THE WAIHOANGA BRIDGE.

Shannon News, 18 December 1923, Page 3

THE WAIHOANGA BRIDGE.

QUESTION OE RE-ERECTION

At the Horowhenua County Council meeting on Saturday the * chairman brought up the matter of the waihoaiiga bridge. Cr. Jensen, the engineer and himself had inspected the cage which had' been temporarily erected over the river. It was true some of the parents thought the cage was high up, and did not like the children going, over. The bridge had gone but it was not altogether the/fault of the eeras the Public Works engineer had passed it. It had done good servicer 16 or 18 years. Before it was built a cliff road had -cost £IOO a year to maintain. To replace the bridge would cost about £2500 ' and ,the properties served could not bear the interest and sinking fund. Cr. Catley had made a suggestion which he thought was the only one which would get a new bridge. It had befcn that an estimate be made; the Government approached for a subsidy, and a poll taken over the Te Horo Riding for a loan. If the bridge was not provided the Council would\be under a moral obligation to reopen the road and this would mean a.heavy annual charge for maintenance. During the time the bridge had been in use some £ISOO had beten saved in the latter, respect. . .... Cr. Ryder thought the proposition was an excellent one. The old road was under a high bluff. It never got the sun and was an impossible position for a>oad. Cr. Jensen also supported the scheme. The chairman suggested that one of the Public Works engineers might confer with the Cdunty engineer, as to the type of bridge to be erected. , : Cr. Catley considered that the bridge would not cost £2500; The old bridge had cost only £9OO. He did not think it would be wis'e to alter the site of the bridge, as the present approaches were available. He endorsed the chairman's, suggestions. ' The chairman said two of the settlers had asked if the Council would contribute towards the cost of a light footbridge. He was in favour of the idea.

Cr. Jensen considered that if something was done to make the chair look more safe in appearance the'settlers would take to it readily. . Several Councillors concurred in this view. On the motion of the chairman it was decided that the engineer be instructed to submit an estimate of the eost of the restoration of the Waihoanga swing bridge with a view to applying to the Public Works Department for a grant, and submitting to tfte ratepayers of the Tt Horo Biding a,loan proposal to raise the balance of the cost of the construction of the same.

A letter was received from the secrotary of the Wellington Education Board, stating that he understood from the teacher of the Waihoanga school that the operation of the chair which the council had placed across the river was so difficult that she really could not use it, and the parents were nervous about the use of it. He wondered whether the Council would be prepared to allow the settlers to use the boat which was removed after being there a little time. It would probably serve until a more permanent means of crossing could be prepared. In the meantime about half the children were without schooling.

The "chairman stated that the boat had been « considered unsafe for the children. It was resolved to reply, informing the Board of the Council's proposition in connection with, replaci>f th« bridge.