The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1897, 1 February 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1875.

The accident in the Kauaeranga on 'Saturday evening, through the tipping ever of the pontoon bridge owing to its being overcrowded, will, it is hoped, induce those who use the miserable apology for a bridge to exercise more care during the week. As constructed, this " barrel pier," or whatever it may be strictly called in engineering phraseology, was intended to carry not more than ten adults at one time, and when the accident ocpurred—by which a number of persons had a narrow escape from drowning— there, were over twenty persons on it. It was a mistake on the part of those who designed the structure ever to have placed it where it is; or, having done so, it ought to have been under the control of some responsible person whose duty it thould be to see that it was not overcrowded. Had it been kept for the, sole purpose of crossing the representataives and staff, to the exclusion of the public, comparative, safety might have been . secured) and there would have been more '^nduceiuent to the owners of boats to Iproride a safe ferry for the public at ■$ small charge. The pontoon has, however, been open to anybody and jtrerybody, and the consequence has : Wen an accident sufficiently alarming to induce additional care during the regaining days of the shooting. It is fortunate that we have not to record any Jfatal results. Had such ensued we feel that blame would have attached' to somebody for not providing a better means *dF grossing the river, which could have been done at a trifling cost. As it is we think, the officer in charge of the firing iKd&ld have a handrail fitted on each side, and place an orderly in charge of the ferry to prevent more persons attempting to espsatheriverthan the " bridge" will carry with"safety; otherwise another accident jnaj^flccur, with perhaps deplorable results, as the river is deep and the current Ufffpng,, liable to be increased to a dangerous torrent should heavy rain fall tei:/few hours. A single night's rain 'would render the pontoon a most unsafe means of crossing the river, if it did not carry the wretched contrivance away. ';■* :-■'■■■— -■