THE KARAPIRO BRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1449, 15 October 1881, Page 2

THE KARAPIRO BRIDGE.

At Thursday's meeting of the Waikato County Council, Cr. Wells said he had a question of the greatest importance to the Cambridge riding to bring before the meeting, he referred to the Karapiro bridge. It would be remembered that at a meeting of the council ou June 10th the subject was fully discussed, and it waa decided that the repairing of the bridge should be regarded as a county work, to be carried out by the Cambridge Town Board, the expense to be borne by the riding out of the subsidies which would accrue to its credit. The sum voted was £150. The Town Board, in due course, got their engineer, Mr Gwynneth, to prepare a report, wfcioh wels furnished to the council. The engineer's estimate of the cost was greatly in excess of the amount voted. Alternative plans were submitted, one to cost £450, and the other £690. He (Mr Wells), had recommended the council to move in the, matter, and request their member to a&k the assistance of the Government. TM» had been done, and MiWhyte had replied, pointing oat that the only coatee froiu Vbloh it appeared to him

they could obtain the money required was the subsidy which would be continued to local bodies, but on a more liberal soal© than last year. The bridge was in a most dangeious state, and there was nothing to prevent children and others falling over into the creek, as the hand rail had rotted away. The road between this point and the Waikato bridge was also in a deplorable condition. There was not, be felt sure, such another dangerous place in the whole district. It seemed to him that the least thing they could do was to accept the lowest estimate and proceed with the w ork at once. He needed not to point out that not only was this an important work locally, but that it was a part of the main road connecting Waikato with the extensive and improving country beyond. Looking at the large amount of trafno]which passed over this spot, a dreadful accident might at any time occur, and this was a contingency which they should endeavor by all means to avoid. To show that in coming before them with a request of this kind he had some practical scheme in his minrl, he would just point out the sources whence the money required for the bridge might be obtained. There was at present £174 in the bank to the credit of the riding; they might reckon on £100 or £140 from subsidies, and by January they would have, say, £100 for dog tax. These with, say, £50 from other sources, would make up the required total. He would move therefore that the resolution of the 10th June be rescinded, and a similar one, with the substitution of the sum £450 for £150, adopted. — Mr Kirkwood thought tint while they were about it they should erect the better bridge. They should make a thorough good job of the bridge and have the road thence to the Waikato bridge securely fenced. Their Pukekura neighbors showed them an admirable example in this respect. There was scarcely a culvert in that district which was not fenced on either side, while the road between the bridges at Cambridge, a most dangprons place, where at any time by the slightest circumstance — the shying of a horse or the breaking of a trace — the traveUer might be precipitated in the swirling current below, was not protected at all. — Mr Fergnsson believed the larger estimate included the fencing and repairing this road, a work of the utmost necessity. — Mr Kirkwood thought it possible by reducing the dimensions of the larger bridge recommended by the engineer to effect a saving of, say, £100.— Mr dimming said it was his opinion that this was a work which must be done, no matter where the money came from. If the smaller bridge would not do then they must erect the larger one. — The chairman considered they would be going beyond their means. He would certainly object to the council hypothecating the funds of the whole county. He considered that the Cambridge Town Board should have come to the council with a proposition agreeing to pay so much, and asking the council to vote the balance out of the funds of the ruling. He had the greatest objection to pledging their successors to a sum of £700. He did not for one moment question the importance of the work, but he could not see his way clear to voting for the sum mentioned by Mr Kirkwood. With regard to a remark by Mr Wells that the hand-rails of the budge had rotted away, he thought the least the local body could have clone was to have removed that source of danger. Were an accident to occur, the local board and not the council would be blamed. He was willing to do what was just and right, but would not consent to pledge their successors to an expenditure of £700. No doubt tiic plans could be modified. The deck might be lowered and a good road formed — Mr Kirkwood reminded the chairman that tho re-con-struction of the bridge was really a couuey woik, but at the same time he believed that the local body would find the balance if the county would give £450. — Mr Primrose then spoke in support ot the chairman, and deprecated pledging those who would come after them. — Mr Wells said tlie chairman h.id been speaking on the assumption that £700 w.is asked for, whereas his motion was for £43'). The local bodies had »iven an e.iinesfc of their debiio to assist in the matter by their willingness to pledge the local revenue. lie had (showed elearl) where tho money was to come ft om, and that it would be at the disposal of the council before the completion of the work. Whit was required beyond the sum he mentioned he felt sure the local bodies for their own salces would find. lie was confident the council would edclorse hia remarks. The chairman thought the plans &c. shonld be submitted to the council for approval — Mr Feigusson said the work would requite to be commenced in a week or so — Mr Primrose moved as an amendment to Mi Wells' motion that the work be carried on under the super\ision of the council — Mr Wells said the cairying of such an amendment would simply mean shelving the matter for a couple oi months. The Town Board was the bod 7 mtaiestoil, aivl the engineer waa fully competent to r-upervt>e the erection. He could a-sure tho council that every possible caic would be taken that the money was expended properly — The amendment wa-< not seconded.'and lapsed. The motion whs then put and carried.