THE KARAPIRO URIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1573, 3 August 1882, Page 2

THE KARAPIRO URIDGE.

Tiie question of erecting a bridge over the Karapiro creek at Cambridge, seems to have attracted no inconsiderable amount of public attention, considering fie number of times it has been brought before the public since the idea of building a new bridge was first conceived. It was currently rumoured in Cambridge on Saturday last ' that the town board engineer, Mr Hosking, was building the new bridge in almost exactly the same position as the old structure, and that when completed would be 'equally unserviceable ; that the ratepayers' money was being squandered j that the Government had given a subsidy conditionally that the bridge was to be erected according to the plans of their engineer, and would therefore probably cancel the grant. A requisition, signed by Crs. Hewitt, Johnson and Kirkwood, was forwarded to the chairman", asking him to call a meeting .of the board 1 mediately;to consider, the matter.^Bef ore, receiving this, Requisition, K the J chairman had \ just re^v^^a "|et% , ] f r<pm Qwynpeth,V ( complaimng* -*6f^a- inisapprb- ? Istatitig tliat'if the.^ork^e^e not >^cou>^ :sontationsm^e^Jbhe^proDer:M[g^™rB,*

ratepayers' money thrown away, the plan as recommended by himself and the Government engineer, (which was an authorised plan) being the plan which the Government had approved of. At four o'clock on Monday afternoon the board assembled at the Duke of Cambridge Hotel, and then adjourned to the site of the bridge in company with the engineer, Mr Hosking. Mr Hosking produced the Government plan, which suggested that the road into the town should be by Victoria-street, going along by the old wharf and Ward's brickyard, the bridge itself crossing the creek in almost the same place as the present bridge. The board had instructed him to make the best possible job for the money, and in accordance with these instructions he had proceeded with the work. The board had £750 at their disposal, and the other bridge proposed would cost half as much more. The structure which he was about to erect would consist of five spans of 25ft, and that laid down on the Government plans would consist of three spans of 25ft, and two spans of 20ft. As it was neither convenient nor suitable to alter the approach into the town to Victoria-street, the bridge which he proposed to erect, — and which would be about 15ft higher than the present one, and about 7ft higher than the one proposed by the Government engineer — was the only one that could be constructed for the money. The present unpleasant curve would be done away with, and the road between the bridge and the town materially improved upon. The board, on Mr Hosking's explanation, expressed them selves perfectly satisfied with his plans, and passed a unanimous resolution requesting him to have the earthwork approaches proceeded with immediately. The board then retired to the Duke of Cambridge Hotel, where the following business was transacted :—: — Mr Gwynneth's letter was read. — The Chairman said they would see there was no foundation for the statement contained therein, that the grant was obtained on condition that tne bridge should be built in a cci tain place. He thought Mr Gwynneth's threats were very objectionable, and his language anything but coiuteoua, — Cr Nixon chaiacfcemed the letter as untruthful. —On tho motion of Cr Kirk wood it was agreed to let the letter lie on the table. — Cr. Nixon then proposed, and Cr. Hewitt seconded, "That the board having viewed the site of the biidge, and ha\ing the explanation of the engineer, are pcriectly satisfied with the site and its approaches." — Carried unanimously.