THE CHURCH

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 32, 7 March 1913, Page 1

THE CHURCH

A matter of gr e i to the town and :s living between t' le ! Public Library of the approaches u, Ige now being erected. The original intention of the Public Works Department was to carry the road under the bridge by the j excavation of a subway. For | this there has been substituted a ! scheme to raise and carry the ! road over the railway by means of a huge filling. To tlie latter idea the Board and the people of Huntly are strongly opposed, and the following correspondence has been interj changed. Huntly. Jan. 27th, 1913. The Hon. Minister of Public Works. Dear Sir. -The Huntly Town Board, and, indeed, the people of Huntly are in a state of » anxiety which only you can allay. It is persistently ruj moured that, when the eastern approach to .the Huntly bridge is made, the Great South Rmui : is to be raised and carried over the Bridge. Some time ago, ve were given 1 to understand that the Bridge j would be carried over the road and a cutting made to allow ; traffic to pass under. This idea was entirely satis- ! factory to rny Board, but now I we hear that that the Public Works Dept, has changed its mind and decided to make a big filling and carry the road over, instead of under, the | Bridge. From our point of view, this latter idea is altogether inferior to the former one, and has : nothing whatever to recommend ; it. If carried out, it will involve the Govt, in large claims for compensation ; it will make the * Bridge more difficult to approach; it will depreciate the value of the southern end of the Town ; and generally will be most harmful. My Board, knowing the local conditions so well, and knowing what trouble and confusion the latter proposal will cause, will most strenuously oppose it being r ; to beg of you to take an early ? and talking the matter over on the spot. 1 would remind 1 you of a promise made some time ago to the Huntly Chamber of Commerce to visit Huntly to confer regarding various matters bearing on the welfare of the Town and surrounding country. a I would suggest that you make an official visit t » Huntly to give everybody an opportunity to lay before you any matters requiring your attention. In anticipation of an early » and favourable reply, I remain, Sir, Yours faithfully, F. HARRIS, Clerk, Huntly Town Board. The following was received : in reply ; Public Works Department, Wellington, N.Z. 17th February, 1913. Sir,—Following on my letter of 3th instant, with reference to the position of the road approach to the bridge now being erected over the Waikato River at Huntly, I am directed by the Minister of Public Works to inform you that he h:*s looked the matter, as promised, that it is not practicable to lower the present 5 road level so as to carry the existing road under the new bridge, as any such reduction would bring the road level below i the flood level of the I Waikato River, and would also cut into quick— md existing a short distance below the | surface which it would be extremely difficult to maintain for a roadway. As the new bridge is to carry road as well as railway traffic the road approach must be raised in order that the road traffic may get up on to the railway line to be able to cross the bridge, and as the railway line is not high enough above the road to permit of a subway being constructed with sufficient head room, it was proposed to grade the approaches up to the level of the railway. But in order "* that tho public may have convenient means of crossing the line when the level crossing may be closed by trains, a subway will be constructed under the end span of the bridge and will bo available | for limited traffic. 1 have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, 11. J. li. BLOW, Under Secretary 111 answer Mr Harris wrote : Huntly, Feb. 2lst, 1913. The Under Secretary, Public Works Dept. Dear Sir, —In reply to youi . letter of the 17th inst. re Huntlj Bridge crossing, 1 am directed U point out to you that the reason: given for not lowering the Grea South Road so as to pass undei (Continued on page four.) i