THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2948, 13 October 1925, Page 3

THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

COUNCIL DONATES £IOO TOWARDS RECONSTRUCTION.

At last nights meeting of the Borough Council a letter was read from the Horowhenua County Council, stating that at a meeting of that body recently, it was decided to approach the Foxton Borough Council to see if it was prepared to make a voluntary contribution towards the reconstruction of the Shannon Bridge on the new site. Cr Winstanley said he was opposed to the Council making any donation towards the reconstruction of the bridge. Cr. McMurray said that if a new bridge was erected and the Highways Board took it over the Council would derive a certain amount of maintenance for a length of Union St. from the Board, as the Shannon Road would be a main highway. If the bridge was not reconstructed there was a possibility of the Highways Board not declaring the road a main highway. In any case a eomlmission, jf set up, would saddle the borough with a portion of the costs of a new bridge.

Cr. Walker expressed the opinion that the borough could not be saddled with any portion of the cost of a new bridge. The clerk suggested that the Council offer the County Council £IOO. When the Shannon Bridge was first constructed the borough had to pay one-sixth of the cost and if a Commission was set up they might be called on to pay this proportion again. It would be a poor bridge that could be erected for £I2OO and the Council’s share of such an expenditure would exceed £IOO.

Cr. Adams said the cost of a new bridge would be £30,000 and of this amount £20,000 would be paid by the Highways Board leaving £lO,000 to be found by local bodies concerned.

Cr. Winstanley: Is the bridge any good to Foxton The Mayor: We have a duty to perform to the general public. Cr. Winstanley: Would we be eonpenisated by the Highways Board for what, we put in'? Cr. McMurray said that the Council would get their £IOO back in two years. The Council should look ahead and not take a narrow view of this "matter. Efforts were being made to get boats to go on the Foxton run and if only one more was got Foxton would greatly benefit by Shannon and surrounding districts. After further discussion, it was decided that a grant of £IOO be made towards the reconstruction of the Shannon Bridge, provided that the council is relieved of any future liability.