PAMN RE BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 612, 28 October 1865, Page 6

PAMN RE BRIDGE.

The ceremony of laying the corner stone 01 cnici Bridge, took place yesterday, in tho presence of a very large concourse of people, inhabitants of thd Province of Auckland. f The hour announced for the ceremony was one 0 clock, bat Ions; before that time a considerable number of persons were ou either bank of the river, surveying with some curiosity and considerable expectation tlie work that had been done, and the inauguration about to take place. | Wo believe that this is the only work of greatimportance certainly of such dimensions, that has been brought to completion in this colony. Several works have been commenced in InvercargiU, the ffutt Valley (We hngton), and other places in the colony, and carried on with indifferent buccqss up to a certain pomt. It would of course be verr.impropfr to limit the xncohesion of these abortive Undertakings to the failures of their authors, so that it is impossible to say what might have heen accomplished with additional public spirit and perseverance. The Panmure Bridge was commenced in October last. The lamaki river at this point is perhaps the [ most central part of the province of Auckland Jt eommunic.tes with tho Alanufcau harbor and Auclland harbor. With the increase of population and. enterprise it must prove a navigable nrcrofimmeme importance, it all cvonts, upon either bank lie pautures of rich cultivation and natural fertility, spotted with cattle; and destitute as this country is of foliage covered with an indigenous growth of large shrubs' the willow, Cape gooseberry, and spots of high bush' and di-tant ranges, which m.iko the landsoaoe tranquil, if not pleusant. i T?rom ttve commencement, of two vrork in OctoW last to the present time some difficulties have arisen | high tides, partial floods, and other I't[e difficulties wore unquetionably very great, but have been surmounted with great perseverance and endurance, both by workme n and contractors. The river, at this point, at high water ranges in width at about 500 feet. It has been hitherto traversed by a " punt" a clumsy platform, dr gged from shore to snore by windlasses, the transitat high,water occupying about 15 minutes. Two workmen at this windlass perform about 35 revolutions a minute. The amount of labour thus expended is incalculable' from J year to year. We may heregive the dimensions of the bridge itielf. It is 576 feet in length and 21 feet in width. It is i of wood and on piles, bearing a striking resemblance though on a smaller scale to many of the bridge* of' wooden structures across tie Thames even between j Wdon and Richmond. It is supported by, rows I 01 piles, four abreast, sunk perpendicularly, wiith I

" batter " or abutting piles on rithm- side, whirl, give immense support The number (if these'pii e « u 120 in all. They are covoret' ; with a sheeting of I copp-r and zinc (lluntz's pat«nt v , -he longest beinrr § 65 feet and the shortest 40 feut. i ney are tied t ° V gether by horizontal " walings" or braces extendi,?" |.\ from low to high water murk, a:ic by diagonal brae/ It ) extending fr m low to liiuh water marie, lirmly bnlM r* ' and iicrewed. 5The immense labour required in driving th = piles to their proper bed can only be estimate h" the difficulty experienced by alternations of ii,j e ? weather. It was at first calculated tint the coffer dam requisite need only., be three feet below 1 0 " watc.r mark, instead of this it was necessary to stn'kto between 10 and eleven feet down. Th; 3 a lj i: e moro particularly to tlie masonry of the abutment which is unquestionably the finest piece of work we liavo Been in the province, and in the opinion of competent judges the finest yet undertaken and satisfactorily completed in the'colony, 'n,.. are 12,000 cubic feet of solid masonry in the abutment raised to support the circular rotary or swivel bridge, on the south side of the river" which can be turned with a "crab winch" so as to allow vessels of considerable tonnage to pass, to may mention that the opening for vessels to pass is 40 feet clear, while the beam of some of the largest ves;»i trading to the port of Auckland is under 30 feet.° n should also be stated that ever? stone in this massif work is between one and two tons in weight. Tha block, which it was the good fortune of his Honor the Superintendent to lay—we hope in its last resting place—being six feet long, four feet wide, and one foot nine inches in depth. The stone of which the abutment is constructed is from the quarries known as th e Brunswick Quarries, near Melbourne!, and called the "Victorian blue stoue. It is pretty much of the sam e grain as commonly found in this colony, but less porous and honeycombed than ordinarily met with here. The footing course was, however, laid w ;tij atone from No ill and Wilson's quarry, at Otara Croek, about three miles from the Panmure Bridge The wood work of the bridge ij about oOfi w The iron and masonry work is therefore about 70 f w [ The masonry work consists of two walls about 2o feat long and 2 feet thick, with arched abutments Within this is f ho struc-ure for the swivel works a perl feet cylinder, the circular wall two feet thick transversed by cross-sectioned walls within which is thrown a quantity of heavy rubble imparting immense, and with its settlement, constantly increasing strength These transverse walls are also two feet in thickness. Upon these cross walls is laid tho " sole " upon which the swivel is to work, and is about 15 tona of Bo ltd cast iron work. The ironwork necessary to work this bridge is about 45 tons in weight. The time announced for the commencement of the ceremony was one o'clock. Punctually to the hour his Honor the Superintendent was present, and boats were in readiness to convey those who were supple enough to get into them to the opposite or southern shore of the Tamaki. The weather was delightful The scene animated, the refreshing verdure of tha green fields, and the calmness of- the atmosphere giving to the cheery prospoct on either side of the river, upon which groups o- ladies were assembled additional tone and liveliness. Viewed from the high gTound on either side of the Tamaki, the bridge haj e.d exceedingly picturesque appearance. In aid of vessels passing through the bridge, Mr. Weaver had caused to be constructed two " dolphins," which considering the current that runs here at times, viz. from six to seven knots, must be of the greatest use.

