The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3667, 31 October 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1912.

There is bound to be a great deal of

discussion over The Problem of the the report Town Bridges. w hie li wa s brought down at the meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday by the Engineer-Secretary (Mr. McDonald) on tire question of the town bridges. It seems that Mr McDonald was led to a review of the difficult problem which is here afforded on account of having, on behalf of his Board, to consider, from the point of view of the harbor, the plan of the bridge which the Borough desire should be constructed over the Waimata River. As far as the two other bridges that are affected are concerned it should be mentioned first of all he has lm hesitation in saying that their period of usefulness is now limited. The Ivaiti bridge, he explains, is in a bad state of repair and the AYliataupoko bridge, it is liis belief, will probably have to be replaced in the near future. In this connection will bo seen that fhe views of Mr McDonald are not dissimilar from those of .Mr Metcalfe, who, it may be recalled, advised the Borough Council that whilst the Whataupoko bridge might in his opinion be repaired and strengthened if the Borough were prepared to go to considerable expense, it would be advisable in the case of the Ivaiti bridge to erect an entirely new structure. Now it appears; to us that Mr McDonald did well to raise the whole question of the town bridges at the present juncture, oven although much grumbling may no doubt l>o heard if it is found that his action may tend to much further delay the establishment of the sewerage pipe

The Problem of the Town Bridges. i i i _ x * 0.1.

■?r tli? Waimata River. cates in effect is that ii ies concerned concur in f a comparatively small * the Waimata River at proposed, viz., edrmectload with Rutene Road it them to the present scheme of a big bridge at or about ivhere the Haiti bridge crosses the luranganui River as well as one where the Whataupoko bridge crosses tlie faruheru. River. The counter-propo-saL which Mr McDonald has to make is not, of course, quite novel, but comimr as it.does from such a highly capable and far-seeing Engineer as he has proved himself to be it is certain to command much greater attention and respect than has ever been accor - ed any similar proposal in the past. His suggestion, it will be noted, is that it would be better under all the circumstances to erect substantial bridges over the Taruheru River and the Waimata River, in which event lie claims a bridge over the Turanganui River would be found unnecessary. Upon the present occasion it is, of course, impossible to discuss in detail the proposal which Mr McDonald makes. But this we will at once say —that as far as we can see the advantages which he claims will accrue to the town and harbor if it be adopted quite outweigh any disadvantages which might be suggested. From the point of view of the Borough it is no doubt the case that the between the town and portion of Tvaiti would bo somewhat lengthened if the Tdaiti bridge were abolished, but as against that disadvantage it would have to be taken into account that only two bridges would be required instead of three, and further, that the abolition of the Haiti bridge would, as Mr McDonald also shows, afford inter alia much greater scope for inner harbor improvements. As a rule the greatest stumbling block to any big scheme is usually found to be a feeling that it may be too far ahead of .the times; but in this case, it would seem, that what should ensure for the proI posal in question wide and deep consideration is the fact not only that the continued progress of the town j and district were never more assured, but also that if the local authorities | proceed on any scheme that displays less foresight a position of affairs might arise which it may be found later cannot be improved upon. We are glad, then, to see that a conference of representatives of the local bodies concerned is mooted and trust I that its deliberations will be marked by an earnest appreciation of the still more rapid advancement which there, is every reason to believe awaits this J important town and district.