NEW BRIDGE AT KAIAPOI

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24867, 6 May 1946, Page 6

NEW BRIDGE AT KAIAPOI

OPENING BY MINISTER OF WORKS

BOTTLENECKS TO BE REMOVED

The new Kaiapoi bridge across the Cam was in a sense a prototype, said the depuiy-chairr.ian of the iViain Highways Board (Mr T. G. Beck), speaking at the official opening of the bridge by the Minister of Works (the Hon R. Semple) on Saturday. Mr Beck said the bridge was one of the first of a number which would be built in the next 10 years to remove traffic bottlenecks near the large centres

The Mayor of Kaiapoi (Mr W. H. A. Vickery) presided over a large attendance, including representatives of other local bodies, at the ceremony Air Beck said -the old bridge had at no time been other than quite secure, and honour was due to the men who had built it in 18S6, since when the volume and weight of traffic had increased greatly. It had however become a Bottleneck in modern traffic conditions. The new bridge, with its width of 56 feet, was designed to carry four lanes of traffic up to traction engine loading simultaneously. The contractor (Mr J. E. Tait) had had difficulties, including floods, to contend with, and Mr Beck congratulated him on the finished job. Mr C. Morgan Williams, M.P., said Kaiapoi had been famous throughout New Zealand for its bridge with a hump like a camel’s back but now the wheel had turned full circle and it had the most modern bridge. The Hon. E. T. Tirikatene, Native member of the Executive Council, related some of the early Maori history of the Cam and recalled that his greatgrandfather (Tamakaitaki or Te Hama Taua) had a carved vvhare at the river crossing near where the bridge now stood. Good Work of Pioneers Declaring the bridge open, Mr Semple said they must not forget to honour the pioneers, who in such works as the old bridge had left footprints on the sands of time. So, too, had the engineers, contractor, and workmen who had built the new bridge. It was all right to say, as he had said, that the old bridge had a hump like a camel but that was no reflection on the men who had built it. Progress had gone a long way since then. Life was much easier than it had been in those days and man should continue to use modern inventions to make life better. That was good as long as he did not comfort and ease destroy his initiative. Mr Semple said Kaiapoi was fortunate to get its new bridge so soon, because of the delays caused by the war. There were 800 other important bridges waiting to be built. After the ceremony the official visitors were entertained at luncheon by the Kaiapoi Borough Council. Replying to the toast of the Highways Board, proposed by Mr Tirikatene, Mr Beck said that in his short experience with the board he haa been -impressed by the fine co-operation of the various interests represented on it and of the good feeling between the board and the local authorities and the Government.

Replying to the toast of local body and other visitors, proposed bv the Deputy-Mayor (Cr. A. E. Brown). Mr E. H. Andrews, president of the Canterbury Progress League, said the opening of the bridge was an event of importance not only to Kaiapoi but also to Christchurch, to Canterbury, and even to New Zealand because of the large volume of traffic it carried. The Mayor of Rangiora (Mr C. W Tyler) also replied and proposed the toast of the Kaiapoi Borough Council, to which Cr. A. Gordon replied. The toast of the contractor was proposed by Mr Vickery, who said that in him they honoured all who had been connected with a co-operative effort. Mr Tait acknowledged the help he had received from his men and "from the Public Works Department. To mark the occasion he presented Mr with a rug. ' - - ' cknowledging the gift, Mr Semple said the Mayor had struck the right note when he referred to co-operation That was what a shattered world was waiting for The only way it could recover was by common understanding. tolerance, and co-operation It could not recover by divisions and subdivisions. and there was not so much that separated men after all. He joined in congratulations to those who had shared in the provision of the new bridge.

The borough council was thanked for its hospitality by the chairman of the North Canterbury Catchment Board (Mr W. Machin).