Longburn Bridge.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 17 January 1918, Page 4

Longburn Bridge.

j Tlxe County Clerk (Mr P. W. ! Goldsmith) reported to Saturday's j meeting of the Horowhenua Coun- ' ty Council as follows : As instructed by the Council I ! duly attended the Conference of 1 members of local bodies and other j delegates, held in Palmerston ' North on the 11th December, 1917, Ito consider the proposed traffic ' bridge over the Manawatu River lat Longburn. There was a good J attendance of delegates and the ■ Mayor of Palxnerston explained I the object of the conference. It I was pointed out that, in the past, ! efforts had been made to get the 1 use of the present Railway bridge for vehicular traffic, but the Railway Department did not approve. In 1914 a joint report with accompanying plans by three engineers and the late Mr Armstrong had been prepared. This report showed the estimated cost of _ a bridge to be £18,000 and acquiring road and making same from Tokomaru to Longburn on the easterly side of the railway another £11,000, or £29,000 in all. However, nothing further Wad been done, and while the promoters of the Conference were well aware that the time was wholly inopportune to even think of carrying out the work—this would be quite impossible whilst the war lasted, yet there were aspects of the question which made' it advisable that the position should be again, reviewed and also bro- , ught under the notice of the Government. A matter of very I great importance to the whole district is the proposed .hydro-elect--ric scheme with the power station at Shannon. The Government is already pushing on the preliminary work in connection with tlie scheme in the way of survey and plans, and as it will be necessary to get some means of transit across the river, it was thought that this fact gave the local authorities interested, the opportunity to ask the Government whether, when the proper time arrives to carry out the work, they will subsidise a traffic bridge at Longburn which, could also be utilised for the cables of the hydro-elec-tric scheme. A resolution was passed by the Conference which provided that the local bodies _ interested should be asked to join in a deputation to the Government asking if a subsidy will be granted for the purpose named. If a substantial subsidy is promised the local bodies will then have to decide if they will proceed with the work, when it can be done, and also how it shall be paid for—by a toll gate or otherwise. If on the other hand the proposed subsidy is turned down by the Government that will end the matter for the present. The idea of linking up the main arterial roadway from Wellington to Taranaki, the Main Trunk and Hawke's Bay,dispensing with steep grades and saving mileage, is doubtless a good thing for the country as a whole, but for our own County with its very long stretch of arterial roads, through traffic is not altogether an unmixed blessing and its advantages are cost-

ly. Cr. Broadbelt moved the adoption of the report and that the chairman represent the Council on the deputation to the Government. Cr Catley considered the tame inopportune to go in lor big expenditure or anything of the sort that would mean expense to the County. Mr Goldsmith said all that was intended was to obtain the promise of a subsidy from the Government. It was considered a certain amount of work was being done in connection with the_ hydro-electric scheme and that this aspect should be brought before the GovemmCr. Broadbelt strongly favoured joining in the representations and the motion was carried.