ROXBORO' CROSSING

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 6

ROXBORO' CROSSING

—-—♦ TRAFFIC BRIDGE OPENED.

Members of tho Ashburton County Council, tho Borough Council, tho Upper Ashburton Road Board, and representatives of other local bodies, journeyed yesterday by motor-cars from Aehburton*out to what is known as tho Roxboro' Crossing, a spot which had been for many years a bad, rough ford orer Taylor's stream, one of the many tributaries to the Ashburton river,.tho object of tho outing being to officially open a new- traffic bridge which has just been erected, and which .now gives a clean run through from Ashburtou to Mount Somers, without the necessity of having to ford a river, or any other stream hub an ordinary water-race. In .addition to tho members of local bodies, a considerable number of other peoplo made the journey, and they were met at tho new bridge by a large gathering which had assembled from as far north as Alethven, and from as, far south as Grassy' Hills, near the banks of tho Waitaki river. ■ Mr C. J. Harper, chairman of tho County Council, prfor to officially declaring the bridge open for traffic, statea that a petition, had been presented to tho Council in February, 1912, requesting that a bridge. bo erected over Taylor's stream, at the Jloxboro' Crossing, in order to provide better access for the numerous farmers and other settlers along the hills districts. The Council, after visiting the spot, unanimously decided to proceed with the work, as it was considered a most important link in the chain of communication from Ashburton towards the foothills, the work to bo undertaken provided that the road boards directly interested would contribute a proportion of tho estimated cost ot £IGOO. It was also decided to approach the Government for a grant in aid of the bridge. Finally, the Mount Somers and Upper Ashburton Ro?.d Boards agreed to contribute £133 6s 8d each. The Government granted a eubndy of £1 for every £2 expended. Plans were then prepared by the county.engineer, Mr Charles Morrison, find the contract was let to Mr P. Norman, and the whole work/bad now been carried out in a thoroughly substantial and satisfactory manner, and at a total cost of only £24 above Mr Morrison's original estirr-ito. The longth of' the bridge Wii3 285 fert, and the width of the clear roadway 14 feet. Tho timber used wos principally Australian hardwood. The work wns, of a most solid nature, and the new bridgo would i-rove a boon and a lasting benefit to the settlers in the immediate vicinity and to the Ashburton district as a whole. Great credit was due to the county engineer for bis sharp in the work, and also to Mr N'nrmnn for the admirable manner in which he had carried out his contract. Ho had much pleasure in officially declaring the bridge open tor use by tho general public. Mr Hugo Fricdlander. as one of the senio> councillors, also briefly addressed the gathering, and remarked that, in erecting the bridge, ..tho County Council had not only done its duty, but had carried out that duty as early as tho finances would permit. Ho also warmly eulogised tho county engineer and fho contractor for the rcanner in which they had carried out their respective shares of the work.

Mr Andrew McFarlane. nn ex-mem-ber of the Council, and the loncest resident farmer in the Alford Forest district. cordinHy tbanlced the Council for having erected the bridge, tr-p.reby nrovidinK n of access'which had lon<:'. been badly need<nl.

Mr Thomns Bullock, another. pxof the Council, nl?o his appreciation of tho good ■ v-nrfc the Council had done- in erecting tho bridge. The Inrge and widely, rcprpsonfative were thon entertained by the County Council to -*>n n! .md rnpettsini;" luncheon, aftor w!'ir% the flavor of Ashburton. Mr HrnT Dnvis. thanked the Council on be!>nlf/»f the borough, both for their bosnitnlitv nnd the good work they had done in bridging another stream.