THE WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1916, Page 2

THE WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED. A special mooting the Taranaki County Council wns hold yesterday after the annual meeting when matters relating to the Waiwakaiho bridge were discussed. Ths chairman (Mr. Connettj said the first thing to do would be to confer with the Borough. Council. No doubt the Government would stand in for a third shar-. Jt had been reported that the Government would lie prepared to do this, but he, understood it was merely the outcome of a conversation between Mr. Okey, M.P., and the Minister. The rough estimate of the repairs was £I4OO. The Borough now pays 25 per cent, towards the cost of maintaining the bridge. Cr. Brown's action in effecting repairs was confirmed. A letter was read from Shulden and Palmer, engineers, dated November 21, stating that as there was considerable water in the Waiwakaiho Kiver they were rmabe to obtain an accurate idea of the damage that had been dene to the cylinder pier on (he west side of the bieak, but from what they knew of the position before the flood, they estimated that the piei could be protected, and tho broken portion of the bridge reerected for £I4OO. The ba,so of abutment and the wing walls would be carried down to a solid foundation and the new portion of the bridge will conform with the design of the remaining portion. They had taken levels and measurements over the remaining portion and there was no sign of any settlement or distortion in any of the three spans, and. provided the erosion at the cylinder pier is not serious, and that there is no' scour before repairs are effected, this portion of the bridge should be perfectly sound. They suggested it was important that the foundations of the pier be attended to as soon as possible, and that the base of the abutment and wing walls be built before the contractor for the erection of the -weir commences to lay the blocks across the stream. C!r. Erown explained that he had authorised Sladden and Palmer to submit a report arid estimate so that the Council should have something to go on. The Government wa3 assisting in flood damage. Continuing, Cr. Brown said if his ad-vice had been carried out two years ago, the mishap would, never have happened. He hoped he would be wrong, but he did not see how- the weir was going to do much good. In any case they should put down the pier before the weir was constructed.

Referring to the barrage work, the chairman said there was no provision for any apron work to receive the water, but the construction of the bridge was outside, the weir altogether. No doubt action must be taken immediately otherwise three or four feet of water would be banked up by the weir. Ho thought the Borough would stand in. for a third. Cr. McAllum said the Government \vs3 to blame for the whole trouble. Since they had put in the work on the railway bridge the course of the river had gradually worked itself against the eastern side of the Waiwakaiho bridge. The chairman said before they meet the Borough Council they should have some proposition to lay before them. Cr. Morton said it was absolutely necessary to protest the eastern pier. Another'flood, with the debris still lying thdrc, would very much weaken the bridge. He thought that a committee should be set up to go into the matter. They had statutory power to make a levy by toll, but required the Clovcrnnor's consent. The Borough Council had objected to the establishment of the toll, and it was solely on account of that action that the.bridge was gone to-day. His reasdn for suggesting a committee was that it was more expeditious than the whole council. He moved that the chairman, Crs. Brown, .1. Andrews, Lawrence, and Binnie and the mover be a committee for the purpose of obtaining a report from the engineer as to the construction of a protective work round the new eastern cylinder of the bridge, also plans and estimates for the reconstruction of the bridge, with power to obtain advice from the solicitor with regard to the liability of other bodies to contribute to the construction work, and .to confer with such local bodies and report as early as possible. The motion was agreed.to. , A vote of thanks was accorded the chairman and directors of the Taranaki Farmer.. Meat Freezing Company for the valuable and timely assistance (with men and material) in connection with the damaged bridge. It was agreed that the committee set up to report on the. Waiwakaiho bridge should also inspect the bridges on the Junction and Upper Carrington roads.