MANAWATU BRIDGE REPORT.

Shannon News, 24 October 1923, Page 3

MANAWATU BRIDGE REPORT.

FURTHER CONFERENCE TO BE CALLED.

At a special meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Friday, the report of the conference oi Engineers ol tiie local bodies interested and the Public Works Engineer, regarding the Manawatu Bridge at Shannon was considered. In this report [ttoee alternative suggestions, viz.: (1) To move the bridge down the stream a distance of z 5 to,- 30 chains; (2) to (lengthen the bridge where; it now stands; and (3) to move it up stream to a pointy just below the junction ol the Manawatu river and the Tokoinarui stream, were considered, jfcfoe first being-rejected by the conference .and the other two being submitted in the' report with a strong recommendation in favour of No. 3.

The. chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) presided over a full Council.

In opening the meeting the chairman briefly explained the circumstances under which the conference was called and stated that even, if the bridge were shifted as suggested it was held that it would still be necessary to construct a by-pass ,tfo takiQ ifhe .wjater during lexceptionaJl floods.

Cr. Harkness asked if the by-pass suggested wias necessitated by the operation of the River Board. The chairman said that it was more through the wark being done by the Drainage Board. By confining the water to a narrower bed more water flowed under the bridge., and a& a greater'speed, in floou-time, this causing the erosion which was endangering the bridge. The position, lie said, appeared to be this: he had thought at first that the Council should miake a definite recommendation, but now thought it should be referred to a further conference for consideration. The big trouble .was that they might ge)t the bridge shifted and an "old man flood" would come down and take it away. The nridg'e was a very useful one to thisCounty, but it was perhaps of greater importance to other,local bodies: He was not willing to 'express a definite opinion as to where thei bridge should be, but lie was certainly of opinion that the present bridge was in imminent danger from an "old man flood" as the result of the banking of the .river shutting the water off from the Makerua swamp which provided a natural outlet in flood time.

The Engineer stated thait the present capacity of the bridge was 44,000 feet of .water per second. With the completion of the banking it would be necessary ito take 144\,000 feet. Something ihad to go. He suggested That the report should be recommended back to the different local bodies lor further consideration pending a further conference.

Cr. Harkness asked if there were any immediate necessity for action. Cr. Barber said Iha had known the bridge lor eight years and could say thait it was in as favourable condition now as 'at any. peroiod during that time. There had been three 'old 'man floods" in those eight years and he considered it was in as good a position to stand such a flood now as then.

Cr. Rjyder douljtedt if the 'banks would ever stand a flood.

The Engineer said this was a question whichi had comja/'Uip at the conference and boith Mr Furkei't and others had staged that thej- bridge would never have to stand the lull lorce of ia flood as the banks would inevitably break. In answer to Cr. Barber, who asked if it was a fact that the piles on the Shannon side of the bridge were only eight feet in the ground, the. .Engineer stated that there was no ground for the report. He had examined "the bridge and found that this was quite incorrect. Cr. Harkness said' that this was a nuatter which had been brought about to a very considerable extent by the operations of the Drainage Board and they should.' be compelled to 'bear a large amount of the ; cost. -^ Cr. Ryder asked how this should be done. The river was supposed to carry the Water and he did not see how they could put. the cost of the work on to the property owners. The chairman then, moved a resolution that -a further conference should be called, the members for the Riding with tt,he Engineer and himself to,be the County's rtepres'entaitives. This was carried. \