THE DERWENT STREET BRIDGE. (To the Editor.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 361, 3 June 1874, Page 2

THE DERWENT STREET BRIDGE. (To the Editor.)

Sib, — It is my painful duty ro'again addi-es you on the subject of tho Djrweut-alred bridge. In my last letter I ventured mildl to insinuate that the Town Clerk, although, i handy man, was nob quite compofc^. to buili or design a bridge. Events have proved tha my remarks were only too true. The sEor facts are tuese : — The contractor, befor beginning work was given the centre line.o the bridge, and also the position of tho fin abutment, by the Town Clerk. Measurin from these as directed, the contractor exet vated the site for the middle pier and th other abutment, and put in the foundation! After the3o were nearly completed, the It spector of Works discovered that the widt I of water-way was not the same as on plai | and on comparing notes it was found impa sible to give the proper width of water-waj unless the girders were made longer than the were shown on plan, or unless one end of th bridge was thrown eight feet or so off ti line of street. The latter alternative ht been adopteJ, as the former would weokc the bridge. The consequence is, the coi tractor has to sink fresh foundations an build another pier and- abutment, which wi add considerably to the expense, and all delay the completion of the work. If it : not an impertinent question, I should like t ask what emolument the Town Clerk hi receivo 1 for this latest effort of his genius ? I may here remark that the bridge is whs is called a skew bridge, though I cannot nial out why a skew bridge has been adopted wbe one square across the stream (or nearly M would have been cheaper and stronger, an more easily erected. I have also been tol that even if the materials and workmanshi ' are the best possible, the ' bridge will not t strong enough for the traffic to the Blue Spu; I would therefore recommend the Counci before it is too' late, to send the plans an specifications to some competent engineer, an get his opinion before anything more is ddni The moral of all this is : l)on't emplo amateurs to design public works, and I wi point my moral by pointing to the new gao I have been informed that, to save expense, tl| plans of the new gaoi weJe not drawn by a architect (indeed, if I am not mistaken; think our friend the Town Clerk had somJ thing to do with these plans). Wei whoever designed the addition to th gaol, the fact remains that the ventilatio is deplorable and defectiye-s-in fact, there i no ventilation at all ; and any poor wretc' who may be so unfortunate as to occupy on of tUp cell 3 referred to, will do so at the rial of his health, and perhaps also of his life. ' myself have seen the water standing in larg dropa all over the ceiling ; and although believe that the removal of one of the window has partially cured the defect, still I subiii \ that ifc is a method of ventilation that eanno be adopted at this season of the yeaiywitkoTi (-considerable inconvenience to the prisoner ii i habiting the cell. — I am, &c, Ratbpateb :

My name is at the serviced all •enquirinl friends.