MOONLIGHT’S DAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1929, Page 3

MOONLIGHT’S DAY

BRIDGE OFFICIALLY OPENED. When in 1864 George •, Moonlight made his way up the Blackball Creek, crossed a range, and carried on down the river which now bears his name he certainly never visualised a gathering of farmers, sawmill' workers and local body authorities ,•-such as took place yesterday to commemorate the opening of a modern bridge across the turbulent Moonlight Creek. When he “struck it rich” in his seeking for gold, he probably realised that it would mean -a- “rush:” It did, but' it was beyond his vision that a time ..would come when a bridge would be necessary to enable motor-cars to carry farm produce regularly to market and to enable industrious settlers to get' to town. That time came many years ago, but provision of the necessity did not until within the past twelve'ffionths," and its advent was duly. Commemorated yesterday at Atarau.

The occasion was epoch making for settlers who have farms along the western side of the Grey River, from Blackball northwards to the Big River beyond Moonlight. They have received an immediate benefit from completion of the bridge, but many others will also use the structure when the road is pushed on across Big and Rough Rivers, to ..its ultimate junction with the existing highway at Ikamatua.

The Moonlight bridge at Atarau is something over ... six miles beyond Blackball. It is, with * approaches, well over 300 feet in length and it spans. a stony riverbed and a fastrunning torrent which yesterday was of a depth of from four to five feet, but which gave the impression that.it •could very easily become • muchdeeper and a great deal more turbulent and dangerous. Modern to a degree in design, the bridge is intended to withstand floods, and it is a credit to those who planned it and to the building contractors, Messrs Turner and Aynsley, local residents whose usual line of business is sawmilling. Piles driven in 25 ft and more will take shifting, and they support the seven 40ft steel joists and one of 20ft which span the riverbed. The wooden superstructure has been erected with felting 'between* metal and timber, and thh decking has been made water-tight by. tarring to lessen the chance of moisture causing decay or corrosion. The job has been designed to last. The Grey County Council found the material and Messrs Turner and Aynsley began to build, the bridge a little over- twelve months -ago. The total cost was £3050. Settlers in the affected area agreed to rate themselves to pay a substantial part of the cost, but they were relieved by the • Grey County Council of their liability and their rates will not be increased to help reimburse for this important link in the proper reading of the County.

• Although the bridge has been open to traffic for some time, the settlers deferred the official opening ceremony for a very good reason. They awaited completion of a new dancing floor which has been put in what was Mr Turner’s barn, near the, bridge. This big building is now like a social hall and after the luncheon there yesterday a dance in the evening was organised as a preliminary to one to be held on Saturday as a further commemoration of the opening of the bridge.

Mr David Kidd, one of the’ oldest settlers in the district, was the chairman of the settlers’ committee which extended 7 invitations to members of the. Grey’ County Council, the "District •Engineer and others to. attend "the opening function. The local body members able to attend were Crs J. Mulcare, member for the riding, Cr J. Ryall, Mr J, Higgins, County Engineer, and Mr M. Keating, County Clerk, while Mr W. Clayton represented Inangahua County Council. Upon arrival at the 'bridge at one o’clock/ the 'Visitors found all ’ residents from miles around assembled there, it having been declared a whole .holiday, at the mill and at the school. Punga ferns decorated the end of the bridge where a red, white" and bluq ribbon provided a barrier. All, including the school children, were lined up on either side of the approach, when Mrs Irvine, an old settler, and widow of the late Cr Jas. Irvine, one .of the principal advocates of the necessity for bridging Moonlight Creek, approached. In a short introductory address Mr Kidd declared that’ the bridge was something they had been looking forward to for 20 years or more, and' all felt satisfied now that iff future they would be able to get . in. and out of town at any time.: As “the late Cr James Irvine had battled so hard to get the bridge authorised, he called upon Mrs Irvine to cut the ribbon and declare it open, and she .didso -amid applause. The National Anthem concluded that part of the ceremony. About sixty, adults then proceeded to Mr barn, or equally correctly hall, for luncheon; the juveniles mustered-' elsewhere for a spree calculated to impress upon them the importance of the occasion. The caterer, Mr Herb J Moore of Grey'mouth; had provided on a lavish scale for his patrons, while the hall was tastefully decorated for the occasion by ladies .of the district. - • .. -•-L ; After the loyal toast had been honoured Mr Kidd appropriately proposed that of “The Grey County Council,” one of the local bodies which played so big a part in the democratic government of the country/' There were not many districts in New Zealand where the rates were so low. as in Grey, and member's of the Council were; beyond feproaeh; Responding, Cr Ryall acknowledged the tribute, and declared - that special kudos was due to the Engineer, Mr Higgins, because all he had done was a credit and would be a monument to him when he was gone. The agitation for, the Moonlight - Bridge had started in Sir. Arthur Guinness’ time and credit for it having been brought to finality was due to Mr H. E. Holland M.P7 However, there had been one man; the late Cr Irvine, who had persistently urged- the ..necessity of bridging Moonlight to serve those on the northern side. Its provision filled “a’long felt want and since it was there he hoped the people of the district would live long to use it. Proud to be representative of the riding, Cr J: Mulcare expressed pleasure at completion of a work which he had helped along and 'which 1 was long overdud. In the past there had been quite a lot of money spent which should have been earmarked. for the bridge. He said that advisedly. Many had left the district and he felt- that it was partly because they could not get access to their, properties. It was regrettable, but unavoidable. A large 'amount of the money had been voted from the Consolidated Fund, and for that credit was largely due: to the member for the electorate and to the

