SPANNING HUTT RIVER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9593, 24 February 1917, Page 9

SPANNING HUTT RIVER

NEW SUSPENSION BRIDGE

OPENING CEREMONY PERFORM ED YESTERDAY.

A PIONEER BRIDGE-BUILDER

An. event of importance to the flour

ishing district of Hutt Valley took place yesterday, when a new steel suspension bridge, designed by -dr Joseph Dawson, of Pahiatua, whose name is well-known a» a pioneer suspension bridge-builder, was opened by the member of Parliament- lor the Hutt district, Mr Thomas M. Gilford. There was a good assemblage of local officials and citizens, and the Mayor of Wellington (Mr J. P- Luke) and Air C. E. Dauicll (chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board) were also present.

Air AVilford said the function was an important- one, and the bridge about to be opened was the fifth he had officiated at in connection with the opening ceremony in the district, but the Hutt Valley was far from being adequately bridged yet. A bridge was required at the Taita. The present occasion marked a new ora in the progress of the district. He referred to Mr Dawson, the designer of th» bridge, as a man of groat ability as a bridae-builder, and one who had tu wait- till he was well on in life beloro his talents had been recognised. Great advances had been made in the science of bridge-building. As an instance, be mentioned the fact that a bridge which had been destroyed on the Danube - during the Roumanian campaign had been rebuilt by the Germans in sixteen hours. He referred m terns of praise to the work done by Mr George McGhee, who had emerged from retirement to erect the iron work. He also paid a tributa to Messrs Cottle- and Whiteman, who bad borne the cost of the bridge.

The Mayor of Wellington (Mr J. V Luke), in the course of a few remarks, hoped that Mr Wilford would evolve a scheme which would prevent, fanners being taxed as they were in the Lower Hutt through the town area embracing farm lands. It was ridiculous that farmers should be taxed on a municipal basis. They did not mind the unimproved value tax, but. when town areas were extended to take in farming land the farmer ought not to bo subject to the high taxation. <(Hear, hear). As soon as the war was over, there would be a tremendous advancement. Greater Wellington would reach the Upper Hutt on the one hand I and Pahiatua on the other. On behalf of the citizens of Wellington he expressed his pleasure at being present, and hoped Mr Dawson would live long and build many more bridges. Mr W. Cottle thanked tho speakers, and said the erebtion of tho bridge Was a real good thing for the residents of the district. Mr Frank Whiteman also spoke a few words. AN UPHILL FIGHT. Mr Georgetti, a member of the Wellington Land Board, spoke of the uphill fight Mr Dawson had to get his work recognised. He believed that Mr Dawson’s bridges were more durable as, well as cheaper than the ordinary bridges. He related his experience in connection with the. erection of a bridge at Rangitikei by Mr Dawson. The bridge had been erected at a saving of £I2OO over tho ordinary structures. Mr Dawson was a public benefactor. Mr Wilford remarked that the grave! for the concrete used in building the bridge had been brought by an old Maori canoe from high up the river, the vessel carrying half a yard at a time. He also introduced to the com-

pany tho little girl who was the first to cross the brdge, and remarked that the new bridge stood at a spot commanding one of the best views in New Zealand, and a place which would become a resort of artists. He then presented Aire John Whiteman with a pair of silver scissors, the gift of. Air Dawson, and asked her to pay the latter one penny, in. order that the gift might not cut friendship, and hoped that she would always treasure the scissors.

Airs AVhiteman paid over the penny, and then cut the ribbon stretched across the bridge and said: “I declare this bridge open for traffic.” Three cheers were given for Airs Whiteman, after which the company crossed tha bridge and were entertained at afternoon tea. A FAMOUS BRIDGE-BUILDER.

