Former Glory Of Pier

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28774, 20 December 1958, Page 18

Former Glory Of Pier

Once the pride of New Brighton and the destination at week-ends of thousands of visitors from Christchurch, New Brighton’s 67-year-old pier—the only one in New Zealand—now bears few signs of its former glory The ravages of time, heavy seas, and years of neglect have robbed it of its romance and the receding seas have left it jutting out awkwardly into the boiling surf. Built at a cost of about £5400 it was “launched” in 1894 with a bottle of wine and soon became the most popular attraction in the borough. During the summers the steamers John Anderson and Jane Douglas took holiday-makers

on excursions between the pier and Lyttelton, and a dance hall and cafeteria on the end of the pier was well patronised by the younger folk. Holders of tram tickets could gain admission to the pier and every week-end crowds went there to fish, to promenade along the deck or watch the ships. Several years after it was opened, heavy seas washed away the landing stage and the ships stopped calling at the pier Gradually it lost its use and fell into - disrepair. The shore end of the pier recently took on a new lease of life when a modern restaurant was built on the north side.