FERNHILL BRIDGE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 72, 12 April 1937, Page 7

FERNHILL BRIDGE

To Be Redecked At Cost Of £500 NEW STRUCTURE NEEDED The Fernhill bridge is to be re-decked immediately at a cost of £500. This decision was reached by the Hawke's Bay County Council to-day when the urgent lioctL for the renewal of rhe bridge was also stressed. The engineer, Mr R 1'uflett, was instrncted to urepare plans for a new concrete bridge to replace the presgnt structure for submitting to the Highways Board for approval. The question came before the council by a report by the engiineer, in which he estimated that the work of redecking would cost £500. "This is undoubtedly an urgent work," said the chairman, Mr F. B Logan "How long will this bridge last?" asked Cr. R. Harding. "Not very long. The council should raake provision for a new bridge straight away," said the chairman. "This is a very important bridge and no risks should be taken," said Cr. Harding. "It is inost important, especially during the wool season," said the chairman. "To make the job last for any time the coutocil would have to spend £4000 to £5000," explained the engineer. . The chairman: The engineer shoibe instrueted to prepare plans for a new bridge immediately. "The bridge is in a shockingly bad state," said Cr. E. H. Beamish. *,fJhe decking is very dangerous. The bridge is quite unsafe for the traffie that it carries. Steps should he taken immediately towards getting a new bridge, The expenditure of £500 for the decking will not all bb lost, as the decking would be recoverable. The chairman: We have all known for a long timo that the new bridgt has got to corue- When we get that anc the new bridge at Pakowhai the council's bridge programme would be almosi completed. it is possible that the Rivers Board may require a new bridge tc be larger than the present one. W want to get the new bridge up whil the present one lasts," he added. Shark Record The biggest sharlc ever caught with s rod and reel was captured off the Sydney Heads last evening by Dr. Erik Fischer, Consul for Denmark in Sydney, It was a tiger shark, weighing 10491bs, — 131bs. niore than the shark Zane Grey caught last year. — Sydney.