SHANNON BRIDGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2833, 13 January 1925, Page 3

SHANNON BRIDGE.

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES TO BE HELD. At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council the following letter was read from the Public Works Department re the Manawatu River Bridge on the Foxton-Shannon road: “Recently a deputation from the Manawatu County Council interviewed the Chairman of the Main Highways Board re replacing the spans of the above mentioned bridge, that were washed away with a temporary structure of minimum width. A temporary structure is estimated to cost £1,200 and instructions have been put forward to ask the Council, in conjunction with the Manawatu County Council and the Shannon Borough Council what proportion of the cost of a temporary structure each local body will be willing to find, also whether the Council and the two other local bodies concerned arc willing to shoulder the risk of the temporary structure being washed away before the erection of a new bridge can be completed. It will be probably two or three years before a new bridge can he ereeled.”

The Mayor said a. general meeting of local bodies should be convened lo discuss the matter. Something would have to be done to restore communication with Shannon. The original cost of the bridge was £3,500, Foxton’s allocation of interest and sinking fund, one-sixth, being £2O a year. A re-allocation between local bodies would have to be made. Shannon was not paying anything towards the upkeep of the old bridge. This, however, was not Shan-

non's fault-as at the time of the erection of the bridge Shannon was not a borough, but part and parcel of the Hovowhenua County Council. Later, on becoming a borough, it offered to contribute towards the upkeep of the bridge' but its offer was refused. Regarding the punt at the Shannon bridge, the Mayor did not think there would be anything lost over it, as the owners were prepared to take it back for what it cost at any reasonable time. It was moved by the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Bryant, that the Council heartily supports Shannon and Moutoa’s request to the Public Works Department to re-erect the missing span at the Shannon bridge with necessary protective works. The Council suggests that the local bodies interested hold a conference at the earliest date possible, to consider the above proposition and that this resolution he conveyed to the bodies concerned.

The Mayor, in speaking to the motion, said that the conference of Engineers some time ago had recommended the No. 3 scheme. A new bridge would cost £IO,OOO and would be subjected to exactly the same water pressure in flood time. There would be no safety in a new bridge. The T<)komani Stream would certainly act as a buffer on the western side, but on the east conditions would be the same as at the existing bridge. If the scheme outlined in the motion above was turned down they wop Id have to pay their allocation of £IO,OOO. The existing bridge repaired and with protective measures,, would stand for ten to fifteen years. When the bridge was constructed the piles were simply stood in the bed of the river, sunk no further than two feet, and the decking built on that. It was remarkable that it had stood as long as it did. Debris allowed to collect pt the bridge was a great menace.

The motion was carried and it was decided that Messrs Chrystall and i’oss be delegates to the conference, which is to he held on Saturday.