SYDNEY’S GREAT DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21599, 21 March 1932, Page 5

SYDNEY’S GREAT DAY

MILESTONE IN CITY’S HISTORY OPENING OF THE BRIDGE MAGNIFICENT PAGEANTRY WEATHER IN KINDLIEST MOOD (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) : - SYDNEY, March 19. The great day for which the people of Sydney have waited a decade in patient hope dawned—a perfect day, cool, with cloudless sky. Indeed, there were citizens of Sydney nearly a century ago with visions of a bridge spanning the waters of Port Jackson to bring the city and North Shore areas into closer touch. The difficulty of financing such a venture, however, was an obstacle which the pioneers found too much for them. When the war had accustomed people to think in millions the dreamers gave place to practical realists, and the scientist and engineer evolved the means of creating a structure which would link the two sides of the harbour, while permitting ships to follow their lawful occupations, carrying the life stream of the people—their commerce —to and fro. To-day, in the presence of many thousands of spectators, gathered from every State and from lands beyond the sea, the hope of years was consummated, and “The Bridge” (there is only one bridge in people’s minds these days),was publicly opened for traffic. The day having been proclaimed a public holiday, and an additional attraction being the Royal Show, the city is thronged by record crowds.

:lUGE CROWDS IN x STREETS

small section of the crowd was aware that anything untoward had happened. It is estimated that 250,000 people occupied vantage points around the bridge. The congestion, combined with the strong sun, resulted in many persons collapsing.

THRILLING AERIAL DISPLAY SYDNEY, March 19. The' opening cerempny took place at the southern'approach or city side the hridge,tpyerlooking Observatory Park. At id 'a.m. the Governor (Sir Philip Game) delivered the opening address. He read a message from his Majesty the King, and then, pressing a button on the dais, unveiled a tablet, naming the bridge “The Sydney Harbour Bridge.” The Premier, Mr J. T. Hang, then declared the bridge open for traffic, and unveiled, a commemorative tablet, ' by v of Works (Mr M. A. Davidson), the Lord Mayor of Sydney (Mr Walder), the Mayor of North Sydney (Mr Primrose), the parliamentary representatives of the districts served by the bridge, the chief engineer of the bridge (Dr Bradfield), and representatives of the builders, Messrs Dorman, Long (Messrs Kitson, deputy chairman, and Ennis, director of construction). .. In the presence of the Governor and the official party, the Premier then cut the ribbon stretched across the entrance to the bridge proper, to the accompani-’ ment of bands, playing national airs, a salute of 21 guns from a {battery in one of the .parks, and the acclamations of the assembled multitudes on the neighbouring foreshores on both sides of the' harbour and on every headland from which even a. distant view of the scene was obtainable.

NEW GUARD’S APPROVAL

SYDNEY, March 20.

(Received March 21, at 0.15 a.ni.) The 1 New Guard leader stated to-night that Captain De Groot’s action had the full approval of the New Guard Council. ALLEGED NEW GUARD PLOT MR WILLIS’S STORY LONDON. March 18. (Received March 20, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr Willis’s story is given prominence in the morning and evening papers. The Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent says: “Members of all parties are incredulous of Mr Willis’s story of a secret meeing. I have made careful inquiries in every quarter, but cannot find the slightest trace of such a gathering. Had a plot against Mr Lang become known members of Parliament Would not have preserved silence. Moreover, the idea can be dismissed than any body of outside persons could have held a meeting at St. Stephens. There are several Australians in the present Parliament, and they regard as fantastic the idea that a gathering was summoned to discuss the opening of the bridge.”

Combined aerial and aquatic displays occupied the ' spectators’ attention. A squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force planes, which had been waiting at a great altitude above. Parramatta River, picked up the signal a,nd swooped down towards the crown of the bridge arch, whence they flew, away again in; thrilling manoeuvre. Simultaneously a huge fleet of motor launches and similar craft manoeuvred bn the harbour and under the bridge.. Before the ceremony at the" southern approach was finished a schoolboy, the last of a relay of boys from an outback township, delivered at the dais a congratulatory message from country schools. This was read to cheering thousands who, ; if they did not hear the wordsi at least sensed the tenor of the message, and gave it a cordial reception. The official party then crossed the bridge to the . north side, where the Mayor of North Sydney cut the ribbon to signalise the opening of the thoroughfare into, the northern suburbs. The scissors used by the Premier at the southern end were presented hy the bridge builders, but those used at the northern end, were the same as those used recently at a similar ceremony at Killvankull bridge, New York, and had been sent by the Mayor of New York as a goodwill offering. Tlie balance of to-day’s programme comprises a land pageant of an historical character, a number of floats carrying tableaux illustrative of the evolution of Australian settlement, history, industry, and national activities of all sorts, making an impressive display. These were headed by marching school children and returned soldiers. Simultaneously a marine procession, led by a number of ocean liners, with the Maloja in the van, passed under the bridge. A harbour regatta and various sports will occupy the afternoon, and to-night the bridge and city front will be illuminated.

