NEW BRIDGE AT EVANSDALE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15821, 21 July 1913, Page 3

NEW BRIDGE AT EVANSDALE

OFFICIAL OPENING. A ceremony of a very plea6ant nature took place at Evansdalc on Saturday, when the new bridge which has been erected acroes the Kilmofj Creek on the Main Noi-lli road was officially opened lor traffic by Mr E. P. Lee (member for the district). In. addition to Mr Lee, the function was attended by Sir George M'Lcan and Mies M'Lcan, Mr A. S. Obeli (chairman of the Waikouaiti County Council) and Mrs Orbcll, as well iis Crs Foote. M'Gill, Laley, Kilpatrick, and Charlton. There were also present cx-Crs 'Soutcr, Smith, and Mason, and Mr J. Mcliinis (Public Works engineer), Mr B. B. Couston (county engineer), Mr M. Stevenson, Mr John Knewstubb (contractor), and a large gathering of residents of the district. '

The new bridge is an extremely substantial edifice, and gives the impression of great strength and durability. It is 127 ft in length and has a clear width of car-riage-way of 14ft, while the surface is double-decked. There arc four picre, all of reinforced concreto piles witli walings, braces, and capsils also of reinforced concrete. The end abutments are also of reinforced concrete ones, and tho space between them is lillcd with reinforced concrete sheet piling. 'Inse piics are 351t in length from top to bottom, and lor about halt of th:s distance' are buried in the ground. The beams and corbels are of ironbark, while the decking and parapet are of jarrali. The quantities of material used were 11U0 lineal Icet of 14in concrete piles, 400 lineal feet of sheet piling, .8000 superficial feet of ironbark, and 13,000 superficial feet of jariah. The contract was let on October 14, 1912, to Mr John Knewstubb, of Port Chalmers, for the lump sum of £1400, and was completed for that amount, there being no extras at all on the contract. Mr David Robertson, of Evansdale, an old bridge builder, who remembered the erection of the first bridge, now gone to decay, was the inspector. The bridge was : desigJi'id and erected under the supervision of Mr B. B. Couston, civil engineer, Dunedin, and will be a source of great convenience to the travelling public for many years io come.

Mr Orbell, who pressed over the proceedings, expressed his pleasure at seeing so many present, and amongst them Mr Lee, who had come from Wellington to attend the, function tit great personal inconvenience. They also had present with them Sir George M'Lean, who owned a considerable amount of property in the county and had very ably represented the district in Parliament.—(Hear, hear.) There were also several ex-councillors present, and o.n behalf of the ratepayers he extended a very hearty welcome to those gentlemen. Continuing, Mr Orbell stated that it was very pleasant for him to 1)0 present aa chairman of the county on that memorable occasion. In November next it would be 20 years since ho had entered the council—(applause), —and during that time he had seen a good many tips and downs. During that period the financial position of the county had slowly but steadily improved, and the big debt 'of eomo years ago had been gradually cleared off until at the last half-yearly balance thero was not a penny of overdraft. Certainly the balance to credit had been a small one, but all the ridings wore clear of debt and no interest was owed to the bank. Referring to the matter of bridge building, the speaker stated that the Waikouaiti and Evansdale bridges were, the only ones that caused n charge upon the general county funds, and when the former had been repaired in 1896 at a cost of" £1050 the council had turned its attention to the latter. The bridge was then in an unsound condition, and though £300 was spent on repairs the result was anything but satisfactory. It was finally decided to erect a new bridge, and the Government agreed to give a pound for pound subsidy up to £400. Of course that was not sufficient, and after Mr Lee had arranged for a deputation to wait on the Hon. Mr Fraeer the amount was i.noreawd to £700. Mr Couston was then asked to prepare plans and specificatioiiii, and' when this was' done th" tender of Mr Knowfifubb was accented. Ife thought they would all ngree with him that Mr Kncwstubb had done hie work faithfully, honestly,

and well—(Applause.) Mr Couaton also deserved their best thanks, for he had given them a bridge that was both useful and serviceable and one that would prove of great value to the ratepayers and the public generally.'—(Applause.) , Mr Lee said he thought they should all congratulate the council upon having successfully carried out the construction of that very necessary bridge. It hud been very aptly described bv the chairman as a solid structure, nnd though not perhaps very ornate was 'extremely serviceable. He thought, the council was io bo commended upon having followed that course because in the past' a great deal of public money had been thrown away upon unnecessary ornamentation.—(" Hear, hear.") The traffic on the Main North road had increased enormously of late, and as it was likely to increase still further in the future, the bridge was assured of a useful career. . Legislation, he believed, was eoon going to bo introduced imposing a tax'on the owners of motor cars, nnd be did not think thoy would object if this money were expended on the roads which they used. In conclusion he extended his congratulations fo the engineer, contractor, and the workmen, all of whom hod put such good work into the bridge, and officially declared it open for public traffic. Mr G. H. Rochcfort also commented on the excellent work that had been done in connection with the bridge, and expressed the belief that it would last until a certain process of refrigeration had taken place in the nether regions. Mr Orbell then cut the ribbon stretched across the centre of the bridge, and its opening was signalised by the immediate passage over it of three handsome motorcars—an eloquent sign ot the times. A large number of those present then adjourned to Mr Johnstone's accommodation house, where an excellent luncheon was despatched. U Kilpatrick here took the opportunity of expressing the council's confidence in Mr ; Knewstubb as a rontractor, and paid a high tribute to tha honest and reliable nature of his work. Mr Stevenson suitably replied on behalf of.Mr Knewstubb. CV Fcote then rose and announced that at the end of his present term of office he intended to retire from the council. He had occupied a seat on that body _f or some 17 years, but time was passing swiftiy over his' bead, nnd be felt he could scarcely do justice to himself or the people who put him there. Mr Orbell stated that he could say quite | conscientiously that during his term of office \ L'r Foote had been a very fair ancl reason- ; able representative of Bluftskjn riding, and on behalf of th» council ho "expressed sin cere regret at his retirement. On behnlf of the councillors and th? ratepayers he would wish him well in his rctircment.--(Applause.) Mr C. R. Smith (a former councilor), said that on behalf of the ratepayers he would l ; ko to thank' Mr Orbell for presiding that day. Ho ako- referred tn the good workthat was done for the county by the clerk (Mr John Portcous), and stated that during the Inst ■ 15 or 16 year.; Mr Port-eons bad served the ratepayers very faithfully.— (Applause.) A vote of thanks to Mr 'Leejor attending thf function conclrdcd the proceedings.

On Frday evening'a social''and dance organised by Messrs Gardner, Cameron, and Richardson was hold at Evansdalo Hall in honour of the opening of the bridge, and was fully attended bv t!'p young people of the disfrct. Mr Richardson acted as M.C. and individual items were rendered by the fo'lowin.u: ■ JTiss North. Messrs Dimham. M'Derm'ud, Small, and Artlur. and Master Key. Dancing was k'pt up till an early hour, and an enjoyable time was spent by all.