MAUKORO BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5255, 23 March 1928, Page 4

MAUKORO BRIDGE.

TO MUCH DELAY.

PLAINS COUNTY IMPATIENT.

The Hauraki Plains County Council in a letter to the Piako County Council asked whether anything further was being done in regard to the construction. of the Maukoi’o bridge. The Plains Council wanted to know also whether; in the event of the Piako Council being unable to proceed with the bridge, it would be prepared to hand) the work over to the Public Works Department. The chairman said he had interviewed the Public Works Department engineer, who stated that ihe had no suitable plans for the Mauk'oro bridge. He also stated that there was not sufficient money for a concrete bridge. He would suggest that they put in piles and other foundation work in concrete and finish of jvith timber. This would enable them to complete the bridge with the available moneyThe reinforcing steel in hand was ndt all suitable for the bridge. Most of it was too big. They would .have to use what was suitable. Cr. Kennedy : You say there are no plans. The bridge has been underway for three or four years. The engineer went to tbe department with a. view to learning its requirements. The department said the bridge was not an urgent matter, and the engineer was not responsible for their being no plans. The council did not even have the money now. Cr. Whitecliurch : The department would not sanction the grant. It said the bridge was not an urgent work. The Chairman : The plans should have been and approved before any materials were purchased. They have allowed the thing to drift for three or four years, and have, never yet prepared a plan for this particular bridge. Cr. Kennedy : Om- engineer did: prepare a plan. The Chairman : He did) but it was a plan the .department could not pajESIt wag the council's duty to see that a proper plan was prepared. Mr McLean : The plan was not prepared because the work was not urgent. The Chairman: The deprtment could have approved of the plans without consenting to the work proceeding. ■ Cr. Whitechurch moved' that the council furnish the department with particulars of materials on hand and alsk if it is prepared' to build the bridge for the amount of money available.

Or. Stark: Was Mr Gibbs ever authorised to order tih>e materials for the bridge ? - Cr. Whitedhurch: We don’t know. It was about five years ago. Cr. Walters: Steel was 'offered at a very cheap rate and we required steel for several bridges. The Chairman ; iMr Gibbs indented the steel, but whether he ihad the authority pf the council I can’t say. Cr. Wa'lters : Ti'he 1 Hauraki plains thought the bridge would go up right away. That was one of the conditions of allowin,g Tahuna to secede.' Cr. Whitecilrarcli : That was eight years ago.

The matter, was left in the hands of the engineer and Cr. Whiteehurch to finalise vrith the department.—Te Arolia News;,.