WHO PAYS FOR THAT BRIDGE ?

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1132, 25 September 1879, Page 2

WHO PAYS FOR THAT BRIDGE ?

Sir,— A remarkable experiment m bridge building may now be seen m progress at Mrs Robertson's crossing place on the Waitetuna river, Te Uku. The lato Whaingaroa (Raglan) Highway Board entered into a contract Avith Messrs King and Ormsby to build a chain suspension footbridge across the Waitetuna for £64 10s. This was near the end of their term of office, and after they had laid the district m seas of mud aud debt, all the rates and largo sudsidies having been expended m fat contracts, at some of Avhich the fortunate holders earned more' than £1 a day per man. When I saAv the plan of the bridge, having only chains to support a bridge 66 feet by 5 feet, I veiy much doubted the stability of the intended structure. Not so, howerer, the present Board (Avhich more largely represents the right bank of the river) ; and, further, they have insisted on the contractors turning the footbridge into a horse bridge, the price being increased to £85 10s. Tho size of the timber only being increased, thus the planking is to bo 2-inch m place of I^-inch, and so on. I am not an expert m bridge building, but I cannot help thinking that chain be sufficient for a horso bridge, upwards of 60 feet m length ; the discovery Avould not have been left to the amateur engineers — Secretary and Trustees of the Whaingaroa Higlnvay Board — of the district. In the possible, shall I say probable, event of the bridge tumbling doAvn, I would respectfully ask, Sir, avlio pays for that bridge ? — I am, &c, J.C.J. Te Uku, Raglan, Sept. 22.