THE MANGAITI BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4679, 26 March 1924, Page 2

THE MANGAITI BRIDGE.

REPAIRS URGENTLY REQUIRED. UNSAFE FOR TRAFFIC. A 3ft length of decayed timber, a portion of a transom removed without difficulty from the Mangaiti bridge, which spans the Waihou River between T’c Arofia and Paeroa, was an exhibit at the Piako County Council’s last meeting. Mr F. M. Strange, a ratepayer nea” the Mangaiti bridge, waited upon ths council and stated that the bridge was in a bad '.state of. repair. The plunking was so rotten that the bolts were falling through, and some of the stringers were rotted right off. It was totally unsafe for heavy traffic, and any load over two tons was prohibited from u s ing it. It was hardly safe for motor-cars, and it. was impossible fo’* the farmers to cart their goods over it. He understood from the chairman that the timber had been ordered for repairs, but he wished to express the urgency of getting on with the work immediately. He also mentioned the damage that was being done by the Northern Steamship Company’s boats passing under the bridge without anyone being in charge of th ■) punts being towed behind, with tho result that the punts had hit against the bridge.

The chairman, Cr. F. W. Walters, sa’d that it was possible that the bridge would be moved, and the council did not wish to do much maintenance work until that matter was set tl<?d by the Public Works Department. Mr Strange thought that £5O or £6O would be sufficient for urgent repairs. Cr. Kennedy expressed the opinion that the. piles had not been driven full depth, and that permanent repairs would cost £soo'. His riding did not have sufficient money to have that amount spent uponi the bridge. Mr Strange said his riding was handicapped at present with the fatal accident at the bridge at Paeroa, and they did not want another fatality. Cr. Lowry wished to know why the ratepayers had juk complained about the state of the bridge before. The bridge should have been repaired long ago.

The engineer assured Mr Strange that as soon as the timber arrived for the work the repairs would be effected Cr. Kennedy said that the Public Works Department had apparently not made a careful examination of the bridge. He thought that the department should have made its decision regarding the removal of the bridge. Tim engineer did not advise the council to go in for extensive repairs as (lie piles were not on a firm foundation.

It was decided to call the shipping company’s attention to the manner in which its barges were towed under the bridge.