THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

Shannon News, 10 July 1925, Page 3

THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

I MANAWAIu LUuNTY ASi\S Fun MJgCimu UN SUE. At last nieeting ot die Alanuwulu County Council a letter was receneu from die. summon Dairy Company covering'the report it had received from. Messrs Momies and Son, engineers, estimating me cost ol' repairs iu ihe shannon uriuge at £3300. sir James Yvnson said ffiat the Council liuu, lo iLuieutdcr mat tae Highways Boaru was against me idea oi rebuilding me bridge on us present .sue and n the Council went against ihe Boaru, tile, shannon ruau might be taken out ui the Highways District.

councillor Barber pointed out ilia* Lite absence of any definite connection between Shannon and Foxton hau lorced the seiners to ohiam a report as to the best means of reinstating the bridge. The punt service was unsatisfactory and so far very marly enough money had neen expended on die tempoiary connection to replace the destroyed spoil. The latest estimate was considerably lower than the Highways Board s estimate. During die last two floods, lurdier damage nail been done uim mere was absolutely no connection ui present. The wire hawsers, winch nau been put in to hold the remaining portion of the bridge, liad been me means of holding up much deuiis, which was being swept down by die flood, and as the extra strain was endangering die bridge, me hawsers had had to be cut. It was suiue time now since the bridge nau neen .damaged and die settlers were v'ury concerned over the absence ot any effort to- establish safe communication. A great deal of erosiqn had taken pla.ee during the last flood and it would be necessary to have an additional span tq cover the gap made by the river. ■ , . Sir James Wilson stated that with another span, the total estimate of die cost hi repairs would be £SIOO, but he did not think the Council could do anything in view ol; the at-, titude of the Highways Board. Was not the steel overhead cage still in operation? Cr. Barber: No, it was washed away on Sunday night. Cr. Fagan thought that Cr. Barber should wait on the ITorovvhenua County ■ Council which controlled the bridge and-report to the next meeting of the Council. Cr. Barber: What is. the Council’s opinion on the question of repairs? Sir James Wilson: My own ‘ opinion is that we cannot do anything with repairing the bridge. Cr. Barber thought that the Council should do something with regard to the proposed hew bridga. Before any opinion was expressed, however, it would strongly urge that the whole Council should view the position for itself.

Cr. Hunb regarded the position in the light that the Shannon people wanted the old bridge repaired whilst the Highways Boards wanted a new bridge on a new site. As the Shannon people knew what they wanted and needed both the road and the bridge,, in liis. 'Opinion, the Council should support them.

On-the motion of Cr. Barber it was resolved that the whole Council meet at the bridge on Tuesday next and write the Horowhenua; Councillors to be present also. ' It was also resolved to write the -Shannon Borough Council.