The Superintendent having been ■ erried over, and the less exalted but equally prominent attendants having gone over in the now, we hope, almost obsolete punt, everything was got in order. A "traveller" extending the whole breadth of tho working took up the huge stone that, was to be laid and conveyed it mildly and equally over the place where it was"to be set. The flngineer-in-Chief bonded.to his Honor a silver trowel with a suitable inscription, and a mallet of polished kauri—the handle of rimu—with which the ceremony was to be completed. His Honor handled the trowel deftly; and the huge stone was rested in its bed of mortar, ihe spirit-level was then laid upo'i the stone. His Honor applied the mallet with equal skill, and the gentlemen present raised a loud cheer for his 1 Honor the Superintendent, supplemented by the waving of ladies' handkerchiefs three times three.

His Honor said : 1 lay the corner stone of this work, in the hope that it may long remain a portion of thf permanent work of the province,—in the hope that it may be a credit to the province, in the proportion that it has been so long desired br the inhabitants of the surrounding district (hear and cheers) It is gratifying to me as it must be gratifying to all of you to see structures of this size and magnitude, conducted to to their completion in a truly businesslike manner (cheers). I must Bay that it'is not only gratifying to myself personally, but it is also moat pleasing to the engineer to see the work so pressed on by the contractors, who have not only supplied such really good work, but also such excellent material. I am sure it is most credible to the workmen who have carried this work to so satisfactory a result. I have nothing further to say than to express a hope that this work may bo a credit to all who have been concerned many a long day to come, and an earnest of what yet may be accomplished in the Province of Auckland (cheers), with energy,, perseverance, and determination (cheers]. I trust it may last for ages to come. I have no doubt the contractors who have carried on this work will have a name not only ; throughout the province, but throughout the whole of New. Zealand and the colonies for the faithful manner arid thorough efficiency with which they have done their duty. Thsy aro worthy of all the praise we can bestow upon them for the workmanlike manner in. which they have performed their duty. I have nothing further to say. (Loud cheers ) Three cheers were given for the Superintendent. Mr. Vitiou proposed a cheer for the Engineer-in-Chief, which was cordially responded to. The Supeeis xbndb <t asked for three cheers for .the contractors, a request which was unanimously responded to. Dr. Fisoheb called for three cheers for the workmen, which met with an enthusiastic response. THE BANQUET. The company repaired to a handsome marquee, which was erocted upon the high ground overlooking the river. His Honor took tho ohair, having on his right hand the Kev. Mr. Hamlin and Mr. Thomas Cliee.'eman and upon his left the Engineer-in-Chief and Mr. liusk, sen. The viands having been disposed of, His Hujioii rose aud asked the company to charge their glasses to drink the health of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, with nine times nine. Tho toast was drunk most enthusiastically. His Honor nest gave " His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the rest of the .Royal Family," with three times three. This toast was similarly responded to. His Honor next gave " His Excellency the Governor." " I am happy," said his Honor, '■ to be the means of communicating to you the fact, of which perhaps you aro not aware, that within tho last few days his Ifecellency has informed the Prime Minister that he (the Governor) goes in for Separation." Drank with all the honors. _Mr. _£vEE\' Maclean rose to propose the next toast. He said that none but those residing in the district could imagine the inconvenience to which the inhabitants of the district beyond the Tamaki were put, owing to the want of a bridge at that particular part of tb 6 river. .He believed that these inhabitants inainlr owed what thoy had now obtained to the energy and m>rsonal influence of the Superintendent. (Cheer*-) He had long thought that the punt, and iudeed soma of the works, would at the commencement be rapidly swept away. He was happily undeceived, and he « u • ,t he com P aa y present to drink tho health of His Honor the Superintendent.". (Cheers.)— " For he's a jolly good fellow," His Honor said: I thank you very kindly for tho manner m which you have drunk my health. 1 regret that I am not worthy of the praise that you have bestowed upon me. As far as my personal inlluence is concerned, I have simply used my hest ettorts before retiring from office to place abridge across this river for the benefit ot' tho set tier j on either sido of it. T assure you that notwithstanding tfe ianey of my friend Sir. Maclean, now that I l« ve mallelted in the corner stone the bridge is a "act. (l^heera.) —and is not likely to bo swept away. (-lieera.) Indeed it was to give Mr. Maclean some measure of confidence that I came here to-day to lay tue corner stone. (Laughter and cheers.) I &iu confident that this bridge will give facilit v r for the navigation of tho river. I am sure I owe my c ,,r[l I thanks, and I think the thanks of the peop'e of the province to the engineer for the way in which he haM watched over the works during the progress, and brought the bridge to its present state of comp el oß ' I trust that the bridge will always: prove a credit to .him and myself and to tho public of this rrovincs.

