A NEW BRIDGE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19665, 8 July 1929, Page 7

A NEW BRIDGE.

RANGITATA ISLAND SETTLERS. Friday afternoon at Rangitata will he a memorable occasion in the lives of the settlers on iho Rangitata Island, when Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., officially opened the settlers' bridge from Rangitata to the Island. This bridge will till a long-felt want, as for many years efforts have been made to secure one so as to bring the settlers in closer contact with the mainland. Up to the present, whenever the river was flooded, road communication was completely cut off, leaving the island practically isolated until the river resumed its normal condition. There was an attendance of nearly 200 people, including visitors from Timaru. Geraldine, and Temuka, while the children from the Rangitata and Rangitata Island schools, in charge of Mrs Strack and Miss Fraser, were brought, to witness this important function. The weather was ideal for the occasion, and after the opening ceremony a procession of cars n,e d over the bridge, bringing with them many local people who had never before been on the island. The visitors were afterwards entertained on the island to afternoon tea at the residence of Mr and Mrs Ross Brodie. Mr Ross Brodie, chairman of the Settlers' Committee that has been working for the bridge, said that tor the last 20 vears efforts had again and again been made to have better communication between the island and tiie I mainland. Conditions had however, become so acute this year that determined action had been taken to secure the bridge, and thev were very pleased to be present at the official opening. They had received great help and encouragement from the Geraldine County Council, not only in the way of monev but also in the free use of its pile driving plant, from Mr C. E. Bremner. Council Engineer. Geraldine, and Mr W. J. Eathorne. bridge builder, Geraldine, both of whom had helped in drawing up the plan and m the construction of the bridge. Mr T. D Burnett. M.P.. had also been of .'rent help and assistance, while the settlers had given not only money but also free labour in the erection of the briclsre. Colonel K. Mackenzie, chairman or the Geraldine County Council, congratulated the. settlers on their hue achievement, and spoke highly of tne frit energy, determination, and enterprise shown bv them. The island consisted of 70,000 acres, and was worthy of better means of communication than had existed in the past, and the bridge would be the means of bringin<* a hundred or more people into closer contact with their neighbours, besides bein<r. of grpnt benefit to other* on the mainland."" The islanders always had the sympathy of the Council, and once thev "realised the important necessity of the bridge thev had been only too willing to help, not only in giving monev themselves, but also m in" the Government for further assistance The bridge Was a worthy structure and would outlast the stress and storm of many floods. The proposed extension bridge over the gully, which was sometimes flooded, would be carried out in the near future This would cost about £K>2. and thev were at present waiting for word from the Government concerning the Government grant. Mr J. J- Ellis, late of the Geraldine County Council, as an old settler, who, in the past, had worked for years to secure a bridge, also expressed his pleasure- at being present, and congratulated the settlers on the worthy structure that now rewarded their efforts. . , , , , ~ „ Mr Mackenzie then handed Mrs Ross Brodie a souvenir pair of scissors with

which she performed the task of cutting the ribbon, and so opening the bridge. Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., then declared the bridge open, and called for three cheers for the settlers. He was delighted, ho said, to participate in the opening of such a bridge. Motor-car traffic had, strange to say, had the effect of making the island more isolated now that the railway was not a sufficient means of communication in these modern _ days of fast travelling. He sympathised with the settlers in that thev had not got a traffic bridge in conjunction with the railway bridge, but such a bridge was a mixed blessing, as it would cost the Council a great deal to maintain. A main traffic bridge would cost anything from £BO,OOO to £IOO,OOO, and it was hoped that some dav such a traffic bridge would further link up the island with the mainland, but movement to secure this bridge was being held in abeyance for the present owing to the urgent need of the earthquake victims I for Government assistance. They had had both Mr Guthrie and Mr Coates down reviewing the position and giving consideration to the needs of the islanders for better means of communication. He wished to thank the Hon. 'Mr Williams, late Minister for Public Works, through whose efforts it had been that the Government had promised its contribution of £285 towards the bridge. The settlers were to be commended for the example of self-help which they had set in building this bridge themselves and hoped it would long continue to meet the motor needs of the island. It served to show that the spirit of the pioneers was still present in the settlers and while that was so New Zealand would never go back. Thev were a great people and they had a great little country. The bridge is a wooden structure. 90 feet long and about 8 feet wide, crossing the southern branch of the Rangitata river from a point just over five chains away from the Rangitata railway bridge. It lies to the east of the present railway bridge which will _ afford it great protection when the river is in flood. It is built of blue gum timber supplied by Messrs Scott Brothers, of Geraldine, and is constructed on iron piles. It has cost approximately £OBO, of which amount £2Bo was provided by the Government. £2OO by the Geraldine County Council and £IOO by the settlers in addition to their free labour.