Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] THURSDAY, SEPT. 3, 1903. The Shannon Bridge.

Manawatu Herald, 3 September 1903, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] THURSDAY, SEPT. 3, 1903. The Shannon Bridge.

It is now about 18 months since the last Commission to inquire into the advisability of erecting a bridge over the Manawatu on the Foxton - Shannon road sat at Foxton, and, 1 beyond obtaining a decision that the ■ bridge was necessary and the selecI tion of a site for its erection, the | agitation for some more expeditious ! and less expensive mode of crossing the river than the primitive method ; by ferry which at present exists seems still to be some distance from securing its object. The Shannon Ferry is the only one now remaining , of those which formerly existed on i the river. It is nearly 20 years since the traffic between Foxton and , Shannon became sufficiently exten--1 sive to necessitate the construction ' of a punt, to convey passengers, horses, and traps across the stream ; 1 and it ia now universally conceded j by the large number who use the road that it is high time some more up-to-date means of crossing the river were provided. Yet despite the efforts that have been made by deputations to the Premier, by bringing it under the notice of Parliament through the member for the district, and in other ways, the matter still remains in the same unsatisfactory position. Instances could be cited of cases where excellent bridges have been built in places where the demand for their use is less urgent, and this renders the continued apathy of those interested in the present case all the more inexcusable. Whenever any project of public utiKty and convenience is brought forward, objections, even from persons who would benefit by it, follow as a natural course. When the second Commission sat to consider the question of allocating the proportion of rates to be paid by the different local bodies interested, some residents on this side of the river objected to the construction of a bridge at Shannon on the ground that they were already rated for the Wirokino Bridge, and did not wish to have an additional burden. Some people also seemed to imagine that it would help to divert trade from Foxton by making access to Shannon so much easier, apparently oblivious to, the fact that local trade must necessarily be increased by the access to Foxton being made more practicable ; and even if such objection possessed any weight it would be counterbalanced by the overwhelming advantages which would follow in other directions. In any case it is more reasonable to suppose that exactly the opposite effect would follow owing to an increase in the amount of shipping at the port. With the existence of a bridge certain classes of goods could be taken to Shannon more cheaply through the port than by rail from Wellington, and any increase in the j business of the port would necessarily benefit the town. At the present time certain goods are sent to Levin through the port from Wei- i lington at'a cheaper rate than is

charged by rail, and the consideration would apply with still greater force to Shannon; which is hearer Foxton and further from Wellington than Levin, By thus diverting the carriage of goods from the railway to the port not only would Shannon be benefited by lower freights, but Poston itself wOuld feel the benefit of the increased carrying trade. The advantages which would result not to Foxton merely but to the whole district by the substitution of a bridge in place of the present out-of-date means of crossing the river are so obvious that it seems almost superfluous to enumerate them, and it is equally obvious that the increased facilities would ontweigh an additional tax on the settlers, if any such tax existed. It seems strange that persons shoulcbobject to being rated for a bridge when they are already obliged to pay a much heavier tax by way of toll for a very inferior method of transport—an instance of the unreasoning unwillingness we frequently find in human nature to bear a small burden for the sake of getting rid of a larger one If; however, we understand public feeling in this matter aright we can have no hesitation in saying that settlers would readily submit to an extra rate as the price of obtaining a bridge on the Shannon road in consideration of having the present irksome tax Removed, and at the same time obtaining a vastly superior crossing. The increase in the value of property would itself justify the,cost of producing it. The objection raised to the ratepayers of Foxton being taxed with h bridge on jacoount of i s being our. of their district is puerile -the ques iott to be considered is whether they are largely interested in it, and of that there cannot be thd slighsu doubt. The road be ween Foxton and Shannon is already an excellent one, with the exception of the part heat the ferry, which is in the same sta f e now as it was 50 years ago, and the improvement of this part would be a cer aiu consequence of the construction of a bridge. Apaffc from the question of convenience, grea'er safety would be secure 1. This is obvious ■When the river is in flood, and even when the river is low die crossing of horses and traps and of cattle, she p, &c., would not only be vastly more conveni nt and satisfactory, but much less likely to result in loss and danger than the present primitive method. An important consideration is that the traffic he* wCen Foxton and Shannon has been steadily on the increase for many years, an increase which is bound to continue indefinitely. It is only a ma' ter of time before the bridge is constructed, and there is every reason why it should be pushed forward wi bout dol 'y, and the present unne essiry “ax the sooner removed. Not only is the matter one of hup ur anc -> to Fox on and the intervening dis’fict, but Shannon is very deeply int-erenod in -Lo ques ion, The traffic be-ween the two places would necessarily bo gr. a iy augmented by In removJ 'f the > oil and the improvem nt of he means of transport, which at present are such as to keep it in check. '1 he progress of both towns is a sufficient justification of ;ho n c ssary ex midi ture, but such p'-'gress, and the hives ment of capital here, are ua urally retarded while the means of access remain in the present unsatisfactory condition. The matter is becoming more and more one of pressing necessity. It onl / requires the unanimous support of the settlers, which we are satisfied it already has, and it is to be hoped the raejnber for the district will keep the matter steadily in view, and put forward his best efforts to secure its speedy consummation.