PENINSULA BRIDGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 7 July 1913, Page 5

PENINSULA BRIDGE

A BOON TO SETTLERS

OPENED BY HON. R. McKEXZIE

Saturday was a great day in the history of Nuatimoti. And the settlers did full justice .to the occasion. Alter years of weary waiting, and putting up with difficulties that only these who experience them can realise, the Motueka river has been spanned at the Peninsula, by a bridge which will prove of untold benefit to residents on both .sides —especially," however, to those on "the other side." In the past all produce, etc.. had to be ferried across the river m a punt, often at great personal risk, and many an exciting tale can be lecorded of those days. These difficulties, it is hoped are now gone for ever, and farmers should be able to communicate with the mainland with the degree of comfort- they are entitled to. One of the speakers at the opening ceremony on Saturday eloquently described the feelings of residents when he stated that the opening of the bridge meant more to them than did the opening ot the Panama Canal. It was only to be expected that such an even: would not be allowed to off without sonic fitting celebration, and the good people of had made very complete arrangements to maks the occasion a redietter day in the history of the picturesque settlement. The result was a most successful function on Saturday, when Hon. B. McKenzie. member for the district,, declared the bridge open amid great enthusiasm. In addition to Hon. and Mrs ■McKenzie, the visitors included Crs. Everett (chairman of the County Council), Corder, Hoult, Best, Hewetson. Macmahon and Drummond : Mr. G.S. biteside, (County Engineer); Mr. Simpson (Mayor of Motueka) and many representative residents from far and near. Two motoi cars from the parages of Newman Bros. and. J. C. Mercer and Sen conveyed the visitors from town, who had a thoroughly enjoyable drive, the perfect weather conditions being much appreciat ed. Ngatimoti was reached about 11 a.m., and by mid-day quite 300 people were on the prettily-situated grounds of Beatson Bros. CUTTING THE RIBBON. At 11.30 a.m. all those present assembled in the middle of the bridge, where a white ribbon was stretched across. The Hon. R. McKenzie said it gave him very great pleasure to be amongsit his old friends and to open the bridge. He them they had a verv fine structure, and he complimented the County Engineer (Mr. Whiteside) on his work. Mr. McKenzie said it had been his lot to open many bridges, but he doubted very much if he had seen one built- like the one he was about to declare open for the same amount of monev. He was not going to weary them with a speech at this stage, but would ask Mrs Brereton, senr.. to cut the rib!bon. - (Applause). Mrs Brereton then cut- the ribbon amid cheers. 'Mr. C. Brereton replied on behalf of his .mother for the honour conferred on .her. The opening of the bridge, said Mr Brereton, was probably the most important event that had ev;r taken place in Ngatimoti. "It is ,jnore important to the people living on this side of the river than the opening of the Panama Canal," concluded the speaker amid hearty "hear, hears" from the settlers. The crowj then passed over the bridge, and the Chairman of the County Council distributed places of Tibbon while it lasted. THE LUNCHEON.

A large awning had been erected on j ;Mr. Beatson's property, and here the J guests sat down to an excellent- repast provided by the Ngatimoti people. After the fullest justice had. been done to the pood things, a short toast lis; was gone through. Mr. Horatio Everett, Chairman cf'the County Council, presided, and after the ■usual loyal toast had been honoured, proposed the health of Hon. McKenzie. Whatever might be the political opinions which existed between them, they most cer tainly acknowledged the immense service Mr. McKenzie had been to the settlers ill that district. (Hear, hear.) The bridge was largely due to their member's efforts in getting the necessary Government ai-d and assistance, without which the bridge would not have been built. It j had been -erected, partly by the Govern- ■ ment. the settlers and the County Council. 'Mr. Everett expressed pleasure at seeing Mrs McKenzie present. (Applause). Hen. McKenzie, in rising to respond, was received with applause. He thought the obligation was on bis side for the greater pleasure afforded him of being I present that Cay. Reference was made i to the hardships put up by settlers in. the early days, and a tribute was paid to the .pioneers for the part they had taken in carving out homes under great difficulties. (Applause). The new settlers had the luxuries of life compared with those times. He always looked upon it as his duty to assist wherever he could. Roads and bridges were most necessary to develop the resources of the country, and settlers in the back districts should ■get every assistance in this Tespect, as •they were at a. great disadvantage in getting their produce to market compared with those living near railways. A mem'foet's first duty was to his electors, and he recognised that it was his duty to assist as far as he could every settler in the Motueka electorate. Referring to the bridge, the speaker paid a compliment to Mr. "Whiteside (County Engineer) for erecting the structure at a cosfc of £I9OO. If a Government engineer had Joeen doing it it would probably have "cost £4600. After thanking the chairman for his reference to Mrs McKenzie, the speaker concluded 'by joculously remarking 1 that there were thres things which a. public speaker should never forget : Before he starts he should know ' what to say. and speak out straight: he should stand up straight; and sit down straight. (Applause).

