THE BRIDGES AT WOODVILLE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1141, 31 May 1911, Page 6

THE BRIDGES AT WOODVILLE.

"BEAUTY LOST, CONVENIENCE GAINED." "I think Woodvillo must bo celebrated for having more bridges iu its neighbourhood than any other town in New Zealand," said Mr. 3. 0. Wilson, at tho Wellington Farmers' Union Conference, sitting at Woodvillo. "Certainly, their magnitude is not equalled anywhere. There nro no fewer than five bridges over the Manawatu within a few miles, and tho Gorge Bridge, and it is always a pleasure to look forward to coming this way. I can well remember the extremely uncomfortable feeling of being boxed into the q.ige which crossed 'ho river on a wiro before the bridge was finished, and 1 shall never forget tho first drive I had nlong the Gorge Road, when it was jm narrow that, when the swingle-bars wero touching tho rock on one side, the near side horse was on the edge of the cliff. Pigeons were fluttering noont in thousands, and both sides of the river were clothed with beautiful bush. What wt have gained in convenience we certainly have- lost in bunuty and grandeur. ' "At one time Woodville him great hop** of having a mining population and a copper mine, but that has fnded away, and something much more substantial and profitable has taken its lilaeo, viz., bnttor-fnt. Having a more humid climate 'tlwn most districts, (ho grass is nearly always green, and just what cows like—green grass and plenty of water. In common with many places in New Zenland, the Woodvillo district has to depend very largely upon dairying, but they do iiot. seem to bo any moro advanced in lheir r methods hero than clecwhir*"