THE SHANNON PUNT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 30501, 22 June 1926, Page 3

THE SHANNON PUNT.

CONFERENCE OF MANAWATU • AND HOHOWHENUA COUNTY COUNCILLORS. At the invitation of the Manawatu County Council, members of the Horowhenua County Council met representatives of the former Council at the site of the Shannon bridge yesterday morning, to discuss improvements to the punt. Present were: Messrs Hunt (Chairman), W. E. Barber, Fagan, Boyce, Reid, Pearce, and A. K. Drew (clerk) of the Manawatu County Council and Messrs Monk (chairman), H. Barber, J. Whyte, Catley, and Ryder, representing the Horowhenua County Council. Mr. Hickford, engineer to the Manawatu County Council, and Mr. Pigott, of Moutoa, were also present.

The punt was inspected and the members of the Manawatu County Council ferried across the river where they met the deputation from the Horowhenua County Council. The conference took place on the river hank. PUNT NOT SATISFACTORY. Mr. Monk said that the punt had been in existence for two or three years now and was not working satisfactorily. He did not think it was properly constructed. They had met that morning at the suggestion of the Manawatu County Council, to discuss what could In' done in the matter. Mr. Drew then read the engineer's report and recommendations in connection with the punt and its working, which were submitted In the last meeting of the Manawatu County Council (previously published). Mr. Monk: Most of that is arranged for. The main question appears to be that of providing another man for I lie punl. The Council says il wants belter service, then it will have to have belter attendance. The main evil, however, appears !o lie t lio shoaling that is going on in the river which prevents the punl from being worked successfully when the river is low.

Mr. Drew then submitted a plan of the punt used successfully on the Manawatu River by Mr. Pigott for many years prior to the, erection of the Shannon Bridge. The draft of the old punt was two feet as against four feet drawn by llic present one. x

ALTERATIONS NECESSA RY. Cr. W. E. Barber said that the existing punt needed a little more beam and six inches more in height to make il serviceable. For a whole month recently it had been unworkable. The service was not satisfactory and he did not consider one man enough to work the punt.

Mi’. Monk: We did not appoint the present ferryman. That was done by the Public Works Department. If we are going to meet and each time blame the other fellow for the existing bad conditions we may as well knock off now. It is better to drop all past matters and see what can be done in the future. The shallowness of the river appeared to him to be the main obstacle. Cr. W. E. Barber: The river is all right. It is the silting up of the approaches that is causing the trouble. ■PUNT OFFERED TO At AN AWATU COUNTY COUNCIL. Mr. Monk said that it had been suggested that the punt was not giving service. On behalf of his Council he now offered the control of the punt to the Manawatu County Council. His Council would still foot their share of the expense, but as the AlaA aw atu County Council had had more experience in running punts he thought it would be better for them to have the control of affairs. The sanction of the Main Highways Board would have to be obtained to do this, but lie did not anticipate any difficulty in this direction. He suggested that the Manawatu County Council take over the control of the punt and that they go ahead and carry out their suggestions. Mr. Hunt: We cannot decide on that question now. It will have to go before our Council. Air. Monk: You are more vitally interested than us in the matter, -Continuing, he said that when the punt was first decided on the Alain Highways Board said that no charge was to be made for ferrying. They had agreed to pay all expenses over and above what the maintenance of the Shannon Bridge would have been. His Council was quite willing that another man should be put on to assist with the working if the punt. A SATISFACTORY MOVE. Cr. W. E. Barber said that the move was a very satisfactory one. There had been a lot of complaints about the punt, but the point at issue was the improvement of the present conditions. The suggestion that the punt be taken over by the Alanawatu County Council would have to be dealt with by the full Council. For the money already expended on the punt they should be getting better service. Cr. Ryder said that the bed of the river should be fascined on each side and this would do away with the silting up trouble. Cr. W. E. Barber said that the punts previously used and worked successfully on the Alanawatu River had been of shallower draft ' than the existing one.

AH’. Pigott, who for many years successfully operated the punt on the Alanawatu River, said that all the existing gear in connection with the punt would have to come down and be rearranged if the punt was

to be worked successfully. The punt, he said, was not a punt at all but a box. He had told the engineer when the work was being carried out that the punt would not work, but had been informed that “they would make it work.” The punt should be worked across the river at an angle with a side-board. Mr. Hunt: Wloulcl this punt work successfully that way? Mr. Pigott: No. Mr. Hickford: This punt was built for an engine.

A BOX AND NOT SAFE.

AH. Pigott: It’s a box and not safe. It has a cant to one side now. The load should be at the back so that the nose of the punt lifts up.

Cr. Ryder: A punt' wants understanding! and should be run by a practical man. Cr. W. E. Barber said the punt was dangerous in flood time as it was inclined to tip up. Mr. Monk said that it would he as well to try the power on the punt even if another one had to he built. lie was of opinion that it would be unwise to deal with the question of erecting a temporary bridge. They should confine themselves to dealing with the punt. Cr. Boyce: Will the Alain Highways Board help with any alterations to the punt? Mr. Monk: Yes.

Mr. Hunt: The Alanawatu County Council is not at all eager to Inke the punt; over. They convened the meeting to discuss the working of the punt. ■Cr. Ryder suggested that the members of the Manawatu County Council should get together and discuss the matter. They would not be able to turn round now and say that they had never been given a chance to work the punt efficiently.

Mr. Alonk: We will give you a carte blanche in the matter. Co a liead and do what you like.

Cr. \\‘. E. Barber: It won’t be my fault if the offer is not taken up, hut I lie question will have to be dealt wilh at a full meeting of the Council. SHANNON PUNT A NKiflT- • MARE. * Air. Monk: This Shannon punt business has been a nightmare to us. Now you have a try at it. The Manawatu County Council-, lors 1 lien went into committee on the matter and on resuming the discussion the clerk submitted several question to the Chairman of the Horowhenua County Council which were answered as follows: 1. Have the Horowhenua County Council a written agreement with the Main Highways Board in connection wit’ll the punt? —No. The Horowhenua Council is simply the controlling body the same as it was with the bridge. There was never any settlement with regard to the punt up till the present time. 2. Has the Main Highways Board kept to its agreement’re paying all expenses over and above the usual maintenance of the bridge? —There has been no adjustment of accounts up till the present. 3. Has the Horowhenua County Council any authority to make alterations to the existing conditions or does any such matter have to be submitted to the Main Highways Board first? —No. It is our duty to make the punt work, however. 4. If the Alanawatu County Council takes over the control of the punt would this have any bearing in connection with the new bridge? —No. OFFER, TO BE RECOMAIENDED. Mr. Hunt said that the Councillors present would recommend that the question of taking over the control of the punt be confirmed at the next meeting of the Alanawatu County Council. Air. Alonk said that his Council would also move in connection with the transfer of control at its next meeting. The Alnin Highways Board would have to be notified, but no obstacle would be raised in lit at direction. He said be would see the Acting Engineer-in-Chief find the Chairman of! the Main Highways Board on l lie matter himself. He suggested that in the meantime the "Manawatu County Council should carry out any improvements they thought necessary and assured them that the Horowhenua County Council would bear its portion of any such expense. Anything that could be suggested in connect inn with shoaling on his County’s side of the river would lie attended to. Il was further suggested that the working hours for the punt be from f> n.m. to 10 p.in., and that an extra man be employed. Arrangements are also to be made with the Foxton and Shannon Borough Councils to erect a notice board showing when the punt is working.