The Wirikino Bridge.

Manawatu Herald, 10 March 1898, Page 2

The Wirikino Bridge.

■ » v DEPUTATION TO THE MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL. The interest in securing a bridge over the Manawatu River at Wirikino was very well shown yesterday when, at the invitation of the Mayor and Borough Council sixteen gentle* men travelled by Tram to Sanson to * interview the Manawatv County Council. The members of the deputation were :— Messrs J. B. Btansell, Mayor of Foxton, H. J. Btchards, Chairman of the Borowhenua County Council, John Davies, Chairman of the Wirikino Boad Board and also a member of the Horewbeno* County Council, J. W. Walsh, P. Hennessy, , All. Fraser and W. B. Bhodes, members of the Foxton Borough Counoil, J. Eebbell and P. Bartholomew, members of the Horowbenua County Council, and G. Nye, F. Robinson, W. Barber, E. 8. Thynne, J. B. Whyte, W. Bobinson and C. T. Austin. Amongst these names are some of the largest ratepayers in the County. The tram left at 12.30 p.m. and arrived at Sanson a few minutes after 2 p.m. On arriving at the County Office Mr J. B. McLennan kindly introduced the deputation in the absence of Mr A. Strang, the representative of the Awahou Riding, who bad left the meeting before the tram arrived. At the Council there were present Messrs Taylor (Chairman,) Hammond, McLennan and Masters. Mr Taylor, the chairman, said he did not anticipate suoh a large gathering. He hoped they had enjoyed their trip up by tram. He was glad to see them and would give them every assistance. The Matob said that he, as Mayor, and the Councillor* and other gentle* mm forming the deputation had come up re $he Wirikino Bridge. He had corns up 8 or 4 months previous bnt did not set them owing to there being bo meeting. He had, however, sent a letter re the bridge with the proposition as to cost, Ac Since then they had engaged Mr Fulton, a well-known engineer, who had reported that he could do the work well within the estimate of the cost given by the government en* gtneer. He produced the plans and report. The Foxton Borough Counoil interviewed the Horowhenua County Council and that Council had appointed some of their members to wait upon the Council to-day. That Council had also determined a district for rating for the bridge. The total is estimated at £5800, and if equally apportioned one-third eaoh womld be, leas the Government subsidy, £888. The amount if the bridge was free would only be some £45 a year to pay, and the Borough Council considered the district from Rangitikei downwards would be very muoh benefited by the work. As regards the Ball's bridge the three local bodies had agreed and it was thought this district being similarly sitaated should also agree, and he hoped that the Manawatu Council would look favourably upon the proposals. He would be glad to answer questions. Chairman: On what grounds do you base your hopes of subeidy ? On a promise ? Mayor: Yes sir. This is a letter from the engineer, Mr Fulton, (pro* duced). I have also other document* to show. I produce a letter from the member for the district in which he says we shall get a £ fof £ subsidy. A, deputation from the Horowhenia Council have also seen the Minister for Lands and ,he distinctly promised a subsidy. ~ Chairium: If you did not get a subsidy you would not go on with the work? Mayor : Just so. We would not have gone so far had we Hot felt sure of getting the subsidy. The County ran no risk as the bridge would not be built if there was no eabsidy. Mr Nyb said he had been a reiident in the locality* of the proposed bridge for 61 years and willows he had planted 81 years ago on the bank of the river were standing now, which showed the banks were secure* The site is the beßfc between Fftzherbert and the mouth of the river. There is no bridge over the river for 80 miles. As an old settler he could say this was a long felt want and people in Sandon would receive great facilities. It would mean a great saving in sending stock to Welling*, ton. He did not think anyone rightly realised the advantages this bridge would be to all settlers. Chairman : You have not approached the Bangitikei County Council about this bridge ? Mr Nyb: No, it is too. far. I hope, however, every effort will be made to get the bridge erected. Chatbman : Have you been receiving any money for the Wirikino ferry t Mayor : We have received an annual rent of £105 for the last 8 years. / The . ferry for 8 months cannot be orossed until high water owing to the silt. It hat often cost the ferryman £9 for labour. Mr John Davies is perfectly satisfied that

