DANGEROUS BRIDGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 173, 9 December 1912, Page 7

DANGEROUS BRIDGES.

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL BRIDGE '' ' ■-•■■■■•: LOAN.

For some, time past the state of various bridges' in the Clifton County Council and the urgent necessity for their renewal and repair has been the cause of much discussion at the Council meetings. The matter of raising, a. bridge loan has been before the meeting, but as the amount required was,much in excess of what the county could borrow under the present £SOOO limitation, the schedule had to be amended, and that caused more delay. Meantime several very urgent bridges have been re-built, and that this step was very necessary was evident by the fact that a traction engine carrying material to one fell through another, and a, serious accident was narrowly avoided. W., J. Clare, cpntraqtpr, reported that Johnson Bros.' engine, while carting gear .and material .for the erection of Lambert's bridge; Tarata,, went through a bridge;near Drummond's which collapsed, and on examination was found to be decaysd. had the draw-bar of the engine broken and the truck proceeded another two or ; three inches, there would have heen a very serious disaster to the machinery, ,afid it was certain that two men would have lost their lives. He had to engage men all • night and next day to erect a 'temporary bridge and clear the road. Mr. Johnson also would not risk; 'travelling-' over the other bridges, and he had to engage bullock teams at considerable ! expense 'and delay. He therefore asked the Council' to pay the cost of'repairing tih'e bridge, etc., amounting to'£'6 75. ; : ' ; ■■■ '

' The Council resolved to refer the account to 1 the Council's solicitor. ' Later in the day the Council decided to put up notices at dangerous bridges in the county. - :

the ofrenewiiig urgent bridges an far as the... bridge loan available (£3395) would permit was then, discussed. The engineer in his': report. referred to tlsc 4 decision, of .the, ( Council to ask him f to, .prr'par6 it schedule of tho most urgent.bridge works in proportion to thfe .amounts' allocated per riding, in accordance.':'with' which Mokau will receive £'l4oo, IJrenui £BOO, Wai.hi £345, Tikorangi £45.6 aiitl Xgatimaru .-£3 08. This lie,considered had very'little to recommend it, because, in.one instance, on a rateable value Tikorangi was entitled to £450, and had one bridge, which required £OO expended on it (and of this tJie Tnranaki (Jouiit)' Council would have to find £24). The bulk of the money should be spent, on the two main thoroughfares, viz., M.imi-Mpkau and Junction roads,,.which were, subject at times to heavy traction traffic. What, ho said, had happened at Tarata through neglect would most assuredly happen, to any bridge on has .urgent, list unless early steps were' taken to renew them. His original, allocation, was: Mokau £3260 Urenui ",'£543, Waihi £lB5, Tikorangi £OO, and Xgatimaru £IBBS. As. the loan was not fully subscribed, his amended recommendations comprised: Mokau £2493, Urenui £105,, and Xgatimaru £1300.. The, bridges ,to be attended to are: Drunimond's ; £7s v Hawera £IBO, King's ■ £348, Jones' £3oo,,Colson's £75, Putiki £4OO, Sandstone £455, Lambert's £2Bo', Burr's £155, Webb's £l3O, .Silk's £240, flood openings (six) £4OO, North Matu.il £340, Taramauku £BO, and Mangamacho £SOO. lie recommended'that 100 yds.additional shell rock be quarried and that. 100 yds of lin screenings be run off and kept for concrete work at Uruti. . It could be used for the Hawera. Jones' and Mangahia road bridges, and also for the flood openings.

Cr. Hicks was doubtful if the loan would be carried unless it was allocated proportionately to each riding. Moreover, ratepayers were of opinion that only new work (not repairs) should be done out of loan money.

The chairman said that another bridge loan would be required in a year or two. and ratepayers who did not get bridges neai 1 their front gates now might get them then. '

Gr, Sander suggested that the list shouhl.hc taken seriatim and discussed. This was done, and after much delibera • tion the following list was evolved on a valuation basis: Ngatiniaru riding: Drummond's £3O, North Matau £350, Lambert's £250, Burr's £155, tunnel 'at Tm-nngi £117; total, £932. Mokau riding: Half Ilawera £IOO., King's £348, Jones' £3OO, Pntiki £4OO, Hood openings £248; total, £.1396. Urenui riding: Half cost Ilawera £IOO, half cost Oiiaero £250. Colson's- £510; total, £SOO. Waihi riding: Half cost Onaero £305, Parikaka £4O; t0ta1,£345. Tikorangi suspension bridge, £4SG. This makes up the amount available, £3995. Steps will lie taken to raise the loan accordingly.