NEW MANAWATU BRIDGE.

Shannon News, 16 August 1927, Page 1

NEW MANAWATU BRIDGE.

APPROACH ROAD STILL THE DIFFICULTY. DEPUTATION TO WAIT ON HIGHWAYS BOARD. With regard to the proposed routes between Shannon and the recently jiutli„<>rised bridge over the Manawatu river, a letter dated July 15th was received bv the Horowlienua County Council on Saturdav from Mr R. 11. Ronavne, of the Public Works Department, stating that the Main Highways Board had decided to adopt No. 3 route, which was estimated to cost £5400. In view of the present position of finance, the Board did not consider that any expenditure should be authorised along Johnston Street with a view to raising the road above the flood level. Steps were now being taken to issue a warrant covering the approach roads on both sides of the river. \ Particulars of the Highways Board’s intentions in regard to the Manawatu bridge were given in a letter from. Mr. F. W. Furkert, chairman of the Board. The estimated cost of the bridge is £23,662, of which amount the Board is to pay £13,442, leaving £10,220 to be contributed-by the local authorities in the following proportions: Shannon Borough Council, l/12th not exceeding £850; Foxton Borough Council, l/12th not exceeding £850; and the balance equally by the Horowlienua and Manawatu County Councils. In the event of the cost of the bridge exceeding the estimate, two-thirds of such excess is to be paid by the Main Highways Board and the remaining one-third in equal proportions by the Horowlienua and Manawatu County Councils. The estimated cost of the approach road in the Horowhenua County is £4840, to be borne in equal proportions by the Board and the Council. In the Manawatu County, the approach road is estimated to cost £2430, to be borne equally by that County and the Board. The Minister of Public Works is the const racing authority for the bridge and approach in tlie Horowhenua County; and in the other tlounty t-lxe Manawatu Council is the constructing authority. In was added in the letter that a commencement had been made with the re-construction of the bridge, and' if was essential, before the work proceeded further, to have an unconditional resolution from the Council agreeing to the terms stated above. •• The route decided upon is down Johnston Street, Shannon, to the white bridge and then across Mr. Carter’s property to the bridge site. This route was decided upon by the Public Works Department’s engineers in the first instance , but an agitation, supported by the Horowhenua County Council, in favour of No. 1 route, which is about halt a mile north of the borough boundary, caused the matter, to be reconsidered. Strong opposition was raised to the alteration by the Shannon Borough Coun c-il as it was considered by them that either of the Routes 2 and 3 was preferable to No. 1 route. Cr. Barber stated that the Department was asking this Council to give, a warrant on an uncompleted road. " The Chairman pointed out that Johnston Street was already a main liigh-

way. (Jr. Barber: It is subject to flood. We ought to enter a protest against be ing left in the lurch by a public body and not having access to a locality that is supplying Shannon with a lot of cus tomers. The Chairman: Shannon is-the cause of this. We should not have had.thb road at all if it had not been for Shan non. If this road is impossible, then Shannon has itself to thank. Cr. Barber: Is it not right to protect them against themselves a little, Another point is that they propose to do certain work in the Mangaore stream. They are getting a dredge to deepen it. Possibly they have it in their minds that this may eliminate the flooding. It won’t do so in a big flood. Possibly that may be overcome to a certain extent by erecting another flood-gate on top of the existing one. The water inside is often higher than the river water.

Cr. Earlier added that, to show how the position affected Shannon, he could say that the Dairy Company was receiving half its supplies from the Moufoa. The other local people had been continuallv crying out about loss of trade, and that sort of thing. They seemed to have lost heart and considered that the Public Works or the Highway's Board had made up their minds to do this and there was no getting away from it. It did not seem quite right that the Board should take it out of the hands of a local body, if this , was a road should go. He had advocated No. 1 route because he thought it was really' the best for all time. He was quite satisfied to take No. 2. He was not obstinate over the matter, but he certainly' thought that the locality had been'“let down” by the Government taking the route it had chosen. The chairman stated that the Department estimated that the cost of raising a portion of the road above flood level would be £4510. He understood that that road ivas really a Shannon borough boundary road. The position appeared to be that the authorities were anxious to proceed with the erection of the bridge, but not to a stage further than it was safe for them to go without this Council agreeing. The Council had agreed as far as the bridge and approaches were concerned. Did Cr. Barber feel that the matter should have further consideration? Cr. Barber: I think so. ‘ The Chairman: Shall we refer it to the next meeting of the Works Committee to discuss it further. ; Cr. Barber: Yes. The Chairman: Do we agree to the

£ for £ basis for the construction of the road wherever it is?

Cr. Barber: That is so. Up to the present the County is loaded with £6600 independent-of Johnston Street.

Cr. Kilsby: I think that this is one if the principal things about it. If the Board say that y r ou have to adopt No. 1 route, and afterwards say that you have to raise the road above the flood area, that means another £4OOO. Would we be prepared to accept the £ for £ .übsidy on that? The Chairman: I shall probably' be 'oing to Wellington soon, and I might further discuss it with the Highways Board.

Cr. Kilsby': We want to find out something definite —why the Highways Board is sticking strongly to No. 3 route.

Cr. Barber: I would like to draw your ittention to the fact that there is a Vshaped pocket, and if you raise that road you then have this stream, that is ■ausing the flooding, between the hauling made for the road and the existing hank on Burling’s property', and if you raise that road you are flooding Burling ’s property. The Chairman: Perhaps that is one of the reasons why they are not doing it. You have raised an aspect of the matter that has not struck me before.

Cr. McLeavev moved and Cr. Whyte seconded, that the chairman and Cr. Barber interview the Highway's Board. The chairman suggested that the matter be referred to the Works Commit* tee, to report to the Council, and in the meantime he would see the Highways Board and get what information he could from them. He quoted the' following estimates of the cost of the three alternative approach roads.—No. 1 £9330, No. 2 £9IOO, No. 3 (including raising of Johnston Street) £9910.

It was decided that the correspondence be referred to the Works Committee, and that in the meantime the chairman and Cr. Barber interview the Highways Board. Writing on July 25th, Mr Ronayne said: “With _ reference to the Manawatu river bridge at Shannon, the timbers are now coming to hand, and the road from Shannon to the Manawatu river is cutting, up badly. During the next three or four months heavy loads will be passing over this road, and it is necessary to have stocks of maintenance metal deposited where required. I would, be glad to know if y T our Council are prepared to carry out’ this work.”

The chairman remarked that Mr Rona.vne did not say at whose expense the road-repairing was to be carried out. He suggested that the matter- be referred to the Works Committee, and lie would see the District Engineer and find out who was going to pay for the work. This was agreed to.