1 towards the cost of erecting an entirely new 12-l't wide concrete bridge across the Mohaka River at Mohaka township in lieu of the present proposal lo replace the damaged spans, in hardwood was reached at the monthly meeting of the Wairoa County Council yesterday.

Reporting on his visit to Napier in company with the county engineer. Mr. R. W. Hawthorne, to discuss witii the district engineer, Mr. A. Dinnie, matters in connection with the replacement of flic destroyed spans of the Mohaka township bridge, the county clerk, Mr. B. G. Signal!.

slated that prior to leaving a report had been received from Mr. T. Delaney, who undertook an inspection of the remaining spans at the engineer’s instructions, to the effect that the life of the spans was clone, and that it would be most inadvisable to add new spans to the old portion which also would require replacement almost at once. The old bridge was 45 years old. Alternate Proposals

Discussion with Mr. Dinnie, added the clerk, took place on the basis of either providing an entirely new bridge or alternatively completing the metalling of the remaining unmetalled section of the Ponui road to give the settlers served by the bridge an outlet to the via the Kiwi road at Kotemaori.

Mr. Dinnie was of the opinion that a new concrete bridge with a 12-fl roadway could be built at a cost of between At LOCO and £12,000, while an approximate estimate of the cost lof completing the metalling of the Ponui road was £3500.

Therefore, it would rest with the council, concluded the clerk, to decide whether to advocate an entirely new bridge and approach the Government with a request for a subsidy tit a better rate than .Cl for .if 1 which already had been provided for the replacement of the destroyed spans, or adopt the alternative proposal .for metalling the Ponui road.

Cr. H. Ba.vly stated that it was hard on the ratepayers. Fifteen months had passed before the council had found that the remaining portions of the bridge were useless. In his opinion a 12ft. wide bridge was not necessary but an Bft. or 9ft. bridge was all that was required.

Cr. D. V. Thomas: It seems an enormous jump from the original estimate to £II,OOO.

The chairman, Cr. A. T. Carroll, stated that the delay might be a blessing in disguise. The council might iiave -pent money on the Moiiuka oi'idge raid the (expenditure might prove to have been a total loss. The question of re-erecting the bridge was one mat must be .viewed from all angles. Cr. J. O'Grady contended that the settlers at Mohaka should be considered. He thought that an Oft. or 10ft. wide bridge was all that was required. County Engineer’s Opinion The county engineer, Mr. R, \V. Hawthorne, slated tnat the old bridge was built in 11194, and lie had not been satisfied with it. At present the council was faced with two alternatives. either to restore the old coach road which would give access to the Mohaka settlers, or erect a concrete bridge at a cost of about £12,000.

Cr. Bayly asked the engineer if it would not be possible and cheaper to erect the bridge over a narrower portion of the river?

Replying, the engineer stated that it would be cheaper lo construct the bridge over a narrower portion, but expense would be involved in the formation and metalling of a new road. He added that a temporary suspension bridge was being erected over the river and he hoped to have the work completed by the end of the week.

Cr. \V. Tail asked the engineer if Ihe shingle from the Mohaka River could be used for the ferro-concrete bridge.

The engineer replied that the shingle out of the river could be utilised, but not off the beach. Cr. Tait was of the opinion that a 9ft. or 1 Oft. bridge was all that was required, and that would lessen the cost considerably.

The chairman stated that lie could not see the bridge being built under two years. It was for the council to decide whether or not a temporary bridge, costing about £IOOO, should be erected by (lie council without the Government subsidy so as to afford the Mohaka settlers relief.

Cr. Tail: Put up a new concrete bridge and be done with it. "We have a very good case for an increased subsidy," staled the chairman.