mating -o many gentlemen hero preI feel P ro . t0 s 0 ampieions an occasion, and the sent to 0 f'," allje I have, to the best of my ability, ( more t^ n ,ire of office, endeavoured to carry out . du in? nl - V w of this kind, ,UK ' when it may please j public re ins of oflieo over to another siu- ( yon to liM j w! jj know how to do my duty still V peri"'™ an( j jrontlomen, I return you my (cheers)- j] le iviaunor in which you have sinwf 0 ' ® , ( h (cheers). dr ". nK " *Arniv Navy, Militia, Volunteers, and Local _ 1 h .% nkt given. Brßft Anims, Colonel P. Peacock, and -cviTOV returned thanks on behalf of their Col. lU' vl;u ' s= j ie j R ]; Tc iy recollection of nn Jlr ; ' K h en hi? Honor odcc handled a wheelbarrow -ViU'uUr a' ' lllc * t ' lHt bandied the trowel in proposing this toast, said that tho Varv, Volunteers, and Local Forces, might twii work to do, for he had been informed that J et was about to take the field (cheers). T? necessary to say a word as to tho prompt's- of the Local Forces whenever they should be "r londPsAWCK proposed the health of Sir. Entjineer-m-Chief, tlio host, which was refpivcii with loud cheering. v r Wsiver said, I bave to thank you for tho L-'.'il in-inner in which you have drunk my health, nlfforis me ereat pleMure to see you all here. It Vi .-eat pleasure to know that if his Honor has himself a good navvy on a former occasion, he ii'is shown himself a better mason to-day. (Loud i ) lam sure this bridge will prove a credit to C, f-oiicerned in it. It has been said that strangers We come in here to do work which might havo been rrrii out by local influence and capital. lam sure « name of Peto and Co. is known all over the vrorld'sni [ - iat they have penetrated by their energy, their i'ldustrv, and their capital to parts which would not 'have been opened up but for them. Works of'»reit public importance and results must have tii'-i appliances and certain mean* to bo carried out'-iiceeJsfullT. I will not say that this is a better bridge than bas yet been carried out, but I will defy M v workman or tradesman, or any person competent to jui"e, to pit his hand upon a material flaw in the work.' (Loud cheers. 1 I ask you ladies and gentlemen to drink the health of the contractors, who have carried out the work, associating the toast with the mme of Mr. McNsill. Mr. MxNill-L ssid that he was very happy that hi s efforts had given satisfaction to the inhabitants whom he saw present, but also to the Ensrineer-in-Chiel". There had been a great deal of difficulty to cm;e d with. The difficulty had, however, been ■n-xv-siVuv overcome, and he was exceedingly happy to'see so influential a company to celebrate the occasion of laying the corner stone of the hriJse. ifr. Gio. Wemteß propo-ed " The Ladies. " The health of the Workmen was given by the Etisineer-in-Chicf amidst cheers ; als > " The Press," ' The Agricultural interests of the Province of Auckgnd," and other toasts.

