THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2580, 15 May 1923, Page 2

THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

MAYOR CHARGES HOROWHENUA COUNTY WITH NEGLECT. jJ REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. At last night’s Borough Council meeting, the Mayor said that the Shannon bridge was in a critical condition. The last flood had seoirred away the bank and endangered the structure. He said the Horowhenua County Council, who were the responsible body, were guilty of almost criminal carelessness in the way they have left this structure in jeopardy. A few more floods and the bridge would be washed out to sea. Nothing was being done by the Horowhemia County Council to protect the structure. The Foxton Borough Council was concerned in the structure and contributed to flu l capital cost. Tt was criminal to allow the bridge to he washed away for want of a little protection. Something should he done at once and strong action taken by the Borough Council in the matter. The structure had cost Co,ooo and if it had to he re-erected it would cost from £IO.OOO to £15,000. It was appalling to see the way the bank on Ihe north side, up stream from the bridge, is falling into the river. The Mayor detailed the erosion taking place. Cr. Coley said the erosion was taking place on the Manawatu County side of the river. The Mayor said,the safe-guard-ing of the bridge was tltf concern of the Horowhenun County Council, which was the controlling body. The Borough Council would be failing in its duty if it allowed the present state of things to continue. Cr. suggested that the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee. Cr. Ross said when the matter had been referred to the Borough Council previously, by the Manawatu County Council, the- Borough Council turned the matter down. The Mayor said the Manawatu County Council had dealt with a different matter, the construction of a bank. . Cr. Coley said the matter should he referred to the Manawatu County Council before any further action was taken. After further discussion, the Mayor moved and Cr. Bryant seconded the following motion, which was carried unanimously:— “That a letter be written to the Minister of Public Works forthwith pointing out the exceedingly dangerous position of the Shannon river bridge and if possible making it mandatory on the controlling an- J thqpity viz. the Horowhenua County ijP Council, to carry out protective works and thus prevent the said bridge being, washed out to sea.”

[IN reference to the above, we may state that the chairman of the Horowhenua County Council and engineer recently visited the bridge and bank erosion and that a report is being brought down in connection with the matter. The chairman of the Manawatu County Council, engineer, and Cr. W. E. Barber also inspected the locality and the question of the responsibility for the approach is not definitely settled. This has an important bearing on the safety of the structure. The Foxton Borough Council refused to assist the Manawatu County Council in a proposed scheme to divert the current- from endangering the bridge.—Ed. H.]