Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, FEB. 22, 1894. A Bridge.

Manawatu Herald, 22 February 1894, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, FEB. 22, 1894. A Bridge.

. » At first sight the idea of erecting a bridge over the Manawatu river at shannon appears to be one unattainable owing to the expense, but when more carefully considered ifc comes within the bounds of possibility. "We do nofc favour the suggestion that only one Riding in each County should be made answerable for each loan, as a connecting link, like a bridge, has an influence on the traffic over the whole district. In fact the liability of all ratepayers for bridges within a County, where fchey are of a length of thirfcy feet and upwards has been recognised by a formal resolution in the Minutes of the Manawatu County Council, and the Chairman of the Horowhenua County not so long ago suggested a scheme for bridging all the rivers in his County, at the general cost to all ratepayers. The Horowhenua has not any large bridge erected at the County's expense, bufc the Manawatu County has three bridges, one over the Rangifcikei and two over the Oroua, \ so ihat the rate necessary for a loan i for a bridge over the Manawatu ■ should ba treated iv a like manner. We may be met wifch the statement thafc no poll could be carried over such a large area for whafc would be termed a local benefifc, well it might be difficult, bufc if difficult it would I show a very unfair spirit on the part of the settlers. There are however other ways of securing the end should such a course be neces sary. A bridge at Shannon should not be a very expensive one as ifc is sufficiently far up the river as to make a draw-bridge unnecessary, and the outside cost should not be more than £6000. If the deputation that is to meet the Premier tomorrow at Shannon are successful in securing some assistance from the Government the bridge should soon be an accomplished fact. We know that unless properly placed* before the Premier, his reply will be that such a request is unusual, and would entail the Government beinginundated with similar applications ; just so, and this all can easily understand. However beyond Shannon, on the line of road across the hills to the Wairarapa there is a large extent of Crown Lands, and nothing would so increase their value as a good conneqtion with a^ port on the West Coast. Under these circumstances tbe request for a share of the cost of the bridge to be born by the Government appears both right and reasonable. There are two local bodies interested and the Government, and the sum of £6000, the cost of the bridge, divided equally, would only represent the small sum of £2000 each. The cost to the local bodies' would thus be £4000 which at five per cent would mean £200 a year. We are now getting down to facts that will drive away any terrible danger of having to find muoh of the special rate necessary to pay the interest on the sum borrowed. At- present the crossing is worked with a punt, and the tolls received have been very satisfactory. It is admitted that it entails less work to collect tolls on a bridge, which can be done by a woman whose husband could bo employing himself usefully in other ways, than on a punt which necessitates an able-bodied man putting forth his whole strength, thus the '; sum received as re-ntal of a punt bears a very small proportion to the sum paid by the public for crossing . the river, Last year ihe Shannon '

ferry was let ab £75, or very near it, but we are unable at the moment to verify ifc, bufc call ifc £'75» which proves fchat in the opinion of the tenderer tolls to lhe amount of fully £17'j would be paid or else he wonld not*, be earning anything for himseli. Ifc is also certain thafc a bridge would fh cl dee more ' Yraffic~thati a pit ti t does i" say by a third, which to our mind is well under fche mark, and add a .Jjhi.rd 0f, £17.5 to that auipunt^we find the probable sum obtainable by tolls would amount to -2288;* or £33 more than fche interest wanted, and representing a very nice little remuneration/ for. the toll gate* keeper. Those are no vain imaginings, fchey are facts, and place the idea of a bridge wifchin the range of obtainable ob'joets*. Croakers will suggest, having a pleasure in interposing all obstruc tion to the advancement of fche people and the district that the item of repairs to fche bridge has been overlooked. It has nofc been so, as to avoid making our calculations too rosy we accepted last year's tender as our basis, which, ifc will be remembered was lower than the previous year, and year by year a greater traffic will be induced. The local bodies have taken steps to borrow money to make goods roads on either side of fche bridge, which must have a considerable influenoa on the traffic over it. The mosfc important question is, will the Government help ? We have no hesitation in saying that they most undoubtedly should, as for years past no Government, good or bad, has ever lent a hand to assist the. settles, and- as the time and the opportunity haa arrived we trust they will stretch some departmental rules to enable them to do so much good at so little cost. • ■