FOOTBRIDGE OVER THE RANGITATA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1255, 21 October 1884, Page 3

FOOTBRIDGE OVER THE RANGITATA.

In our report of the proceedings of the House of .Representatives on Tuesday ... ..‘.last,' it '>vaa t stated that Mr W. ' Rolleston (the Member for Geraldine) masked, whether the. Government: would make provisions for a footbridge being ' . combined with the railway, bridge over the Rangitata Eiver, and that the Hon. <- ’-Mr Richardson replied to the effect that, • ' the : Government would assist if the local '• - bodies would’cohtributei - As the subject ' ■' ' r nearlyaflfectsthia district, we now give an extended report of the question, ’with the " ’ s^guihen'te-adduced in favor of the work, and the fcply thfereto : : Mr Holiest bn asked the Minister for . . whether,'in view of the ... . g ganger to lifeof the travelling public from = tbe ' a hßence , 'pf a footbridge over the , r ,-Rangitata River,, and of the fact that this -dangerous river is. the only large , stream on the Hnrunui-Blnff line which is not so bridged the Government will make fdr<ihi|hwork to be executed at any early:-date With regard.to this qjwstjon, ha, might say that the regulatoons of the railway very, properly pro■iJiibited.ps!.ople crossing.upon, bridges and between the buttresses of . bridges where the trains run ; but, as a general rule, the bridges,on the main.lines of railway were either composite bridges for railway and . .general traffic, or they had footbridges attached to.them. He found that this had - been done -in a vary considerable number • 4 of instances by the General, Government. Qf course people coming to a bridge upon - -,a* main lino. of railway communication have the choice of going into the river, or breaking., the: railway regulations, and ;they will naturally break the regulations. There was very considerable danger, to -life m doing so—either in crossing the ■ - bridge, or the river. It seemed to him ' - that it really was part of the general -design of the works that there should be an accommodation.to the public, and this Srinciple hsd, been recognised generally iroughout the railways. He eaw that at v Home it was one of thequestiona exercising the public mind. It was brought' up ; ‘ J n Parliament and there argued that there ! ought not to. be, railway bridges without ' some means of crossing attached to them. Id this colpny at Napier, at Waipawa, r : at Waipukurau, there were foot bridges connected with the rail way bridges, " ’ ' At Wanganui there was also a foot bridge. On the Hurunui-Bluff line the General Government had erected a footbridge in connection with the A B W e y Bridge and the Mahikiki Bridge j and over the Waim»kariri there' was a fo6t' bridge, which was paid for by the Provincial Government many years ago. He might, say ; that the question had reference, further, fb a desire on the part of residents on - either side of the river for such a foot «,S " bridge as would allow of sheep being driyen over it. This would be a great r' > public convenience, and the extra expense .would be very. little. Mr E.: Richardson said that the honor—able member-was no doubt aware that inquiries had been made in reference to thi* matter, and plans had been prepared. As, the honorable gentleman stated, not only was ft foot bridge wanted for foot*

passengers, but also a-bridge capable of uaiiyrug stock over. The estimated cost of this bridge was between £I2OO and £I3OO ; and the department, having considered the matter, was of opinion that if this were done, especially in respect of these long bridges, with a intervening, not only would there be the first expense of construction, but to secure the public safety it would be necessary to have , some person in charge at each end of these long spans. He had, not been .aware that there was any road leading on to these bridges at the present time, but he found that it was so. If it were not the case, then any person travelling along the railway would practically be trespassing. He was quite aware that it would be a great convenience to the distriot that there should be a place where sheep could be driven across the river, but at the same time he could not see his way to recommend the House to incur so large an expenditure for the benefit of the persons living there. If, however, the local -bodies interested were to communicate with the Government, and were disposed to assist, per-, haps something might be done.