FOXTON-SHANNON BRIDGE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2826, 20 December 1924, Page 2

FOXTON-SHANNON BRIDGE

METING OF SETTLERS. OBJECTION TO PUNT. TEMPORARY SPAN DEMANDED. A repi-esentative .meeting of settlers of the Moutoa district was held in the Moutoa Hall on Thursday evening, with the object of considering the getting of suitable means of communication between Shannon and Moutoa, which has been dislocated owing to the loss of the bridge. Mr J. Linklater, M.P., for trie district was present; also Ci’s. Hyde, iMurray and Beard, representing the Shannon Borough Council, and district settlers. Mr J. Linklater w-as elected to the chair.

Mr Linklater, in opening the meeting, said the loss of the bridge which had interrupted communication between the two places was a serious matter to settlers. He agreed that the work of restoring proper communication should be pushed on with all speed by those responsible and he would like an expression of opinion from those present as to a suitable site for a bridge or any suggestions that would help them in their difficulty.

Mr" Walter Carter said a punt was being .built, but that would not meet their needs and would be unsatisfactory. He thought piles could have been put in and a temporary addition made to the portion of the bridge now standing, which would have helped them considerably during the summer months. He said he understood the Highways Board intended shifting the bridge and connecting roads to the site at the mouth of the Tokomaru as recommended by the conference of Engineers. The settlers’ object was to hurry on the shifting of the bridge; if a new one was decided on as at jiresent it was disastrous to the district. Unfortunately, he said, the Horowlienua County Council have been the controlling body, and as they only had about If miles of road, their interest in the district was small. In the interests of the district they should never have been the controlling body He contended the cost of working the punt and inconvenience was not satisfactory, and during the winter they would lie in the same position as at present. Mr Linklater said the punt would not remove the present difficulty and when in action would be inconvenient and costly. . Mr Murray, said the position today was impossible and a punt was

entirely inadequate for connecting up the two places. Judging by the opinion of expert men, the portion of the bridge now standing was quite as sti’ong as when built, and if two new spans were added, the bridge would last for some years. If the bridge was shifted there was still no evidence that it would be safe. Settlers did not agree to the punt and removal of the bridge and it was the general opinion among them that two spans would make it secure.

Mr Pigott said -when the bridge was const!acted, piles were pulled out instead of cut off in the middle, with the result that the cun’ent had been turned to the Shannon side. Had half a dozen piles been driven in, the span would never have gone and he cont9nded.it was through neglect by those who had control. He was of ojjinion that if the comer was cut oft’ by his paddock, where the willows are, that the river would come back to its old course. In regard to the punt, he thought it would he a “white elephant,” as it would he 4ft. high with a Cft. flap aud the steep hank would prevent cars getting on. Mr Barber explained the Manawa(u County Council’s position in regard to the matter. He t said that body had.not yet had it verified from Wellington that the bi’idge was to be shifted. Speaking as a layman who had lived 35 years on the banks of the Manawatu, he had come to the conclusion that with some money spent on protective works, the present site was as safe as any. One feet against the proposed site was that Tokomaru empties out there and will cause a buffer and the way it is being banked will cause the water to come out with great force. Mr Verity said engineers theoretically were all right, but they should be guided by settlers who were acquainted with facts and whose judgment should he more sound. He was present at the bridge during the Hood aud had seen debris banked up for about one to one and ahalf chaiift. This should have been - removed, even if they had to use gelignite. Had the Council been as alert as a private individual the bridge could have been saved. It- was not the current that carried it away. He asked why was a groin not put in when it could be seen there was an erosion. Mr Jewell sa : /t the meeting rather required to form some scheme as to a site for the bridge and not discuss the efficacy, of the punt. He agreed that the knowledge of persons living near the river should be more sound than the theoretical. Could the meeting suggest some superior site? Mr Hyde said he thought the object of the meeting was to restore communication which would be ser- . vieeable. He said a punt was not. He pointed out that the necessary span of 90ft. erected in a temporary manner to take light traffic could be done for less cost than the cost of tiie punt and be more satisfactory. In referring to the loss of trade to Shannon at present, he stated that the Railway Department were losing £SO per week in freight, in fibre alone, which was now being shipped from Foxtoii, while the millers had to bear the extra cost of cartage, while the Shannon Dairy- Co. and the Moutoa suppliers were both losing money owing to extra cartage aud inconvenience. Half a dozen wire cables, decking and a hand rail attached to the present structure would get over the difficulty and light traffic over the bridge could be restored. Mr Beard said his object in attending the meeting was to get those who have control to put in another span. Mr ♦Jewell moved, and Mr Carter seconded, “That representation be made to the Horowhenua and Manawatu County Councils and the Main Highway Board that immediate steps be taken to have a temporally span across the Manawatu river so a- to give direct access to Foxtoii and Shannon and further, that Mr Linklater, M.P., be asked to introduce a deputation from this meeting with the object of placing the whole details before the proper authorities.” This was carried unanimously. The following gentlemen were appointed: Messrs W. E. Barber, W. S. Carter, A. E. Hyde, W. Jewell and Pigott. The meeting was then concluded by a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman (Mr Linklater).