MANAWATU BRIDGE DEPUTATION

Otaki Mail, 14 June 1922, Page 2

MANAWATU BRIDGE DEPUTATION

HO KG WHEN LA TAKES -NO ACTION'. The Shannon Borough Council iniurmed uie Muiovvnenua Cuunty Council on Saturday that n hud deckled to wait upon tiic Minister ol Public wonts with reiereuce to the Munawatu liivei bridge, with a view to urging him to take steps to form a contributing body comprising Uie Horowhenna Cuunty, .Munawatu County, Shannon and Foxiun Borough Councils, it was suggested that earn should contribute equitable amounts towards putting the bridge in order and dealing .vun the question of the river. The Shannon Borough invited the iloiowhenua Council's co-operation, and asked that delegates he sent to comprise the deputation which would meet the Minister oil Tuesday next, Jone 13. I lie Shannon council loi warded a report and plan ol the bridge and liter, made by us engineer, .tir Edwaiu. it was puiiiieu mu mere was need tor mime, dime action. me cmunmin v Ci. .Monk said Die e.uunty i.ouucji iiad been utilised by ds own engineer mat die briuge was m no immediate danger, though theie was serious erosion at me western, or Aiaiiawant etui. The Shannon engiueci said there was no danger oil me western siue, bin their own cngi- , ueer said the mam llow was on that side, ami the threatened erosion on the east side was not serious, it was men- engineer's opinion against an- . oilier. The Shannon people were taking action because they said they did not want to be cut oh Hum 1-oxton, but there did nut seem much danger ol ihat. The banking ol the Manawutti liner and the scheme being carried out by the Makerua Drainage Board would alfeet the river by causing the waiei m tune to concentrate at the bridge, and possibly carry it away. Thai was a serious matter, hut the Government gave the right to hunk the river. He did not know why '.he Shannon people should be taking action. as Uie County Council was the controlling body, hut it they wanted to go to the Minister they could do so. Cr. Ilarkuess: Don’t you think we ought to lie represented? ’Tilt: chairman: 1 have no doubt the matter will he re let red to us by the Minister. Replying to Cr. Ryder, the chuliman, said there had been no erosion at the eastern end during the last, 12 months. The engineer had tested tho liver with liuats, and the channel was working the other way. Cr. Ryder: Floats want to he tried in hood time. That's when the da mage is done. Uie Engineer: Flouting limber goes to the west side ol the river', and this causes erosion when held by the bridge. The chairman: I don't know it Mi Edwards has taken soundings ol the river. Thu plan of the budge -hows the piles at the east end were '.tit. in the ground, and out engineet says they are neatly that now. The engineer said tiie river had made up ground at Uie eastern side, and tlieie had been no erosion tor J2 months. The chairman said it was then duty to keep tlteii end in tupair. The beat Horovvlienuu could do was to control the nver at Uie bridge, hut elsewhere he (bought the property owners should do something. He advised the Council to mhe no liability outside that at me bridge. Cr. Hat ktiess: We should have a rivet buaid to control and -uy where banks should be put, and similar matters. (J ..Mi l.euvey : Too late now; Uie banks are up. Cr, Barber: They are under control oi an engineer. Cr. Ryder said lie had not seen a commonserise bank built in New Zealand yet. The banks were constructed close up to the rivei ,and when the river overflowed them was no room for Uie llood water, and damage ieSUlied. The tranks should, be bull', some distance hack liom Uie rivers. Cr. Broad belt said .-Shannon v. a-, trying to lores the position, and the Council should not take any nan m the deputation. The chairman said the Council had its own engineer to advise it and they wen- quite satis-lied with his advice Resides Horovvhernia was trie controlling body. Manavvatu was also a responsible irody, but he believed it was not taking any part in the deputation It was 'decided that the Council take no action in rnp matter.