THE GORGE BRIDGE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 289, 10 June 1909, Page 8

THE GORGE BRIDGE.

[PBESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON N., last night. There was beautiful weather to-day , for the important ceremony of opening tlie Lower Manawatu Gorgo bridge by his Excellency. In August. .1895, the former traffic bridge was swept away, since which time the only communication between east and west coasts lias been by what is known as tlio Pahiatua track over the top of tlio ranges, with severe grades, and, intermittently, over tho ferry at the present bridge site. B-ut with regard to the ferry tho once famous Gorge Road was the greater part of the timo blocked by slips. Tho bridgo has been many years in building and at times Mr Maurice O'Connor, tho contractor, and Mr PL ,T. Haynes, have had their plans repeatedly interrupted by floods, which- -have done severe damage to the work. Tho completed bridge should now, in. the* opinion of Mr Haynes, last for a century. It consists of six spans of 138 feet each resting on braced steel cylinders sunk to 40 to 60 feet into tho. river bed, and rising to the decking 30 feet aboA'o tho average water -level". Tho roadway is 14 feet wide." Tho contract price was £18,000, but the total cost will bo above £20,000. j His Excellency cut a ribbon, a-nd declared the bridge opened in the presence of many hundreds of i)eop]e and representatives of all tlio local bodies from Pa'hiatua, Woodville, Feikling, Palmerston and Ash-hurst. A luncheon was served at tho eastern end of tho bridgo at which speeches were made by members of the local bodies and members of Parliament.