SHANNON BRIDGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2834, 15 January 1925, Page 3

SHANNON BRIDGE.

MANAWAjTU COUNTY COUNCIL’S ACTION. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council, correspondence was read from the Highways Board re the Shannon bridge similar to that forwarded to the Foxton Borough Council. A letter was also read from the Horowhenua County Council, stating that on November 20 !hr> Main Highways Board had decided to abandon the idea of again using the existing bridge at its present site, and had instructed that a punt be installed below the existing traffic site to reinstate communication between Shannon and Foxton. The preparatory work foi the installation of the pnnt service was undertaken at once. On December 24 the chairman of the Main Highways Board wrote that the matter of installing the punt service had proceeded too far to be stopped. An additional reason for adopting this scheme was on account of the great risk which would attend the construction of a temporary bridge, due to the unstable na ture of the river bank and floating timber. He was investigating the statement that the danger of fur ther erosion at the bridge head had passed away, and had instructed the District Highways Board to approach the Manawatu County and the Foxton and Shannon Borough Councils, with a view to ascertaining what proportion of the cost of a temporary structure to restore the old bridge each local authority would he willing to find. In expressing an opinion that an effort was being made to leave the Horowhenua County Council out, Cr. Barber read a copy of a resolu-

tion by the Foxton Borough Council. The speaker considered that the Council should support the idea of a conference of all local bodies interested, as suggested in the motion, and did not agree that the Council should undertake to find any of the money for the proposed work unless the Horowhenua County also contributed. Ho understood that a number of that county’s ratepayers were petitioning for the opening of the bridge. He had spoken to Mr J Link-later, M.P., on the matter of how much the Highways Board would contribute, and hud been given to understand that the Board had practically agreed to contribute onethird of the cost of the new spans of the bridge. Horowhenua County should not be allowed to escape participating in the cost of the work.

After discussing the matter at some length, it was decided to send tlie following letter to the chairman of No. 9 District Council of tho Main Highways Board: — In reply, my Council lias considered the contents of .your letter and presumes as you have not mentioned any cost being home by the Highways Board, or the Ho rowhenua County Council, you propose that neither of these bodies be charged with any of the cost if that work were undertaken. We are' of opinion that there is no reason why the cost of a temporary bridge should not be borne in the same ratio as the suggested expenditure on the punt and approaches, viz. Highways Board 6-12ths, Horowhenua County Council 2-12ths, Manawatu County Council 2-12ths, Foxton Bo - rough l-12th, Shannon borough l-12th. We are advised that many ratepayers in the Horowhenua County are favourable to the tempor ary bridge and that therefore there is no reason to omit them from a share of the expenditure, and in our opinion the Highways Board is justly entitled to pay its share. Wo are also advised that the member for the distief lias approached tho chairman of the Highways Board, and that he is favourable to that view. Moreover, this Council is not by any means sure that the present bridge could n.t be strengthened and lengthened, so that it would serve for many years, especially if some protective w-uks were undertaken. The change in It set of the river we think warrants Ii s view The Council aim thinks (hat the importance of Ibis subje-: is such :to all local bodies vom-e-nod tlmt they ciK.n.'se the mvolu'ion if tlie Foxton Borough Coi.-.-il pa.-sed at a meeting held on .Monday “We would add that the Highways Board chairman, or someone to represent him. together with the chairman of the Nt. 9 Highways District, should be asked to be present.'’ The engineer reported that lie had visited the Shannon bridge on Monday in company with the engineer for the Highways Board (Mr Ronayne). He reported that the punt was completed and Mr Ron-a-yne was making arrangements for the erection of towers and anchor blocks on each side of the river, and also accommodation for the men to work the punt. The contractor for forming the road, stop bank, and excavation work had arrived and would commence work that day. Mr Ronayne stated that Mr Anderson, engineer for the Horowhenua County, would supply the metal for roading on the Manawatu side for about half the cost of the existing estimate. If this could be accomplished it would reduce the cost by one-third. After Mr Ronayne had made a final inspection of the proposed road and the position of the towers to be erected, he requested the Council to push on with the work as fast as possible. A contract had been let to : construct a stop bank and excavate 826 yards of spoil from the cutting approach to tlie punt for the sum of 2/9 per cubic yard. The fencing material was on the ground, and the winch, wire rope and other material to work the punt would be on the spot on Thursday, January 15. While inspecting the bridge, Mr Ronayne’s attention was drawn to the apparatus for conveying passengers across the gulf from the end of tlie bridge to the east shore. Already there had been one accident and a baptism and the arrangements for crossing the gulf were very dangerous.” —Adopted.