NEW FITZHERBERT BRIDGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 198, 20 July 1935, Page 7

NEW FITZHERBERT BRIDGE

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S VISIT

Pressing- an electric button on the official platform a short distance from the city end of the new Fitzherbert bridge, His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Galway, to-day, broke a red, white and blue ribbon stretched taut across the end of tlie structure and declared the bridge officialy open. Simultaneously flag drapings dropped away from the two pylons at the entrance to reveal suitable commemorative inscriptions on slabs of polished black Belgian marble embedded in the concrete.

Bright sunshine and mild weather conditions favoured the ceremony, which was attended by a large crowd, who packed the city approach to the bridge. It was an impressive gathering, thousands having assembled before Their Excellencies arrived.

The bridge and the official platform were gaily beflagged for the occasion, and both the Garrison and Palmerston North City Silver Bands were in attendance. Representatives of local bodies throughout the district, and also former councillors and Mayors were present.

MAYOR’S WELCOME. Apologies for absence were tendered on behalf of Hon. E. A. Ransom (acting-Prime Minister) and Hon. J. Bitchener (Minister of Public Works), Cr. W. B. Tennent, Messrs M. O. Grainger (chairman of the Woodville County Council), M. A. Eliott (Wellington Harbour Board representative), E. .T. Nathan. R. Mercer, L. R. Bryant, W. H. Brown, and J. L. Stout, S.M. “On behalf of the citizens of Palmerston North, it is my privilege to extend to Your Excellencies the warmest of welcomes,” stated the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford). “We trust that the sincerity and warmth of the receptions you have received on your visits throughout the Dominion nave in some measure indicated to Your Excellencies the very sincere regard felt by the people of New Zealand for the representative of His Majesty the King. I would also like to extend to the visitors here today a very sincere welcome from the citizens of Palmerston North. “Just on 60 years ago the thoughts of t*e pioneers witnessing a similar function in connection with the wooden bridge so familiar to users of this route into the city must have been somewhat similar to our own today. They remarked with satisfaction the accomplishment of the construction, and visioned a life of usefulness for the new-born product of man’s ingenuity. “At the time it was considered a praiseworthy effort, the embodiment of engineering skill and thought, but though bridge achievement was even then one of the older arts, the progress achieved since that memorable day has brought al>out a similar set of circumstances on this occasion. Then it was felt that a rich district was being brought into closer contact with the town, and now, having a fuller appreciation of the benefits conferred, we are here to mark the completion of this new bridge, which serves as the main means of access to the city from the South, and in recognition of its importance as a vital link in tire road system of the province, the authorities responsible for its erection have planned with an eye to future needs. “The old wooden bridge which has served its generation was in its time no less important or truly built, but the effluxion of time alters The requirements in resnect to bridges as it does most other things. Ade by side we have examples of bridge construction representing the ages of wood and ferro-concrete. The engineers, it can be seen, have realised that a wider and stronger bridge is required to cope with the inert ed traffic over this highway, and have designed accordingly. , NEED FOR PLANNING. ‘•'That this planning or designing to meet the needs of the moment and the future should not be restricted to the economical or physical spheres of life is becoming increasingly obvious, and some of the world brightest intellects have declared for a more methodical arrangement of affairs in trade and commerce,” the Mayor added. “Having observed the benefits of constructive and adaptive thought and action in the world of science, these individuals are ]>ositive that the resultant increased efficiency should not be the monopoly, of any one phase of life. In the realm of economics this new bridge provides a simple but none the less pointed analogy. For a very long time little has been done to increase the efficiency of money in its function as the bridge between the producer and the consumer. Most of us know that the day Of the onecar bridge has gone. Modern traffic demands facilities that will expedite the despatch of wheel transport. Authorities in the larger cities are constantly concerned with the elimination of bottle necks in the traffic conduits, and, above all. jambs must be avoided. FINANCIAL BRIDGING.

those brotherly and profitable feats of generosity that will turn humanity into one glad and happy family, enjoying a world of continuous sunshine. In conclusion I want to thank Your Excellency for so graciously giving of your time to honour us with your presence to-day, and consenting to open the new bridge.” HISTORY RECALLED.

Mr D. Collis, chairman of the Kairanga County Council, joined in the sentiments expressed by the Mayor, and said the gathering clearly indicated the interest taken by the public in the advancement of this part of the district. He cordially welcomed Air C. J. McKenzie, chairman of the Main Highways Board, Hon. J. G. Cobbe (Minister of Defence) and Mr H. H. Sharp (Public Works Department engineer). It was 63 years since the speaker had first passed over the old bridge. This had now been replaced, and the next project to be consummated was a completely sealed highway from Wellington to Auckland. He stressed the magnificent potentialities of the Manawatu district, and its identification with the progress of Palmerston North. Mr Collis commented that in the event of a slip blocking the Manawatu Gorge the new bridge provided the only road access from this part of the district to the Wairarapa. Ho congratulated all associated with the planning and construction of the new structure.

