Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, OCT. 9, 1902. The Shannon Bridge.
The date is fixed when a Commismissiouer, appointed by the Government, will sit at Foxton to determine the relative sums that shall be paid by the various local bodies said to bo interested in the erection of a bridge over the Manawatu River near Shannon.
In this town a feeling prevails that it is not fair to ask the Borough Council to pay any share of the cost, but though we have advocated the erection of a bridge at Shannon, some day, we have carefully pointed out other work that should go band in hand with its erection, if the
bridge was to be of anjr use to the town. Unfortunately our neighbours at Shannon have been in too much hurry, they expect too much from the bridge, the whole benefit, if any, would if erected at once, be wholly theirs, whilst any benefit Poxton would derive from a bridge would be when the road over the ivinges to Ekotahuna was made, and the bridge formed a span in direct communication from inland to port. Other differences have also been occasioned by the proposed erection of this bridge: in the County of Horowhenua, who are the presumable moving parties to this erection, it is openly kn \vn that the County, as a whole, has not the slightest intention to take any part in payment for its cost, which is to be saddled on two Ridings - the Shannon and Toko-raaru—-and the ratepayers in the latter are very little benefited by the proposal. It should be made veryclear, in any arrangement, as the various local bodies become partners in this bridge, that the Horowhenua County as a whole, are the only body on the south of the river Which is held answerable for its share, whatever it may be determined, and its liability to further enlargements of the bridge in the event of the banks washing away. Unless this is made perfectly clear at the start, troubles are bound to arise in the near future. It is possible to conceive, where a heavy liability is spread over only two Ridings of a very large comity, the funds of those Ridings might n >b be able to stand the strain of, very possibly, heavy damages by flood or other causes, and tho burden might, for some years rest on the other partners.
Tho Manawatu County is endeavouring to act similarly as regards the Awahou Riding, most unfairly striving to put tho whole cosh 01 construction on tho one biding. This is not only unfair, but improper, as until this suggestion has been made it has been a strict understanding in the Manawatu County that all bridges over thirty feet in length were to be charged, and have been charged, over the whole county.
Thus the Awahou Riding, for the past twenty years has been paying their share towards the bridges) and especially the expensive Awalum Bridge, as well as towards the Wirokino Bridge. How can it be considered fair to make this one Riding pay exceptionally for this Shannon Bridge-? It may be said that the position is internal finance of tb ■ county, but it is not so when an effort is made to make the Borough pay towards a bridge which lies miles outside its boundary, and the two counties shuffle all their liability on to the Ridings on either side of the bank of the river. The erection of the Wiro*
kino Bridge was paid in equal shares by the three public bodies, but though they assert their anxiety for a bridge, the most anxiety they have shown is how to gut smaller bodies to pay for their pleasure. Every argument they can urge to justify their attempts to avoid paying the cost of the bridge, could be used with greater force by - the Borough, as not only are we away from the bridge, but practically the bridge, when erected would be of n ) use to Lbs town, until the mad- over the ranges are ocened up. All that the public of Foxton want to g-t to Shannon [:w i; to be. in touch with the Maikwalu Railway, and that is obtained by tha efficient ferry service. We might all want to get across tho ranges, or others from tha other side might want to get to this coast, but as at present they cannot w'e appear to be setting the cart before the horse by building a bridge leading to nowhere and for nothing. In these days of chucking money about in a reckless fashion, the taxpayers might take the expenditure of £SOOO for a bridge as being of small moment, especially as it is expected the Government will find half tho money, and will lend the rest. That is the real difficulty, money lightly comes, lightly goes, and had there been such a proposition before the public to find the money from tho rates. It is doubtful if tho expenditure would have been sanctioned. Under the present system of bridge building a few busy-bodies are able to tax the land for the glory they may obtain by having their names (mind yon, names only), identified with a bridge, bat towards which they may not have to pay a penny. Those who have to pay are not even permitted a vote on the matter, but one local body declares it wants a bridge, and therefore calls on other bodies to pay. Those who originate the scheme and those dragged into it, have power to create tho expenditure without submitting proposals to the taxpayers. Those who have to pay, that is those who own land in the two counties, and perhaps in the borough, have to pay without a fair chance, of objecting, and those who purchase properties in the future will still find the special rate yearly becoming’due. Why wo nave gono into this question so fully is that, to our mind, the immediate expenditure is but a flea bite to what the possible expenses are likely to be owing to damage to the bridge. If a span should be washed away, it is evident an outlay must be made to keep in use the portion that remains, and if no part is damaged soon tbs banks
Will need protecting, dine after time. A bridge is most convenient, that is if the river banks are good, and no damage is sustained, but a bridge, placed in an unsatisfactory site, is one of the most expensive of possessions, and should compel all thoughtful persons to carefully examine all proposals for expenditure in that direction.
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Manawatu Herald, 9 October 1902, Page 2
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1,102Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, OCT. 9, 1902. The Shannon Bridge. Manawatu Herald, 9 October 1902, Page 2
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