our figures are right, bo much so, that he offers to take the tolls of the bridge for £200 a year, he (the Ipaaker) would do the same, and Cr Henneisjr had also offered to do likewise, this showed they had faith in their figures. Ifc was a well known fact that facilities increased traffic. . CJfcUiw«A» : How do you rjropp.se to get over the difficulty of water f Mayor : The way we propose is to extend the road from No. 2 Lino to the straight road from the bridge. Mb Richards, as chairman of the Horowhentfa Oouuty Council, supported Mr Stansell on behalf of this bridge, and his Council appointed the memben of the Wirokino Riding and himself to attend the deputation today. His Council had agreed to find one-third of the cost as _ they be* lieved the bridge would be of much value. He thought the amount of contribution, £45, io small that they could not do better than build it. He hoped the Manawatu County Council .would asßist to bring this work to a laeceiaful issue. Mr Da vies, speaking as chairman of the Wirokino Road Board and member of the Horowhenua County Councilf said that during the 82 years he had been living at Wirokino the site had not changed. It waa the very best lite and there was no danger of a bridge washing away. There is no question that the bridge would offer facilities to every one. Mr Donald Fraser and other Rangitikei influential men waited on the Government and urged the construction of this bridge. The people of the Lower Rangitikei are alive to its value. The local bodies would have very little money to find even if the tolls were reduced .one-half. The tolls from the bridge would amply cover all interest. The ratepayers can please themselves as to whether there are tolls. The initial body in this matter is the Foxton Borough Council, and they have the power to font the position and it would be better for the other local bodies to accept with graoe a proposition than to have a thing forced upon them. Mb Babtholomew said he knew the Bite as being right enough. He thought the .cost was much underestimated and believed it would be bard to make a bridge to withstand the floods, and the first big fresh might carry it away. He raised an objection as to the floods. Mr Eebbbll said that they were there as a body of four from the Horowhenua County Council, and the majority are in favour of a bridge but Mr Bartholomew had never raised these objections before. They bad never heard of any bridge built fay Mr Fulton being carried away, though those on the Manawatu Line and at Tokomaru were erected by him. An estimate from a man of bis capability must be taken into consideration, and the Government Engineer had borne these figures out. Be thought the Council would take ajD engineer's opinion to that of a layman. His (the speakers) father had told him the site had never altered since 1841. Though the floods coma down quicker, the river rises no higher. He was certain the bridge wouid be a benefit to the country at large. The tolls at the ferry were too high, but if they were reduced they would get more traffic. Mr Thynne said he had not intended to have spoken had it not been for Mr j Bartholomew. Some of the Council- i lors present were aware that a proposal i to erect a bridge at this site had been given attention by the Manawatu Council many years ago. He mentioned that Mr J. T. Stewart had prepared plans for an iron cylinder bridge with a. turntable at an estimated cost of £i 5,000. Owing to. objections as to cost he had then reduced his figures to £io,ooo, and again for a timber bridge to £7,500, but the County Engineer had expressed his opinion that even with a turn-table a bridge could be erected at the Wirokino site for under £7,000. This would show that the present estimates with no turn-table were not very far out. As to the utility of the bridge he reminded the Council that their late chairman, Mr Ransom, was in Wellington last November and he (the 6peaker) was present when Mr j. T. Dalrymple, of Lower Rangitikei, urged upon Mr Ransom the importance of going on with this bridge. Mr Carr, the auctioneer in Feilding, also pressed upon Mr Ransom the need of this bridge, and he had said he be- i lieved every man interested in stock at the North of the Manawatu County would be most anxious to see it erected, and were an agitation necessary he would gladly help and attend meetings. .Mb Bartholomew desired to say that timber had risen since these estimates had been made. He wanted to see a sufficient amount for a bridge provided. Mr Richards said they were prepared to raise one-third of the cost only if the Government found £ for £. Mr Stansell had worked the road in every flood since 1889. When the water first comes over the land it runs up, and when it runs down it does so slowly so that the current is imperceptible. As regards the cost, the estimates are given by Mr Wilson, the Government Engineer, and Mr Fulton. The bridge at Longburn has stood -every flood and was erected by him, and surely if he can make a bridge that will withstand the floods there he surely ought to be able to in a place wbwMbere is no run. As regards the increase in cost of timber, he "drew attention that these estimates were of quite recent dates. Mr Davies said that Mr Bartholomew had come to make all the opposition he could, but he ought to have raised these difficulties in his own /■*-..- ill ' ' . *

Mr Walsh said that a gentleman who iB interested in the timber trade said he would land irortbark piles from Sydney cheaper than totara piles could be got for here. Mr Richards thanked the Council for the reception given them, and hoped the wishds of the deputation would be helped by the Manawatu County Council. Mr Stansell, on behalf ot the Borough and settlers, thanked the Council for their reception. Mr Taylor regretted not having, let the other Councillors know, and that there was not a iull meeting. Very likely there would be a full meeting next month, when the matter would be considered, and a reply would be forwarded. The deputation then withdrew. All the party returned by tram to Carnarvon, and thence by Govern^ ment train to Foxton.