THE WHATAWHATA BRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1497, 7 February 1882, Page 3

THE WHAT AWHAT A BRIDGE.

Our correspondent writes on Saturday ; —I see by your issue of the 2nd instant that money is forthcoming for the repairs to the approaches to the Whatawhata bridge, I must now draw the attention of the authorities to the dangerous state of the whole structure. For some time past a dull bumping noise was heard, and people standing on the bridge could feel a vibration as if some heavy log washed down by the recent floods had caught underneath. I, this morning, went off in a canoe, having had my attention called to the crooked appearance of one of the piles, which I, at first thought, was broken. I might be mistaken, but I am quite sure the pile is clean out of the ground, either through the bottom being washed away, or through not being driven to a Droper depth. The latter alternative I wsuld not for an instant entertain. The well-known character of the contractors for carrying out their contracts, and the satisfaction always given, is a gaarantee that they did the work to the satisfaction of the engineer, and also to the inspector, the late Mr Hope, who was a most faithful and just man, and would always have the work done according to specifications, and never budged an inch where his work was concerned. I think when the pile ft removed, which is onty tanging by the strap) it will be

found that stone will have to be lodged round the piles, as at Hamilton and Ngaruawahia, as a protection against the action of the" water which naturally deepens the channel where resistance is felt to its natural course. I may mention the pile that is gone is on the upper side of the river, and is driven so as to form a break for the water or any debris coming down.