THE GRAFTON BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 71, 24 March 1910, Page 9

THE GRAFTON BRIDGE.

'' ' TESTS HIGHLY SATISFACTORY. . OFFICIAL OPEXI2CG IX APRIL. A detailed report, of the official tests conducted by 'the City 'Engineer in connection with the main span of' the Grafton bridge was submitted to the meeting of the City Council last night. . After exhaustively treating the various points of the tests on scientific lines, the Engineer concluded: "These results can be considered highly satisfactory,' and endorse the soundness of the design and general stability of the structure, a. result that has been achieved by the care rased in the checking of tin- calculations, and in the accuracy with which the designs furnished have been- carried out in the actual work, both as regards the construction of the. centring and falsework and the selection and testing of trie materia Is used, as well as their subsequent mixing and placing in the work itself." ! work .was commenced in August, 1007, and was now virtually completed. Tie engineer recognised the meritorious fiork performed by Messrs. R- F. Moore (who was chief engineer of the KerroConcrote Company), (_. R'lsegger (chief assistant engineer), H. li. Watkins (draughtsman i, anil .lame!- Tyler (clerk ■of works for the Council). The work in connection with the approaches was being curried out by the Council's own staff, while, the. paving of the carriageway of the bridge would be • commenced next week by the Neuchatel Asphalte Company, who expect to complete it in three weeks from that, time. The installation of the electric lighting is in the hands of Mr. Wyllie (city ', electrical engineer), and lir. James Carlaw (waterworks engineer) has fitted the ivaterpipes and hydrants to be- used for the washing down of the bridge. The Engineer expressed his pie.a.sure that the responsibility he undertook when advising the Council to accept, the design • and tender of the Ferro-Concrefe Company . : of Australasia for the bridge, had been so well justified, a result which had teen attained by the thorough manner in which the company had fulfilled its task, ably assisted by its *-tafi" and workmen, and not least ■by the careful and loyal' manner in which Mr. Tyler carried out, - his duties. The Mayor remarked that the report ;' submitted by the. engineer proved conclusively that the. 'bridge iras thoroughly cafe, and all doubts as to the soundness of the. structure should 'be dispelled. tic intimated that in all probability the official opening of the bridge would take place at the end of April, by which time the Engineer estimated everything would be in readiness. The Mayor moved that the. report be received. In seconding the motion, Mr. Snieeton said the Council and city had to be. congratulated on the successful completion of this large undertaking. At the time the structure was planned it was claimed •that the span was the largest in the rrcorid, 'but he saw tha; the "record" established "was to 'be eclipsed by a bridge over the Hudson river, with a span of seven hundred feet. It would probably ibe some time before the proud position : Auckland at present occupied would be [recovered. Messrs. Ba.gnall and Michaels endorsed ■what had been said, and the motion I .carried. •■ let connection with the Graffcou-bridge ' Contract, J. J. Craig and Co. forwarded ~ a claim for £1191 upon the money due to the Ferro-Concrete Company of Australasia, ..under the Graf ton bridge contract, for carting and other work. Wilson's Portland Cement Company • also .forwarded a claim of £2189 upon the •money due to the Ferro-Concrete Company of Australasia, under the Grafton bridge contract, for cement supplied. | Tie claims were received.