THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

Shannon News, 14 July 1925, Page 2

THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

COUNTY COUNCIL TO URGE THAT iN'liw BiiiDGE BE EXPEDITED. PRESENT SITE IMPOSSIBLE. At Saturday's meeting of the Hiorowiienua County Council, the Shannon Dany Co. submitted a report, already published, by Messrs Holmes and Son, engineers, ol tile estimated cost of re-

I pairs to the Shannon Bridge amounting to £3301), as an alternative to j oiLViuig a new bridge. ■ The chairman said he understood that since the recent flood the report would be of no use as further, serious erosion had taken place. His suggestion was that the matter be taken up with the chairman of the District Highways Council with a view to pushing on with the new bridge. The speaker had gone into Mr Holmes' report with the County Engineer and Mr Waring Taylor, chairman-of the Shannon Dairy Company. ,Mr Holmes had taken it for granted -that the present waterway was large enough to cany any flood water that might come down. Evidently he had not had the full facts before him. The Engineer said that instead of the one span recommended tby Mr they would want two spans. Replying to a remark by Cr. Ryder that something more might be done, the chairman said the public did not appear to realise what the Council

had done or endeavoured to do. At the back of the minds of the people who were agitating was an idea that the Council had done nothing. If anyone perused Mr Holmes' report and then looked at the site at Shannon they would see that the Dairy Company must have a lot of money to throw away h\ getting reports. They did not supply Mr Holmes with the vital information that the river had to cany three times as much water in flood times as at normal times. The County Council was being pressed from all points to do something. The chairman traced., the history of the bridge from the meeting held last year when the Engineers agreed that a new. bridge on another site was necessary. Since then every possible efforts had been made to induce them to drop that idea: Had they yielded to that and repaired the old bridge, it would have been washed away by this flood. The resolution of the Council was that they should meet the chairman of the Highway Board, but it had been impossible for various reasons to have that meeting.

They had to ascertain whether the Highways Boiard would find 50 per cent, ol the cost of the' new bridge. If not, then it must coW from the Public Works Department, because the cost could not fall wholly on the local bodies. "1 feel that we have done all we can under the circumstances. You can't build a new bridge in a day or a year." Cr. Barber asked whether the Council could see its way clear to replace the cage and cable as a number of men had to go across daily to work. 'Probably'the flaxmill company would see its way to help in the matter or provide some other way of crossing the river. He asked if the Engineer could give some Idea of the cost. The Engineer said he could not do so as he had not looked into it. There was such a span to cross now that it would need a tower to enable the ■cable' to clear the river. One trouble was that the debris collected, on the cable in flood time unless it was high enough. Cr. Harkness said they must not get angry if they were criticised, because he thought they deserved it. It had been decided to" build a new bridge some months ago. What was holding the matter up?. If the" new bridge had been gone - oii with a good deal of the money spent since could have gone to the building of the new bridge. Cr. Ryder agreed with Cr. Harkness that time had been wasted. He thought the Council was partly to blame and went on to refer to the predictions last year that 'the bridge would be washed away. The chairman: It is. not a question of the bridge being washed away: That is past and done with. It is a question of building a new bridge. Here you have a report recommending the repair of the old bridge, and if that had been done before the last flood it would have been washed awav. What would you do? I will move that the matter be referred to the chairman to take up with the Highways Board. Cr. Catlev thought the chairman's proposal was the most practical one—where there was dual control it was always difficult to get finality. They should go to the Highways Board and ascertain their views and so endeavour to reach a decision. Cr. Whvte said the trouble was that the locafbodies were pulling against each other. If they had concentrated on getting a new 'bridge, it would have been well on the way by now.

The Chairman: This agitation comes from the Foxton and Shannon Borough Councils. Cr. Harkness: What answer will we give the. Shannon Dairy Company. The Chairmaifc That the matter,is under consideration.

Cr. Harkness: It has been under consideration a long time now. The Chairman: Excuse me, this is the first time this report has come before the Council. Cr. Harkness: Could we not -reply that the policy of the Council is against the re-erection, of the bridge at the present site on account of Jill the Engineers being opposed to it.

The Chairman said they could certainly do that. The Engineer: The present erosion absolutely settles that site. f | On Cr. Harkness's motion me following resolution was passed: "That the clerk be instructed to reply.to the Shannon Dairy Co., Ltd., that this Council has no intention of reconstructing the present Shannon-Foxton bridge as all engineers consulted on this matter have consistently advised against reconstruction and further that this Council intends to urge those responsible to .proceed with the erection of the new structure without delay."