NEW TRAFFIC LINK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22523, 14 September 1936, Page 11

NEW TRAFFIC LINK

BRIDGE AT BEALEY EXPERIENCES OF MINISTER FURTHER WORKS PROMISED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] CHRISTCHURCff, Sunday When the Minister of Transport, tho Hon. R. Semple, using a pair of gold scissors, cut the ribbon placed across the entrance to the new traffic bridge over the Waimakariri River at Bealey on Saturday and a procession of 15 motor-cars passed over the bridge from east to west, a new chapter was opened in the history of transport between Canterbury and the West Coast. In the leading motor-car were the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, member of Parliament for the district, the Mayor of Christehurch, Mr. .T. W. Beanland, and the town clerk of Christehurch, Mr. J. S. Neville. The ceremony was carried out in drenching rain and the proceedings were completely spoiled on that account. Mr. Semple and Mr. Forbes made short speeches congratulating the district on the fact that the. Waimakariri River, which had for so long offered a serious obstacle to traffic, had now been bridged. Mr. Semple said that after his experience on the trip from Christehurch he was satisfied that things 'could not be allowed to remain as they were. His car had become very nearly bogged in tho Bruce River, and with that memory stamped on his mind lie would not rest until that river had been bridged also. There were other streams and creeks, as well as rough portions of the roadway, that required attention to bring road transport between Canterbury and the West Coast up to date. These matters would be carried out without delay.