OTARA SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1431, 3 August 1899, Page 26

OTARA SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

In this issue of the "Mail" we publish some photo-graphs cf the Otara Suspension Bridge works, on the Rangitikei River. Our Ohingahaiti correspondent writes as follows : I could fill many columns of your interesting "Mail" if I were to give a detailed account of the numerous meetings ef ratepayers held on both sides of the River to "discuss the building of this bridge; the unanimous poll taken _ re raising a loan; the many deputations that waited on the Minister of Lands, and the Kiwitea County Council and Rangitikei County Council. So far baek as March, 1893, the first move was made when our present then Minister of Public Works in the Ballance Government, while on a tour of inspection of the Main Trunk Railway Works, visited the site that-had been surveyed and laid'off for a bridge at Otara. A deputation of three townsmen waited on him and were promised that a sum of money should be placed on the Estimates for the bridge? during the next session, and he kept his promise and other promises as well. It is very generally known that had the flood of April, 1897. not have come to pass io would have been many years before the Otara Bridge was erected. "It is an ill wind that blows no good," fitted our case. The bridge that was in course of erection was at a Government township, seven miles up the river, named Mangawaka, and was to supplant ours at Otara, though the formation of the country through which the road had to be made to this bridge from Rangiwahia was so very precipitous that slips would he a source of ever constant danger and expense, whereas the country was mostly flat, bringing the settlers to the Otara bridge, was not- a matter to recommend its being built. Certain interests were centred in Mangaweka besides being a. Government township, but the disastrous flood came down and washed everything away, making it evident that a bridge on that site for Mangaweka must be built 14 fe3t higher. Thus was it that the old proverb came in. . After, some more deputations about the end of 1898, contracts were called for. There were tenders sent in from all parts of the colony. Dawson and Co., from Wairarapa, secured it. Men who had , had great experience at bridge building, and always gave the greatest satisfaction in. their work. Unfortunately they have been delayed in getting to work. The Inspector stopped the men working, said the water was too thick. The contractor has stopped the works, the water being clear enough to" drink, and demands an enquiry, declares the Inspector will ruin him. When the bridge will be finished under present mishaps and stoppages it is hard to sav.

The ratepayers have just sent in a. petition to Government to appoint some impartial, qualified engineer to inquire into the matteer.

Photo No. 1 represents the oresent state of the first site for the bridge which the Right Hon R. J. Seddon and the Engmeer-in-Chief inspected in 1893. Then there was a high point directly opposite the bold papa blu/F with kowhai trees growing on it, and several feet above the very highest flood known. The disastrous flood of April, 1897, scoured out the point and six acres at the back of it, leaving great papa slabs, boulders and shingle, the post in centre being erected to mark height of flood as shown by a white mark on post near the surface of the ground. Fortunately. Mr C. Bray, senr., - then engineer to the Kiwitea County Council had removed the site in-1895 some few. chains lower down the river, about 8 or 10 feet higher than, first site, where the suspension bridge is being erected. Photo No. 2 shows the cable put up by the Kiwitea County Council with cage on a traveller. A man is being drawn over by the bridge workmen. The trestle erection on left hand being intended - te support the temporary -Suspension Bridge as shown in photo No. 3 and 4. This bridge is a great boon to the settlers in the Sandon block. Their wives and families have no horrible dread of husband or father getting drowned coming home should the rise while they are in Ohingaiti selling produce and returning with stores.

No. 5 shows the contractor's little hamlet of cement shed, inspector's office, smithy, contractor's dwelling and office, and workmens' dwelling. The excavation on the left is where the supporting towers for the cables, going down into the solid papa bedrock about 20 feet, will be erected. Being the first suspension bridge of such dimensions in the North Island, its erection is of general interest, and the stoppages that the contractors have had to contend with are very galling for such experienced bridge builders—as well as to the suffering small farmers on the other side.