MOKAU RIVER BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19764, 11 October 1927, Page 10

MOKAU RIVER BRIDGE.

IMPORTANT WORK FINISHED. OPEN TO TRAFFIC THIS WEEK. OFFICIAL CEREMONY DEFERRED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH Monday The bridge across ths Mokau River, at Mokau, will be permanently open to public traffic from Thursday. The tar-sealing of the traffic surface is practically the only work still to be done and this will be completed on- Wednesday afternoon. It was originally intended that the completion of the bridge would be marked by an official ceremony of considerable moment. The Minister of Public Works, Hon. K. S. Williams, was to be asked to perform the official opening and representatives of public bodies from far and near were to be invited to attend. However, the present indisposition of the Minister, whose medical advisers have ordered him a complete rest, and the difficulty of getting together before the end of the Parliamentary session, several men who would like to be present., have made a big function at present practically out of the question. It is still considered that the occasion of the completion of so important a public work as the Mokau Bridge warrants a suitable commemoration and the official opefung ceremony will, therefore, be held some time in the future, probably within the next two months. Mr. T. M. Ball, district Public Works engineer in charge of the erection of the bridge, states that there will be no function at present. The barriers will simply be removed on Thursday morning and public traffic be allowed to pass.