OPENING OF ST. MATTHEWS ORGAN. Ax organ is undoubtedly the noblest of musical instrument), -whether as regards its elaborate mechanism, its varied powers, or the sacred purpose to which i;is generally devoted. St. Matthew's Church now possesses one of these grand instruments —one that will indeed compare with those erected in the churches and chapels of older countries. The great cost of sending to the other side of the globo for a valuable instrument, has not, happily, been allowed to stand in the way, and Auckland itself may be proud of possessing a unique and costly erection of this nature. Those who are conversant with the outside of an organ can have little idea of the complicated nature of "the mechanism of the interior, or of the numb-r of metallic and wooden tubes that are contained in an instrument 10 large as that of St. Matthew's; we curoose. therefore, to add a few particulars to those which have already appeared in our piper respecting it. This org in contains no less than 1231' pipes, the largest of which are 16 feet in length, and the smallest "about the size of a goose-qnill. The mechanism for acting upon these pipes is exceedingly complicated. The principle of it is, that when the finger of the or-sn-nist presses down a key, or the foot presses down a pedal, a valve op ins the lower end of a pipe or pipes, into which the air rushes from a chamber where it has been condensed by bellows. A performer on this or?an, on pressing down a single key, can thus cau>e either one or not less than twenty-two pipeß to utter their voices at the same time. Supposing then he presses down half a dozen keys, 132 tubes of varied powers miy at once be made to give forth their melodious sounds. The length and form of each pipe are so arranged that it may yield a certain definite note. Each stop" is a particular set of pipes, differing in pitch, hut all having the same character of sound. Some stops imitate the trumpet, others the oboe, flute, and so on. It is the combination of many stops with many octaves that causes the large number of pipes in an organ. We will repeat the arrange* ment of the " Stops," as we may hereafter have to refer to them. There are, in reality, three separate and distinct Organs—viz., the Great Organ; the Svetf, which is enclosed in a thick inner case, having a front similar to a Venetian blind for modulating the sound at the will of the performer; and the Pedal Organ. All these may be combined by the use of what are termed " Couplers." The following is the arrangement:— Gbeat Oman. Compass, CC to G in Alt. 1. Open Diapason I ">■ Fifteenth^ 2. Stopped Diapason I 8. Sesqulaltera 3. Clarabella I Trumpet •4 Duldsna I 10. Cremona 5. Principal 11. Flute Harmonic 6. Twelfth I Swell Organ. Compass, CC to G in Alt. 1. Double Diapason 5- Sequisaltera Open Diapason s - Oboe 3. Stopped Diapason Trumpet <• Principal Pedal Ohgan. Compass, CCC to E. Open Diapason. Couplers. Great to Pedals I Swell to Great Swell to Pedals I

The diapaeons of St. Matt-how's organ, which constitute the bodv of the instrument, possess a full, deep, and sonorous quality of tone. They cannot compare certiinly with the diapasons of the old builders, but their voicing is aa rich as any of modern date. The soft stops, which are to form the choir organ, are of excellent quality and smoothness of ton 9. Oi course, no judicious organist employs the full power of a large instrument in the accompaniment of choral tstvice—he rather confines himself to the use of those soft and sweet tones, which at once supports the singing and are in accordance with the evervarying (sentiment of the words to he sun?; and we ■would express our pleasure on finding that especial reference haa been had to this point in the ordering of the new organ. Huge, screaming, noisy instruments are to be found in many churches, hut this is ■ not the character of the on© in St Matthew s Church. The "reed" stops—the trumpets, the Cremona, and the oboe, are also exceedingly rich in tone and grand in effect. As «010 atops they will undoubtedly be greatly admired. The flute harmonique in the Great Organ is also a sweet solo stop that will elicit admiration. The inauguration took place last evening before an audience of at least 700, comprising the elite of the city and the suburbs. The proceedings were most interesting, and afforded an intellectual treat that may only be had now and then. As we sat in front of the noble instrument, participating therein, we were reminded of a passage that occurs in the works of Leigh Hunt: " Org-ajt, then, is still, and ever, the best word for this grand and truly divine instrument, whicii when behold it in its church, standing aloft, ( shrine'like, majestic, half dark, half gilded, an object as magnificent as the voice which it is prepared to utter,- —looks to us like one of the gates to heaven. When the wind gathers in the pipes, and comes streaming through them, we fancy the winds of heaven, which never rise but they utter blowing through the gate. Or if we hear, without seeing, the organ, and it strikes up with unusual force and suddenness, giving forth not a 'harsh, 1 but yet a solid, and as it were, something of an iron harmony,— we fancy the gate rolling back, and the winds come pouring through, as though they were the harbingers of some mighty effluence from the Court and pomp of the Almighty. Should a chaurit then ariie, now low, now loud, now of deeper voices, and now of voices high and young, and sounding

