LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 300, 2 October 1939, Page 4

LOOKING BACK.

FIFTY YEARS SYNE. (From the “Guardian,” Oct.. 2, 18S9) Tho Forth Bridge—-London.—The great Forth bridge is now completed. The bridge is the greatest work of its kind in the. world. It has extraordinary spans for a rigid structure, of a third of a mile in length, each being made of two cantilevers of 680 ft long, united by 350 ft of girders. The structure carries the railway- high above the side of the Valley "of the Forth, the piers being nearly the height of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Sir John Fowler and Mr B, Baker, C.E., were the engineers. The bridge contains over 50,000 tons of the finest steel that could be produced. It was begun in 1883. At the half-yearly meeting of the Forth Bridge Railway Company in August 21, 1888, the engineers’ report stated that the monthly average tonnage erected exceeded 1400 tons, with a maximum of 2350 tons. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO (From the. “Guardian,” Oct. 2/ 1914). Rakaia Domain Board.—A .peculiar position has arisen in connection with tho election of members' to constitute the Rakaia Domain Board. Several of tho residents of the township desire to see a change of blood on the Board, and this faction recently called a public meeting, at which several ne\v candidates were nominated. This did not appear to suit the members of the old Board, who also held a meeting and nominated a number of candidates, including several of the sitting members. The two sets of nominations have now been forwarded to the Minister and the result is being keenly anticipated by the people of Rakaia,- who have taken up sides in regard to the question. It is stated that some little feeling is being demonstrated.