SHANNON PUNT.

Shannon News, 11 June 1926, Page 2

SHANNON PUNT.

SUGGESTED ABOLITION.

Matters appertaining to the much discussed punt on the Maawatu river between Shannon and Foxton reached an interesting stage at the meeting of the Manawatu County -Council on Wednesday, when thet clerk (Mr A. K. Drew) reported that, to date, hehad been unable to arrange a conference witii: the Kerowhenua County Council to m into the question of the k working of the punt. Cr. Barber, during the discussion that followed, said that)-in his opinion the punt was wrongly constructed and was unsuitable for transport-

ing stock. The Council must be pre- • pared to face the fact that, unless the present method of crossing the river oould be improved, some either means would have to be put into operation. One of the chief objections to ,- the punt at present was the necessity of dropping : into the water when

landing. As a layman, he would suggest that the flaps at the ends.of the : ; punt be extended. The HOirOwhenua County Engineer had stated tha,t it was impossible 'for the punt to carry the extra weight ■entailed, but he him-

self thought that anything could be made strong enough',, if the necessity..arase. He suggested that their engineer (Mr Hick-ford) should visit the punt and ascertain what was , the ' trouble. ,

Cr. Boyce Suggested,a saving bridge as a possible way -out of the difficulty, and asked whether the old struc-\ ture was strong enough to carry such a bridge.-/. 1 . . • , •The Engineer replied that, although he had not examined the'old bridge very carefully, he thought it could be made.to support a suspension bridge strong enough to carry light traffic. Gr. Boyce reinarked that it mights be advisable in such case to construct a bridge and" do away with' the punt altogether. Traffic could be liin,'ited to four or five tons.

,The chairman (Gr. Hunt) said that the proposition appealed -tot him.' It was then resolved that" the mat T ter be held over until a conference at Levin which will' take place on June 21. ■ ,

Th'e above matter was referred to at .the' Chamber of Commerce -meeting last evening and it was decided to write to the Manawatu County Council approving of the proposal to erect a suspension bridge. : ,

SHANNON-FOXTON BRIDGE.

TEMPORARY COMMUNICATION

SOUGHT,

The matter of providing temporary communication ponding the re-build-ing of the bridge between Shannon and Foxton, was further considered at yesterday's meeting of "the Manawatu County Council: "As far as I can iioe, the present arrangement is a ghastly failure," said. Cr. Boyce, when ihe question of unsatisfactory working of the punt was being, considered.

The finance committee had. an inI'ormal discussion With reference to ihe working- of the punt. The County engineer expressed the opinion that a temporary bridge built on to the end A what remained of the old structure would be quite satisfactory and .an economical proposition. The committee recommended that the County engineer meet the Horowhenua Uonnty's engineer'' to discuss the pro-

posal. Cr. Barber considered that the existing arrangements were most unsatisfactory and something would have to be done. When tlie engineer met the Horowhenua " County engineer he ohould have full particulars of an improved punt scheme and of the proposal to erect a temporary bridge. In the early days a very satisfactory punt was used at the Whiroklno and Foxton ferries and he could not see why a similar punt was not used to meet the present position. '

Following further discussion, the engineer was authorised to prepare plans for a suitable punt and also for a temporary bridge with the object of placing the same before the Horowhenua County's engineer. A conference is to be held at a later date to go into the whole matter of transport.