SHANNON BRIDGE.

Shannon News, 20 January 1925, Page 3

SHANNON BRIDGE.

IiUROWHENUA COUNTY'S POSITION

At Saturday’s meeting of the norowhenua County Council the engineer (Mr W. N, Anderson) reported as follows regarding the shannon Bridge:.— “The Public Works Department completed the work of strengthening the main span of this bridge. . The punt has bqen completed except the hand raH and is ready lor launching and the Eastern approach, at the punt site lias been formed and metalled. This completes the work as far as the Horowhenua County, is concerned. The Manawatu County started work on the approach on the Western side of the river during this week.” In moving the adoption of the re-, port, the chairman (Cr. G. A. Monk) said that the question of tlhe bridge was one which had been widely discussed lately and some of the local bodies suggested that a conference should b'e called to go info the matter more fully. These bodies wished to know, if the Horowhenua County would-be represented and he. was of opinion that they should pertamiy be, provided that the Main Highways Board was also represented, so that some finality could be reached. The Public Works, Department had approached the local bodies, who were not satisfied with what was being done, asking if they ware willing to contribute to the repair of t'he bridge, but so far no decision had been arrived at. As far as. the Horowhenua County CouncH was concerned it must be emphasised that tney had no controlling power over the bridge. They had done all they could to restore traffic. The Engineer had constructed approaches .to., the punt and he was prepared to say that if the Manawatu County had done their side, the punt would be in operation now. Or. Whyte said that the general impression was that the County was the controlling body in regard to this bridge. The chairman stated that this was a mistake. The Main Highways Board had superseded the County as the controlling body. Regarding the conference whidli was suggested, he would like the authority of the Council tq represent tjhe County at such a conference, and would suggest that the members of the riding and himself be so. appointed.—Agreed.