Mr A. W. Hogg, ox-ALP. for Alaaterton and formerly Minister for Roads and Bridges, proposed the health ot Mr Dawson. He said the latter was no novice at bridge-building. For 20 years he had known Air Dawson as a bridge-builder, and if the bridges built by him in tho Forty-Mile Bush were put end to end they would cover a good many miles. In the early days settlers had many difficulties to face. They could get along bad roads, but when they came to a bad river they were held up. Air Dawson had effected a great improvement in bridges, and things were very different now to what they wore thirty years ago. At that time the bridges were built of wood, which was very serviceable, and he did not wish to run them down. They cost a good deal of money. But what were they now? Wooden bridges were simply temporary structures, which lasted a few years. The present bridge would last for two or three centuries. If Air Dawson were asked to give a guarantee that the bridge would bo sound and in good order for the next century at least lie would bo taking no groat risk. (Laughter.) Air Dawson was like Landseer, the great painter of animals, who achieved fame by endeavouring to make his last work the best. Air Dawson’s bridges were in advance of anything in New Zealand, ana bp had made a name for himself not only in the Dominion, but throughout the civilised world. He had been obstructed a great deal in carrying out his work. It had been said that r-js bridges would not last. A former Almister for Works had said to him (Air Hogg): “It is all very well for you to praise Dawson’s bridges, but wait a few years.” That was many years ago, yet not one of Air Dawson’s bridges had collapsed or aisappeared, and they were almost as good as when they were erected. He proposed the health of Mr Dawson, who was a friend of the settlers, and one of the most unselfish men ho knew. He could have made a lot of money out of his work, but his efforts wore directed towards tire benefit of the people. (Cheers.) Air AA . J. Howell ,of the Hutt County Council, also spoke briefly and congratulated Air Dawson on his excellent work, ana Alossrs AA’hiteman and

Cottle', at whose cost the bridge wSs erected.

.Vlr Dawson, in response, said he had worked hard on the bridge, and -would not erect another like it for £2OO over the cost. He- thanked the men who had carried on the work, and said the foreman, -Mr Malcolm, was as clever n man as could be found for the work. He as erecting a bridge over the M-anawatu for Seifert Brothers, with a spaa of 450 feet, at a cost of £3OOO. He had never earned £3OO a year m his life. Ho spoke highly of the treatment he had received from Messrs Whiteman Bros. The bridge had cost only £S a ■ foot. Xo Government bridge was put up for less than £lO a foot. Ho had an idea of making concrete roads, at a cost of £IU a chain for a 14-foot road, or £l3 a chain for a 16-foot road. THE NEW BRIDGE.

The new bridge, winch is an ele-gant-looking structure, spans the llu'-t river at a spot close to the main road near, the Horseshoe Bend, about a mile from the Upper Hint township. The surroundings are picturesque, the river being fringed with willows and native bush. A beautiful view of the hills in the distance can bo obtained standing on the bridge, which spans the river at a jirctty bend over fairly deep water on the town side. Two elegant towers of reinforced concrete set off the bridge at either end, the span being 170 feet. Concrete arches between the towers form a fitting entrance, and add to the appearance of the bridge, which is a vast improvement • —from the point of view of appearance alone—on the old-time wooden bridge. On the cop of the towers are castings with twelve iron wheels on each for the cables to travel over. There are 16 anchor rods of twoinch iron, connected to the anchors with large iron washers. The cables are eight in number, and the breaking strain of each is 75 tons. The suspending rods, numbering 62, are of 7-8 th inch iron, and are attached to tlie cables with reinforced concrete at every five feet. The girders are of trussed railway iron, spaced at five feet centres, with curved corrugated iron between, to support the reinforced concrete deck. The trusses or cords consist of two l|-inch pipes, with angle iron. The bridge is built entirely of concrete, steel and iron, and no wood whatever enters into its construction. The deck is of concrete, and the weight of the bridge on the cables is 60 tons, the deck alone weighing 45 tons. The cost of the bridge was .£I4OO. One need not be an engineer to realise that this bridge, besides being elegant in appearance, is buijt to endure, and reflects no little credit on its designer and builders. The bridge was built to the order of Messrs Whiteman Bros, and Cottle, in order to givo improved access to their property.