District Engineer, without whose sanction the work could not have gone on-

Mr Higgins said that the bridge had cost £3,050, of which amount the Government had. found two-thirds and the County Council the balance. The ratepayers had at first been asked to sanction a loan and they had done so, but the Council, finding • itself in a good financial position, had not called upon the ratepayers for the extra rates. More bridges were needed, especially at Big River, as beyond that point the Government intended to place isettlers on the land. Hb had SURVEYED A BRIDLE TRACK from Blackball to Moonlight in 1883, prior to which time access was from Ahaura. In 1882 the track was made from Lee’s Ferry to Moonlight, but it was not widened until the early ’nineties. The widening of the Moonlight to Blackball track <was not undertaken until some years later. Mr' Higgins concluded by stating that no doubt the road* would soon be extended beyond Baxter’s Creek.

The County Clerk said that the settlers by carrying the loan proposal had done a lot themselves towards getting the bridge. However, the Council had recently decided not to load the big burden upon their farms. Nearly all the bridges had been built with grants from the Consolidated Fund, and rightly so, as it was mostly Crown lands to which they provided access. The Government owned land further on from Moonlight, and the time would come when the road would go to Ikamatua. The Council was opening up roads wherever it could, and this year’s expenditure of some £50,000 showed what an expensive matter it was to maintain them.

Responding to the toast of “Local Bodies,” Mr ’Clayton said that for many years he had known the disadvantages and dangers which the settlers had experienced, and of a number of people who had been drowned when trying to cross'the river. Mr Clayton also stated that many of the ideas of Members of Parliament emanated from local bodies. • Mr F. Turner referred to the way in which the Ngahere branch of the Farmers’ Union . had- battled consistently to have the bridge built, and he expressed thanks when proposing the-toast of the “New Zealand Farmers’ Union.”

. .Mr Clayton, in acknowledgment, said that he had brought the matter before K the Minister in Wellington and had received a sympathetic hearing He was quite sure that the Union had played a big part in having the bridge provided. : Mr Mulcare added that the Farmers’ Union did good throughout New Zealand. The Ngahere branch had secured a through stock train to Addington; which made the West Coast farmers better off-than many in some parts of Canterbury in regard to access to market j Mr T. Turner proposed the toast of “the late Cr Irvine;” and mentioned the debt of gratitude they owed theiij late representative for the way in which he had fought tooth and nail on their behalf. In reply, Mr Kidd declared that Cr Irvine’s record was one to be proud of and he was very sorry that Cr Irving had not been there to isee the result of his efforts on behalf of the district. I When .Mr Kidd proposed the health of “The Contractors,” he said that he had once offered £5O and Mr Aynsley; an equal amount in labour towards; getting the bridge. He continued that; he had often thought since that he would have given £5OO and worked for 1 the rest of his life had he known how; long the work would be delayed. In reply, Mr Aynsley said that he : and his partners had not been bridgebuilders previously, but things being ( slack, they had put in a tender and; had got the job. However, it had been, easy, as much helpful considerationj had been received from Mr Higgins and "from the overseer/ Mr F. Smith, i both of whom he thanked. Mr Turner added to - his partner’s statement that Mr Smith IraMykept them strictly to tne specifications and it was a credit to the-, then who worked on it that no shindy' work/' was put, into a bridge which - would stand as a'- testimonial to of the Mr J. . \ bf “The Ladies” Was proposedwy Mr Keating , and was responded to "by Messrs Frank.,Turner, Marshall'; and- Sartofi, The- Chairman proposed the toast of thb . ? -‘Uold Mining Industry/’’';and in reply/Mi 4 J. Reardon,, after bripfly surveying’ its ""history on thdiCoifst,' men titshed the fact, that' overweight tons, valued at two million pounds, had been takeq from : M.oqniiglit’ in the/ early days. 'He felt .sure that more could be won if-people. Wduld onlyJoolMhr it. Mr Turner, who' was born at Moonlight, said that he was optimistic that there might be more gold if its origin could be discovered. Mr Reardon was also optimistic and his theory that it was of thermal origin might be feasible and it might not. The gathering concluded with the singing of “A Old Lang Syne.” Subsequently members of the County Council and staff proceeded on for five miles and inspected possible bridge sites at Big River, .which is. impassable to motor traffic, and is crossed by a suspension bridge. They also travelled up the river ffs/LarSa's Mr. Frank /Johnstone’s property, nt the. confluence of Sl'atey Cre6k and Big River. , The.roads Weie-found : tb be in ’good order," and there/remain’.few culverts to be provided'to makA'the route an all-season one for; motor traffic. as far aS Big Rjyer.~ i ;;":'•„ ..