RANGITIKEI COUNTY BRIDGES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8881, 5 August 1907, Page 2

RANGITIKEI COUNTY BRIDGES.

Engineer’s Proposal

At Raugitikei County Council meeting on Saturday Mr Mair, Engiueer, said ifc was not generally known that'“The Loan to Local Bodies Act,” empowered loans to bo raised over portions or the whole of counties for the purpose of reconstructing bridges over 30 foot spau upon county roads. A loan proposal may bo sribmitted covering a sum sufficient to renew bridges as required during tho subsequent 20 years and tho money lifted from tho Treasury as the bridges need renewing. In Raugitikei County the bridges have been sadiy neglected and in the nest few years tho Council would have to face a very heavy expenditure for tho purpose of reconstruction. Many of the bridges which Council continue to patch should now be renewed and any sound portions could be used for smaller or temporary work or sold for farming purposes. Frequently <a bridge was damaged or collapsed during a flood and the work entailed in keeping.tho road open for traffic and carrying out construction or re* paiis was made doubly expensive and great delay frequently occurred from difficulty in getting timber, especially iron bark. Ho therefore asked Council’s earnest consideration of a scheme, under which ho would suggest that a report be made upon all bridges and large culverts in the County, detailing sheir dimensions, materials, state of repair, etc., and classing them by tho number Of years before they should be renewed. The report could contain an estimate of the cost of renewing those over 30 feet and those under, showing the liability to'Oouncil during the period of say 20 years. If desired the Conn* oil could then submit to ratepayers a loan for a portion, or the whole of county, and it successful, carry out the reconstruction as found necessary. Ho would suggest, that whenever suitable, concrete and reinforced concrete be used to make an everlasting structure, requiring no maintenance. This class of bridge was now being generally adopted in the colony by local bodies, in preference to wood or iron. This year in tho Taranaki county seven such bridges had been built. The Council, now having a mechanic in Mr Nairn, could employ him in off time in making the necessary steel work and either keep a bridge gang of trained men at the construction or let the work by contract. By this moans tho work could be done very cheaply and enough gravel could be obtained in any portion of tiro county for bridges of the class mentioned. Mr Mair went on to say there was every evidence of Government reducing this session the interest on loan ufouey to S}4 per cent, also increasing the borrowiug powers of counties. It was at once evident that money raised at 3 14 per cent to build permanent bridges would fall much easier upon ratepayers than collecting rates each year to build and patch expensive timber bridges, which last a very short time and also entailed great expense in regularly painting and other repairs. The Council decided that Mr Mair should furnish report on the state of the whole of the bridges in tho County.