The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 358, 1 March 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1881.

A short time ay;o, when referring to the contract for a bridge Over the Opihi, we took occasion to remark that it would have been better if the Committee of the County Council and the Temuka Road Board had fixed upon a plan that did not include embankments in the centre of the river, or the old bridge. The question of exp-mse, doubtless, guided them to the decision tiny arrived at Unfortunately for C-cinterbury, her policy has been more p) policy of do cheaply than do it effie:ently, the result being that in her bridges she has scarcely a good one to her name. The Waitaki aad the Waimakariri Gorge bridges . are the only works completed

worthy of so- rich a Province. True, R. there is the Rangitata traffic bridge, established on a good plan, with large iron cylinders filled, to sec tire a per- > manency, with concrete, which, when the iron is wasted away, will present a noble pile of solid sto'ie pillars which will last J for ages. That river, howey.-r, like the other Canterbury rivers, performs at „■ times some strange fieaks, shifting north or south as Iter f mcy guides her. Some time ago slip took a tnrn south, at another time paying a visit to the norlh ; in the j, first instance cuttiag off a number of fanners from communication with the mainland; in the hitter case cutting off " communication with the Ashburton Plains for some years past, destroying the traffic which the erection of an expensive bridge was intended to foster. Some two years ago the Ashburton County Council - resolved to extend the bridge northwards, to cover the stream formed by the river turning in that direction. The Gernldine r County Council not having at that time s adopted the County Council Act, could s not, or would not. accept an invitation to ,' meet the Ashburton County Council for the purpose of deciding upon a plan for the proposed extension. Left to itself, the Ashburton CouJty Council took the next practical step, and applied to the General Government, who authorised it (as the County Council Act allows) to proceed with the work, with an assurance of being reimbursed the half of the outlay. Frequent discussions took place in the Mount Peel, and also the Geraldine Road Boards on the subject of this extension. In the meantime, if we re- > collect rightly, the Ashburton County Council had decided to order iron piles ! from Eagland—the Mount Peel Board, if we are not mistaken, approving of piles ; while the Geraldine Road B iard approved I of the extension being carried out on ! cylinders, the same as the main portion of the bridge. The Ashburton County Council had, as we have said, resolved to erect the new portion on iron piles. When Professor Dyne made a cursory survey of the Rangitata river for a bridge, lie reported that no piles oould safely be driven ! in that river on account of the bottom being paved with large boulders. Not--1 withstanding this report, and also only very recently the adverse opinion of the Ashbirton County Council's Engim er, ! the Council persisted in adopting the pile - principle. When the work was being . proceeded with out of six piles driven , three broke. Not caring for incurring the responsibility of proceeding with so hazardous an undertaking alone, a deputation, consisting of the Chairman of the p Council referred to and Mr E. G. Wright, a meinbpr, waited upon the Geraldine County Council at its last meeting, and submitted the plans, and explained the 1 nature of the work in hand, the result be ; ng that the Geraldine County Council rather rashly, we think, resolved to acknowledge its liability for payment of half the °xp -nses-that be may incurred by the party who has charge of the work, thus I giving free scope for hashing and smashing to any extent. In our ignorance of all the circumstances of the case, we recommended the Geraldine Road Board to give a liberal assistance to the Council it) t\v way of a subscription to admit so necessary a work being prosecuted without delay. Some of the members of the Geraldine County Council voted for Mr A'-ton's resolution on account of the heavy expense that cylinders would involve—estimated by Mr Wright at £12,000, while piles it was stated would only cost £6OOO. How the Chairman and Mr Wright could so persistingly insist upon the work being done with piles, after their own engineer had so unconditionally condemned the principle, we are at a loss to know. Some of the G raldine County Councillors were and are in favor of cylinders, but consented to lee the Ashburton County Council use piles on account of the expense of cylinders, the Geraldine County Council recommending to the Mount Peel and Geraldine Road Boards to contribute £IOOO each towards this County's shara of the expense. The Mount Peel Board most readily complied with the request, on condition that the Geraldine Board did likewise. This we find the latter is not prepared to do, and at first we were inclined to blame it for its niggardliness, especially as it has a large amount of mone}' in hand, and could well afford to do so. On inquiry, however, we find that the reason of the Geraldine Road Board demurring is that it diapproves of anymore half and half measures in the matter of bridges. In this we think they ;:re right. Better pay liberally for having n tiling done right, than embark in a rotten affair, which this pile extension evidently is. If three piles broke in driving the first six, what guarantee have we that an equal proport : on, or more, will not break as the work proceeds. Tiie Rangatata Bridge, so far as the original contract, is concerned, is a good substantial piece of engineering Why should it be spoiled by adding a flimsy addition to it ! If it be true that the Geraldine Road Board are prepared to coDlribnte not only £IOOO but £2OOO if the cylinder principle is adopted, then we say by all means let it be dom) with cylinders. We presume the Mount Peel Board would give a like sum. thus only leaving £2OOO for the Geraldine County Council to provide to give a grand finish to a grand structure. It is at nil times / the cheapest way to do things right,

although it may cost more- at first. This determination of -t : e Geraidine Road Board to do tilings right is a wise one, and we hope, ■ notwithstanding Mr Wright's approval of piles, those in power will urge them to use cylinders instead.