THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2964, 19 November 1925, Page 2

THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

SURVEY OF NEW SITE COMMENCED.

AGREEMENT OF LOCAL BODIES.

Reporting to the meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, the Engineer said the Public “Works Department have made a start with the survey of the proposed bridge site on the Manawatu River at Shannon and the roads leading to it. The Manawatu County Council wrote agreeing to the following apportionment of the cost: Horowhenua County, live-twelfths; Manawatu County, five-twelfths; Foxton Borough, one-twelfth; Shannon Borough, one-twelfth. If the amount payable by the Foxton and Shannon Boroughs is more than £BSO the two counties would be responsible for such surplus. The Foxton Borough Council forwarded the following resolution: “That having heard Or. Monk, chairman of the Horowhenua County Council, the Foxton Borough Council hereby agrees to contribute the sum of £BSO towards the cost of a new Shannon bridge on the new site, subject to the following conditions: (1) That such sum shall be the maximum. In the event of the bridge costing less than the £24,000 estimated, such contribution shall be proportionately reduced; (2) That one-sixth of the value of the present bridge be credited to Foxton Borough. The foregoing offer to be conditional on the FoxtonShannon Road being retained as a main highway.” The Shannon Borough Council also agreed to contribute the sum of £SSO for the same purpose subject to the same conditions as outlined by the Foxton Borough Council. The chairman of the No. 9 Distriot Council of the Main Highways Board advised that the Board had decided to authorise sufficient funds to enable a survey to be put in hand, so as to ascertain the best routes for the approach roads to the proposed new bridge. The survey would be started almost immediately.

The chairman said he was very pleased with the maner in which the local*bodies had received the scheme. ' . ■ ...id&J

The following motion was passed: “That in consideration of a contribution from the Main Highways Board on the scale provided under the Main Highways Amendment Act, 1925,” this Council agrees to contribute fivb-twelftlis of the amount to be found by the local authorities in respect to the construction of the new Manawatu River Bridge on the basis of the total cost being £24,000. Also in the event of the one-twelfth epntribution from the Shannon and Foxton Boroughs exceeding £BSO this Council to share equally with the Manawatu County in providing the balance in excess.”

COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PUNT

Mr. Barber said the attenion of councillors had been called to the closing up of the river at the punt and he wondered whether it was due to spoil being thrown in and not to silt.

The Engineer said it was quite alright on Wednesday, when he was there. - Cr. Barber said that on several occasions the punt could not be reached. In one instance lie had to return and go via Palmerston to his destination.

Gr. Whyte again called attention to the need for power on the punt. He had received numerous complaints during the last week or so, and he did not think it a reasonable thing to ask a man to get. people across by the aid of a windlass. On election day from 60 to 70 people crossed over in the punt, and on one occasion it had taken the man about 20 minutes to get over. The Engineer stated that the matter was jn hand, but the trouble was one of procuring a friction winch. He thought there was more fuss than was necessary over the punt. The other day the man had taken two and a-quarter minutes to go over and four minutes to come back. He (the Engineer') and the chairman had been present at the time and there seemed to be little difficulty in the process of getting across. —Chronicle.