Opening of the Aorangi Bridge

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 117, 23 March 1893, Page 2

Opening of the Aorangi Bridge

The ceremony of opening tbe new traffic bridge over the Oroua river at Aorangi for traffic took place yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. About three hundred persons, amongst whom were a number of ladies, were on the bridge at the appointed hour, and amongst those present we noticed Mr F. Y. Lethbridge, chairman of the Manchester Road Board, Mr T. R. Taylor, chairman of the Kiwitea Road Board, Mr R. Edwards, Mayor of Palmerston, Mr E. Goodbehere, Mayor of Feilding, Mr V. C. Ransom, chairman of Manawatu County Council, and Mr R. C. Bruce, M.H.R. Mr Lethbridge, as chairman of the Board, under whose auspices the bridge was constructed, performed the opening part of the ceremony. He said he had been asked to formally open the bridge that day, and, in doing so, would like to say a few words in reference to the structure. Most of them would remember that the initiation of the work had been a matter of considerable trouble and difficulty. Several attempts had been made to obtain tbe necessary authority, but tbe first two of them had been Unsuccessful. On the passing of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act a poll had been taken successfully, but through some informality it had been upset. Then another poll was taken, but through a number of people who were not interested in the bridge voting against the proposal, it was lost. However, owing to an amendment in the Public Works Act, for which they were indebted to tbe late Mr D. H. Macarthur, they had succeeded in accomplishing their purpose, and the result was the fine bridge they bad before them.'- He was sorry indeed that Mr Macarthur was not with them that day, for he was a man thoroughly acquainted with the requirements of the district and well able to advocate them in Parliament. At Mr Lethbridge's request, Miss Bull then drove the last spike successfully, amidst cheers. Mr Lethbridge, having asked the engineer and inspector whether the bridge had been thoroughly well built, and, receiving an answer in the affirmative, declared the bridge duly opeu for traffic. Nearly all present then adjourned to the bridge, on which the tables had been placed and a capital spread provided by Mr J. Gould, to which full justice was done. After the Chairman (Mr F. Y. Lethbridge) proposed the usual loyal toasts, and they had been honored, Mr B. Edwards, Mayor of Palmerston, proposed the Parliament of New Zealand. He said he was very pleased to be present at tbe opening of such an important structure, and it must be very pleasant indeed for the people of Feilding to witness the accomplishment of such a useful work. In reference to his toast he thought they ought to all be proud of the present Parliament. As a rule it was composed of honorable men of good intentions. Under their auspices the country was flourishing and was in a good financial condition. He coupled with the toast the name of Mr I R. C. Bruce, M.H.R., for Rangitikei. ' Mr Bruce thanked those present, on behalf of the Parliament of New Zealand, and fully agreed with the last speaker in his estimate of the members. In his opinion, and he had had some experience, the members were, honorable man and tried to do their duty towards the colony, although, of course, they were to a certain extent trammelled by circumstances. For instance, their constituents wanted a certain thing done, or considered their member ought to vote a certain way, or think that if a man is in Parliament he should always be doing something, and the colony, as a whole, followed suit. The result was that there was too much political activity — too much legislation. Laws were made one session, only to be abolished or amended the next. He hoped that members of Parliament would always rise to a full sense of the responsibility of the position in which they were placed. Mr Bruce proposed the toast of the 1 looal bodies, coupled with the name of Mr T. R. Taylor, chairman of the Kiwitea Road Board. The local governing bodies of New Zealand had been extremely useful institutions, composed of hardworking and honorable men, and he could only hope that they would maintain the high standing to which they had attained. Mr Taylor briefly responded, mentioning as an instance of how enormously the functions of local bodies in this district had increased, and stated that a few years ago the Kiwitea Road Board's income hardly exceeded j£2oo, this year its sprending power must have been £10,000. The Chairman proposed the health of the Contractors and Engineer. He said the bridge spoke for itself, and those gentlemen deserved every credit for such a satisfactory termination of their work. Although the contract time allowed was six months, the work had been completed in four, without any accident. Mr Glendinning responded on behalf of the contractors, and while speaking highly of the Board's engineer (Mr Bray), he said that great praise was due to the late Mr Bartholomew for the capable manner in which the timber had been supplied. Mr C. Bray also returned thanks for the compliment paid him. Personally he was very pleased with the structure, because it would be such a great convenience to the settlers in the district ; and he might mention it was capable of sustaining a weight of 40 tons in the centre. He could speak in high terms of the work of the contractors, for in all his 80 years experience of bridge work he had never met with suoh able contractors as Messrs Glendinning Bros. They had carried out their contract in'a thoroughly satisfactory manner. Mr Nicholas, tbe inspector, also deserved a word of praise, for they could look all over the bridge and would not find a bad joint or bad scarf. Mr Taylor proposed the Press, and Mr Kirton responded. Mr R. C. Bruce proposed the Ladies in a humorous speech, to which Mr A. C. j Matheson suitably responded. | The Feilding Brass Band, under the conductorship of Mr R. F. Haybittle, were in attendance, and added considerably to the success of the ocoasion by their musical selections. Everything passed off most successfully in connection with the affair, although the strong northerly wind which was blowing made the dust rather unpleasant at times. Through the kindness of Mr William Bailey a large number of sohool children were regaled with the good things provided. Full justice was done by the young ones to the repast set before them.