like ange's ;—we feci as if heaven and earth were in communication. 4 For ever and nuon (hero roll'd The gusty organ manit'ild, liiko a c»Men gitc of heuvon On its hiiwe* angol-driven. To lot through a j»torm and weiclit Of its thrones consenting state. Till the dmulful cracv* withdrew Intt) bronth screno a* dew, Comfortim: the ascending livmn With nok»s of softest seraphim.'" Tho manner iu which tho opening of the organ was celebrated was appropriate to tho occasion. It was not a special religious service for consecrating tho instrument t«> Divine use—that tnav well tako place on the next Sabbath, when it will he used in tiio services of tho day. Tho inauguration partook more of tho character of a Christian re-union, that was in perfect unison with tho sauct ; ty of the building in which it was hold. A bo tor selection of sacred music could not have beon made, and wo are inclined to think n more su«c. ssful performance of it could not have been anticipated. Tho programme was as follows — P-urr fikst. Selections from thf. Messiah. Overture Orcan. Recitative •• Comfort ye, mr vcoplo." Air - - " Kvcry Yiillcy." Cliorns ------- •* Ami' the Glory of tho Lord." Rceitativo «' Behold ! a Virgin. 1 ' Air and Chorus - - - - " 0 Thou lliat tellest.'' Pastoral Symphony - - - Our,ax. Recitative - ----- «« Thero wero Shophords." Chorus - Olory to God." Air ito was despised." Kocitativo ** Thy rebuke." Air •« Uphold, and see." Chorus •• Lift up your heads." Air *• I know that my Kcdecmor livoth." Graud Chorus ----** Hallelujah." PART SECONH. Selections moM the Creation ani> St. Paul. Voluntary ------ Oiioax. Recitative " And God said." Air - On Mighty reus." Chorale To God on llish." Aria 44 Jerusalem I Jerusalem !" Duettino " Xmv we are ambassadors." Chorus ------- How lovely." Chorale- ------ «• Sleepers, wake !*' Solo - - Organ. VAUT TUUiD. Selections rnoM Elijah and S.iMrsox. Recitative Ye people, rend your hearts." Air - - - " If with all your hearts." Air "Total Eelipsc! uo sun, no moon." Chorus 44 O! flrsi-ereated beam." Grand Chorus - - - - " Fix'd iu liis everlasting seat/' Joseph Brown, Esq., presided at tho organ, and gave a fair display of tho powers and qualities of the instrument over which ho is to preside. His accorn* payments throughout the rehearsal were rich, varied, anij appropriate, and yet this could have been expected when the brief period that has been given • im for becoming acquainted with the intricate and niriierous movements of the organ is taken into cousiieration. The s-Mo singer? were -Mrs. Morrin, Miss Shanaghan, Messru. Westmoreland and Au-tyn. Thero was also a good and powerful chorus, several wellknown vocalists assisting the choir on the occasion.

The first p;irt of the rehearsal, us already intimated, consisted of selections from Handel's greatest work, and the affecting recitatives and solos of " The Messiah " were given with feeling and taste ; whil-t the majestic choruses produced a inarke 1 impression upon the audience. On the grand Hallelujah being sung, the assembly rose and remained reverently standing during its performance. " I know that my Redeemer," "The Pastoral Symphony" and the grand Hallelujah, were the distinguishing features of this part. In the second part two German chorales wore introduced from Mendlessohn. The first was without accompaniment, and was a most pleasing production. The second was al-o given by the choir without instrumental assistance ; a singular effect was, however, produced by responsive symphonies on the Organ, between each line of the chorale, Hnvdn's beautiful air " On nrghty peus" was likexviso charmingly sung and produced a visible impression upou the audienco. The use of the ilute stop by tho Organist, and his execution thereon, were also very happy. Two rich selections from " Elijah," and three from " Sampson," constituted the last part of the programme, and the grand chorus, " Fixed iu His everlasting s"at," ended this very successful rehearsal. It is said that the opening of the ha« occurred somewhat earlier than was anticipated through the valuable assistance in superintending the erection and in tuning that has been rendered by Mr. James Bint, formerly with Messrs. Willis and Co., of London, the builders of tho instrument. The lighting of the Church was universally admitted by all present to be a great success, and very creditable to Mr. W. J. M irks, of Chapel-street. The arrangement i 3 excellent. The building is lighted by two ring chandeliers, one in the transept, having 32 burneis, «nd being 5 feet in diameter, and one in the nave having 25 burners. There are six brackets in the chancel for the use of the choir. It is so arranged that each of the ring lights can be used irrespective of the other, and the chancel lights without either. The whole of the fittings have been manufactured by Mr. Marks. —October 20.