COAST ROAD.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 824, 24 February 1903, Page 3

COAST ROAD.

SEVERAL BRIDGES SAID TO BE

UNSAFE,

At tho meeting of the County Council yesterday, tho stato of several small bridges on tho Coast road, within tho County’s boundary, was discussed. In his report, tho Engineer stated that a number of tho bridges at Tolago badly required repairs, and would bo taken in hand shortly. Cr Harding said that he was glad to see that Mr Fraser had mentioned the bridges, because they worn quite unsafe for traffic. They were perfectly rotten, and the Council required to see to them at once. Tho Engineer agreed with Cr Harding as to tho bad stato of the bridges. The road was, ho said, originally intended for a bridle track, but it was widened hero and there, and was now used for vehicular traffic. Tho bridges were quite unsafe for drays. About £SOO would be needed for ropairs. Mr Fraser added that be hud warned tho driver of tho Waipiro coach of the danger ho was running, but the coach still continued to run.

Cr Harding said that he could assure tho Council that on no account would ho himself drive a coach over one of the bridges. Tho road was a most important one and tho Council should soo that the bridges woro put in order. It was impossible to close tho road. 11 1 have just been up tho coast,” romarkod Cr Harding, ,l and I drove over tho bridges in a small buggy. I stopped at one bridge and got out and inspected it. I could see at a glaneo that the wholo thing was gone. I saw tho coachman and strongly advised him not to tako tho coach over.” Tho Engineer: I will mako another attempt to repair them. Cr Harding : I was very nearly taking the matter in my own hands in seeing that something was dono. It is out of tho question to think of closing the road. At presont an effort is being made to open up tho East Coast country, und o coach servico has just boen started to Waipiro, so tho road cannot bo closed. What tho Council should do is to instruct tho Engineer to mako such necessary ropairs as will carry us over tho next six or twolvo months. Cr Clayton : In tho moantimo it would bo advisabio to advortiso tho bridges as uusufo for traffic.

Cr Harding : When you get over those bridges you come upon all the good work of tho Waiapu County Council. From tho inferior stuto of things you come into tho sublime. From tho vory formation of the road you can toll that you aro out of ono County and into tho other. Tho Chairman : Wo must advortiso tho bridges as unsafe. Cr Harding: Tho particular bridge I refer to iB post repairing. Wo must have a now structure.

Cr Gray: Tho road should be closed for traffic. Cr Harding : You cannot do that. Wo can advortiso that tho bridges aro unsafe. Cr Gray : Thero is no liability to the Council. Cr Clayton : lam not so suro of that. Tho coachman might only bo going ovor knowing that ho has tho Council to come back on in easo of an accident. Tho Chairman : We must caution tho public that tho bridges are unsafe. It was docidod to instruct tho Engincor to repair tho bridges ; thoso which woro boyoud repairing to bo rebuilt.