In proposing the toast of "Local Bodies" coupled with the names of Mr. Everett and Mr. Simpson (Mayor of Motueka)'. iMr. C- Brereton said the settlers were indebted to the County Council for the bridge. He thanked the ex-chairman (Cr. Best) as one who had done a tremendous lot towards the work. The present chairman had given the greatest satisfaction to the ratepayers of the district also; in fact, all the members had done their best. (Applause}. Complimentary references were also made to the County Engineer, to the builder (Mr. Oakley), and to Mr. Davis. In replying, Mr. Simpson, as one who had known the locality 45 years ago. congratulated the people on the event that day. He considered that the (Sovornment of to-day was doing one of the grandest things ever done for New Zealand in providing roads and bridges for the backblock settlers. Kef erring to the County Council, the speaker considered the ratepavers were verv fortunate in having such a body of men to look after thsir affairs. Mr. Everett said it was rather a unique circumstance thnt over 20 years ago he had drafted a petition for the construction of a 'bridge there. The C-ounty Council had a very important duty to discharge in attending to parochial affairs. A better class of Toads must be provided for in the future, and

" ' • - —- this could only be done by more money, which, however, should be looked upon as a business investment. He trusted that th-e bridge would be a Listing benefit to the settlers, and that they would never reerel having constituted themselves a separate rating district to help oii the work. (Applause). In a few remarks. Mr. Guy said a bridge had been projected at his suggestion on the present site about 2/ years when the late Mr. John Kerr represented them in Parliament. A committee consisting of the late Mr. \\ m. Brereton and Messrs .John M eGa veston. Ross and Slater had been formed in connection therewith. Mr. C.uy exhibited a Government plan for th<- bridge made about 23 years a "The Engineer and Buildei ' was briellv proposed by Cr. Best, who re-feii.-,I to the diliiculties experienced when the pier was .--wept away. ;md to the present wel!-i oiistructed bridge. Mr. Whiteside, in replying, referred in complimentary terms to the work tu ihe builder (Mr. Oakey) and to Mr. Fowler (concrete foreman). '"The New Zealand Defence Forces" was proposed by Cr. Mac-malum, it was a subject on which he felt very strongly, and it behoved everyone of us to do what Hf could to prepare to defend our homes. What good was there in our prosperity, in making homes, in people getting bridges, if there was a danger at some time of a foreign foe coming ? There was a danger, and there always would be while the development of armaments was pushed on. He hoped there was not a man in the district who was not prepared to let his sons come forward and do his part in preparing for the defence of the country. Reference was made to the effect the sift of the Dreadnought- bySir Joseph Ward had had upon the whole world. It showed that the British Empire was united. (Applause). Captain Brereton, in replying, said there were no objectors in Ngatimoti to the Defence Act, -but in the surrounding district there were "some horribly strong ones." A strong appeal was made on behalf of the Territorials, and a reminder was given that the great naval and land battles of England were won with pressed men. In proposing "Our Hosts," Hon. McKenzie complimented Captain Brereton on his speech. The toast was replied to by Messrs Trios. Brereton, Geo. Beatson, and McGaveston. After the health of the Chairman had been honoured, the luncheon terminated. During the afternoon the children were well provided for, atid the whole affair passed off without- a hitch, reflecting much credit on the part of the Ngatimoti people.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BRIDGE. The -bridge has a length of 275 feet, with a 10ft. roadway, and is so designed to allow for expansion by being hinged in the middle. It rests on two ferroconcrete piers with steel structural towers and steel subsidial trusses, with an estimated weight of 40 tons on each pier. There are four cables, to stand a breaking strain of 360 tons, and the bridge is so designed to support a load of ten tons. The first- pier was demolished by a flood in October, at a loss of about £7OO, bringing the total cost of the bridee to ■£2650. The present bridge cost £1950, towards which the Government had contributed £9OO. the ratepayers £4OO, and the Countv Council £650.