“We may regard this as a red letter day in the history of Palmerston North anil district. I am therefore very pleased to be associated with those responsible for the construction and building of this very fine bridge,” stated Mr J. A. Nash, M.P. “The first bridge over this river was erected by the late Mr Ihle. Later a portion was washed away in a flood, stopping connection with the city for some time, but subsequently tiie steel piles under the old bridge were sunk by the late Mr Joseph Saunders and the work was carried on both day and night. The fine structure just completed is a splendid piece of workmanship on the part of the Fletcher Construction Company, the contractors. “This river was named by one of the Maori tribes. When they arrived it was in Hood and the chief bade his people not to be afraid, but to be brave and stouthearted; hence we have the name ‘Manawatu,’ meaning ‘stouthearted.’ Anzac Park, with the cliff opposite this bridge, was formerly a Maori pa, also a burial ground. When this particular tribe was threatened by Maoris on this side of the river, a fire was lit where Anzac Park now stands to let other natives know, so that they could come to their help. “It. is just 64 years since a large number of women and children came up from Foxton in canoes, a distance of 40 miles by water, and landed near this bridge. The men had to walk through the bush to Palmerston North. What these pioneers endured in their efforts to carve out a home in a dense forest, we can never know, but we do know that they all made good. The ever-increasing needs of the city and district have made the erection of the new bridge necessary. Further, it is largely used as a main highway from Wellington and also provides a shorter and quicker access by road to the Wairarapa. “The bridge is being opened on the occasion of the Jubilee of Their Majesties the King and Queen, and perhaps it is fitting that I should mention that our Esplanade, which links up witli the bridge, and is visited by people from all parts of the Dominion, was opened to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the late Queen Victoria. I think 1 am right in saying tli at the plans and design of the bridge wore prepared by our city engineer, Air J. R. Hughes, who - was assisted by Air J. L. Alenzies. civil engineer, and Air Lachlan Brown, architect. Jt reflects very great credit upon our engineer and his assistants. In conclusion, I join with the Mayor, the chairman of the Ivairanga County Council, the citizens and settlers in expressing our very sincere and grateful thanks to Your Excellency for having consented to come to Palmerston North and perform the opening ceremony of our now bridge.” “LINK OF GOODWILL.’

“While we are assembled here today to celebrate the inauguration of a new order for this particular utility, jt is fitting that we should be reminded that our financial bridges are in urgent need of replacement. Problems of production have been solved by the aid of scientific thinking and the same method has made itself felt in certain phases of distribution, but the bridge between the producer and the consumer is still of the one-car type. Pertaining to the present casej when purely for reasons of financial and economic expediency a definite move was set afoot for a bridge replacement programme, plans and specifications were prepared and adopted, the matter was finally handed over to the contractors, and in a comparatively short space of time we have arrived at a position enabling us to discard a medium that had become unsafe, and substitute therefor a structure that is more in keeping with the demands to he made. It would be idle to suggest that a solution can he provided with similar speed in the financial realm but as to the desirability and the method of achieving the goal'in question there can be little difference. AMmt is inquired is a very definite and deteimiued effort to prevent the restnetion of the doctrine of advancement to the one side of life. . “Probably the need for a more oiderly arrangement and equitable adjustment of stresses is greater in regard 1 n money, yet there has been no hesitation \n the application ot results ol rcoarcli in the physical world oi the \(*rv good reason that delay would have proved costly. Retardation of a similar move in regard to money is equally extravagant, but the cost is measured fa a ditferent denomination, namely human misery, suffering, and sometimes life itself. The monetary bridge, to be successful, must, as with the traffic bridge be built on solid foundations, and these foundations must be composed of Christian values. “Once we have this bridge erected wo will sec thuse largo reconstructions,

Mr J. Linklater. M.P., stated that similarly he shared in the pleasure of the occasion. He added that the whole district was. directly or indirectly, contributing towards the cost .of the new bridge, the completion of which marked another forward step in tho development of the Manawatu, He paid a tribute to the local body members for their provision in founding and consolidating such an excellent highways system. More than a bridge across the Manawatu River, the new structure was a strengthening link of goodwill between < town and countiy. The bridge was an engineering achievement and lie hoped it would carry happiness and prosperity to tho district. PROGRESSIVE POLICY. His Excellency, who was greeted with a burst of cheering on rising, expressed his gratification at and appreciation for the kindly welcome extended to Lady Galway and himself. He would not enlarge on the history of the bridge, he said, but would congratulate the responsible designers and engineers. It would be a monument to tin? pursuance of a progressive policy. Every encouragement should be given to all developments of the amenities of the district. Such an imposing entrance reflected the civic pride and determination of Palmerston North. It had been a great pleasure to be able to come to perform the ceremony, said His Excellency, who then declared the new bridge formally open. With the gold fountain pen presented to him by Mr Andrew Fletcher, on behalf of the contractors who built the bridge (the Fletcher Construction Coy., Ltd.), His Excellency then signod * two parchment scrolls, one each to bo preserved by the Palmerston North City Council and the Kairanga County

Council. These bore tlie following records :

“This bridge, erected by tho Palmerston North City Council and tho Kairanga County Council with tho cooperation of the Main Highways Board, was opened on July 20, 1935, by the Right Honourable Viscount Galway, G.C.M.G., U. 5.0., 0.8. K., Gov-ernor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies.” The scrolls.were signed bv His Excellency, by the Mayor, and bv the chairman of the Kairanga County Council. His Excellency then broke with electric mechanism the ribbon stretched ncross the end of the bridge. Flags slipped down the face of the black marble slabs to disclose on one tablet a commemorative inscription recording the opening of the bridge by His Excellency, and on another the names of the Mayor and City Councillors. At the county (southern) end are set two similar tablets, one bearing the names of the chairman and members of the Kairanga County Council, and the other a brief historical record concerning the construction and life of the old timber bridge. Her Excellency Lady Galway was presented by little Nora Onglov with a beautiful bouquet nf lachanalias, freezias, pansies, Iceland poppies and maidenhair fern. Led by Their Excellencies and the Mayor and Mayoress, who entered cars on the other side, the official party then walked across the new structure and the Garrison Band, playing a march, headed a procession over the magnificent new river crossing. Subsequently a civic luncheon, at which 150 guests were present, was tendered to Their Excellencies.