THE OPENING OF THE OTARA BRIDGE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4170, 4 October 1900, Page 2

THE OPENING OF THE OTARA BRIDGE

A MEMORABLE EVENT,

The Otara bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in the colony, constructed over the Rangitikei River, opposite the township of Ohingaiti, was opened in the presence of a large assemblage of settlers on Monday. The cost of the bridge—between £BOOO and £9ooo—is shared between the Lands and Survey Department and the Kiwitea County Council, whose engineer. Mr Bray, prepared the plans and specifications. The contract was let about a year ago to Mr Joseph Daw ton, one of the best known and most competent bridge-builders in the Wellington district. The structure is suspended on steel wire ropes stretched between concrete piers across a span of 330 ft. The piers are 64ft in height, their foundations being 16ft in the papa rock on one side of the river and 10ft on the other. As the efficiency of the bridge depends on the ropes, it may be mentioned that they are Tin in diameter, their breaking strain is 130 tons, and as there are twelve of them supporting the bridge, it has a carrying capacity of 1560 tons. The wire ropes are the manufacture of Messrs Heggie and Son. of Glasgow, and weigh fourteen tons ten cwt. Messrs D. Robertson and Co., Phoenix Foundry, Wellington, arc the manufacturers of the rest of the' ironwork, comprising about seventy tons. The timber used consists of 64,000 ft totara, 5000 ft marae, and 12,000 ft ironbark. By competent authorities the bridge is believed to bo oho of the strongest and best of its kind yet constructed in the colony. Its qualities aro likely, however, to bo well tested, be-, cause the Rangitikei River, subject to floods and bearing huge logs and trunks of trees on its rapids, is considered the most destructive and formidable in the North Island. Three years ago it sivept away every bridge before it—including the cylinder pier bridge at Vinegar Hill, the Bulls bridge and Mr Murray’s low level bridge at Mangaweka—with the exception of the railway bridge,Which was so badly damaged that it had to, be practically renewed. Seltlers from Kimbolton, Pemberton and Rangiwahia on the east and Hunterville, Ohingaiti, Mangayveka and Taihape on the west gathered on horseback and in traps to celebrate the opening. The assemblage included a considerable number _ of ladies and children, who were provided with tea and other refreshments. The visitors included Messrs Lethbridge and Hogg. M.’s.H.R., the County Chairman and members of the Council and thenofficers. Mr Lethbridge,; as- member for the district, performed l the ceremony of cutting the tape -and declaring _ the bridge open, amidst vociferous- cheering. He made a neat and appropriate speech, in the course of which ho recited tho steps taken by Messrs G. Buckley, J. Stevens, M.H.R., Robb and others to get the bridge put in -band, and-paid a graceful compliment to the County; Chairman, tho engineer, ■ and the ’ 1 contractor (Mr Joseph Dawson). ,Cheers were given for these gentlemen, and the ceremony was at-an end'.