MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13708, 26 March 1908, Page 6

MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

THE GRAFTON BRIDGE.

FOUNDATION-STONE LAID.

SPEECH BY LORD PLUNKET.

CEMETERY GULLY AS A PARR

Yesterday afternoon, despite the decidedly unpropitious nature of the weather, some 300 people, representing every public body of any note in the city, and suburbs, witnessed the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new fcrro-con-crete traffic bridge over Cemetery Gully, by Ihe Governor, Lord Plunket. It rained heavily during the function, though the invited guests witnessed the proceedings from beneath a large awning in comparative comfort. Amongst those present were the Mayor and Mrs. Myers, Messrs L. J. Bagnall, Tudehope, M. Casey, A. J. Entrican, R. Parrel], W. E. Hutchison, G. Knight, H. Smeeton, and \V. C. Vomers (Auckland City Council),

H. W. Wilson (town clerk), W. E. Bush city engineer), and A. Wyllie (city elec-

trical engineer) ; ex-Mayors Sir John Logan Campbell, J. H. Upton, and V. L. Prime; the Hon. W. Beehan, M.L.C. ; Messrs. A. Kidc! and C. H. Poole, M.P.'s; Mr. L. A. Bacheldcr (Vice-Consul for the United States). M. Boeufve (French Consul), Hcrr Seegner (German Consul), Mr. E. Langguth (Consul for AustriaHungary), Mr. R. A. Carr (Italian Consul), and Mr. A. Millar (Vice-Consul for the Netherlands). Owing to pressure of public business the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) was unable, to be present, and apologies were also received from Mr. W. A. Prickett (Consul-General for the United States), and a number of other gentlemen. The scene of the ceremony was the western end of the bridge, the " foundationstone" abutting the Symonds-street footpath on the right-hand side, where a bronze plate bearing the following inscription occupies a conspicuous place:— "City of Auckland." Grafton Bridge. This stone was laid by His Excellency the Right Honourable William Lee, Baron Plunket, K.C.M.G., C.V.0., Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, March 25, 1908. Arthur M. Myers, Mayor. Walter E. Bush, A.M.1.C.E., City Engineer. Perro-Concrete, Company of Australasia, contractors; W. A. Robertson, general manager ; R. F. Moore, engineer. HISTORY OF THE BRIDGE. The Mayor (.Mr. A. M. Myers) inaugurated, the proceedings, first tendering his thanks to the Governor for having consented to perform the initial ceremony. The question of the Cemetery Gully bridge, said the Mayor, was one of the many important matters he found claiming his attention when he first took office, the many inconveniences suffered up to that time and the cry for better communication making it practically imperative that something should be done to establish more satisfactory means of transit between the two sides of the gully ; and as it had always been the policy of the present Council to take into consideration not only I the immediate needs of the present, but also the requirements of the future, it was decided that it would be advisable to erect a structure of a peri manent nature,. (Applause.) The poll of the ratepayers, taken subsequently, emphasised the desirability of better facilities being provided between the eastern ! side of the city and the centre and western portions, and the Council decided to go in for a traffic bridge of ferro-concrete. Mr.. Myers related the steps leading up I to the acceptance of the Ferro-Concrete Company's tender on July 4 of last year. The total expenditure involved was the contract for the bridge itself, £31,918, extension over Ligar Place, £730, and the purchase of certain land and - properties, £4000; while incidental expenses would bring the total up to £40,000, or £10,000 in excess of the sum authorised by the ratepayers to be raised by way of a loan, which amount the Council had resolved to provide out of revenue. The provision of this would be extended over three years. Though this bridge would cost a large amount, the money spent on it would not be wasted. It was taking a very short-sighted view of things to imagine that no expenditure of municipal funds could be remunerative which did not show a credit balance on the city treasurer's books. ' Some might consider that the Council was rash in deciding to build in a comparatively untried material such as ferro-concrete; "but he would point out that it had been expressly agreed with the contractors that no certificate was to be'given by the city engineer, or money paid by the Council, in respect to that part of the contract relating to the main arch or its superstructure until it had been completed and tested; and he would add that the Council had every confidence in the professional ability both of their own engineer, .Mr. Bush, who recommended the erection of a ferro-concrete structure, and of Mr. Moore, the chief engineer to the contractors. 'In addition to its practical utility, the bridge would be a great ornament to the city; and in this connection it appeared to him that the time ' had come when the Council should take into its serious consideration the advisability of closing the Symondsstreet Cemetery, and converting this beautiful; gully into a public park. (Applause.) The Mayor then called upon His Excellency to lay the foundation-stone, for which "purpose he was presented with a handsome silver trowel, suitably inscribed, and containing a view of the bridge in oxidised silver, by Mr. Moore, the chief engineer to the contractors. THE GOVERNOR'S' SPEECH. ' Lord . Plunket, who was received with applause, said there was no necessity for the Mayor to have thanked him, as he had done, for his attendance on a wet day to take part in so interesting a ceremony. (Applause.) For the moment he thought His Worship had forgotten that lie was an Irishman, and this kind of weather was a common thing in his country— he had certainly been asked to perform a very Irish job in laying the foundationstone on the parapet of this bridge. (Laughter.) The point which struck the new arrival in Auckland after he had seen the ever-changing beauties of the harbour was that at last he had found that which most closely resembled the almost impossible perfection of town existence garden citythanks to the foresight and wisdom of the old provincial Government, municipal enterprise and action, and individual generosity, of which they had a great example on the p'atform. (Applause.) Few cities of importance such as Auckland possessed so many parks and open spaces—a possession which should be highly prized. And then, thanks to Auckland's splendid site, he doubted whether there was another city which in proportion to its numbers had so many comfortable small bouses, each detached and surrounded by a little garden of its own. In speaking of these matters he only wished to remind the people of the inestimable advantage of a city and its citizens having plenty of open spaces around the dwellings, as well as for public recreation. The latter, of , course, carried with them the necessity for a large expenditure, though in this i instance the bridge would serve to connect - two widespread areas by the shortest pos- : sible route as well as to give easy access i to the Domain. Looking at the structure i fiom the strictly utilitarian point of view would greatly assist the workers in con-

tinning to obtain comfortable and happy homes, and give quickness of transit between the city and a wide suburban area. "There is another point of view,' continued His Excellency, " which will commend itself to many people. You are erecting across this gully a splendid memorial—a testimonial to those who were responsible in a. great measure lor the greatness of Auckland, and to the increasing signs of the nation;)lity of New Zealand. When you remember those who lie below, you are raising a memorial to the work they have done. In the cemetery beneath where, we stand repose the bones of Governor Hobson —who died here, worn out, struggling to do his duty—and many men who held important positions in Auckland in the past. There lie the ashes of soldiers who died here in defence of their Queen and Empire, and the volunteer colonists who fought shoulder to shoulder with them for this then struggling country. In the cemetery, also, lie the bones of sailors who died on the Manukau bar, and many others who worked here with a pick and a shovel, but had to change them at times for the rifle for'the future of Auckland and this country. Therefore, 1 venture to think that this' memorial that springs up . from amongst their bones, is one of which you must be proud. In connection with it, 1 would like, if I may, to make a suggestion. It is this : That upon this bridge be placed some tablet or ornamentation suitably inscribed, calling the, attention of the passed-by to the graves of those who lie. below—the pioneers of this splendid municipality and city." (Loud applause.) Cheers for His Excellency and Lady Plunket, the Mayor, and the engineers and contractors, terminated the proceedings.