AN UNTOWARD INCIDENT

OFFICER CUTS THE RIBBON SYDNEY, March 19. There was a sensational happening while the Minister of Works was speaking at the opening of the bridge this morning. An officer, mounted on horseback, riding behind the Light Horsemen, galloped up to the tape which Mr Lang was to cut in declaring the bridge open, and slashed it twice with his sword, exclaiming: “I am a member of the Commonwealth forces; in the name of decency I declare the bridge open.” He had hardly uttered the last word when a posse of police dragged him off his horse violently, the rider striking his head on the concrete roadway, and his upturned sword narrowly missing a number of police. The man was detained by the police. He gave his name as Captain De Groot, of the Royal Hussars. The ribbon was tied together in two places, and the ceremony went on as though nothing had occurred. The police acted with such promptitude that only a

THE OFFICER ARRESTED PRESS FEATURES INCIDENT SYDNEY, March 20. (Received March 20, at 7 p.m.) The newspapers feature Captain Do Groot’s sensational exploit and his subsequent arrest and removal to a reception house. Some papers publish photographs of the affair showing Captain De Groot in the act of bringing his sword down on the ribbon, and his prostrate form afterwards beneath his own horse’s feet as the outcome of police rough handling. Newspaper photographers and kinematographers everywhere caught the incident remarkably well. The broadcasting announcers, who had an almost uninterrupted view, however, told the outside public a different story —merely that an officer’s horse which was playing up broke the ribbon. The public view of Captain De Groot’s action is extremely varied and dependent on one’s political leanings. The Langitcs bitterly condemned him and would have torn him limb from limb if they had got a chance. Others described his action either as foolhardy, childish,' indiscreet, or unwarranted, while a fair percentage applauded him and described him as a most courageous fellow, taking his life in his hands for a cherished principle. Captain De Groot, who is sparely built and of medium height, is a middle-aged man and he certainly did what few men would dare, as every policeman about him was heavily armed and twice his size and weight, while the hooting and ejaculations which marked his arrest and departure revealed that he was in the camp of deadly political enemies. The precise remarks that Captain De Groot made when, with deep emotion, he slashed at the ribbon were not generally heard, but it is ascertained that he “ declared the bridge open in the name of decency, decent politics, and decent citi-

zens.” He shrieked at the police: “ Let me alone. I am' the King’s officer. Don’t touch me." Later, when being removed in a police car, Captain De Groot was without his cap or his sword, the police having seized both in the process of his humiliation. He was perfectly calm and looked anything 'but a fit subject for a reception house.

The police and military authorities are now arguing how Captain De Groot, apparently uninvited, managed to attach himself to the Governor-General’s mounted escort without. detection. He is understood to be a zone commander of the New Guard. Its leader, Colonel Campbell, who held aloof from the bridge ceremony, was interviewed, and he described the police action as an unforgivable insult to a level-headed business man and gallant cavalry officer. Colonel Campbell considered that the State owed a debt of gratitude to Captain De Groot and he added that a medical examination of Captain De Groot had already disclosed that no fault could be found with his mental condition.

The Prime Minister announced that he would have inquiries made to ascertain how Captain De Groot came to be attached to the escort. A strong police guard throughout last night prevented anything in the nature of a New Guard raid at the reception house at Darlinghurst in which Captain De Groot is detained. Developments are expected in his case on Monday. Captain De Groot is a dealer in antiques at Rushcutters Bay and is an active member of the New Guard. He served in the war in France for four years. He and bis wife came from Dublin.

The officials of-the New South Wales branch of the Returned Soldiers’ League deprecate Saturday’s incident and declare that Captain De Groot is not one of their members.

WELL-BEHAVED CROWDS DEPRESSION FORGOTTEN SYDNEY, March 20. (Received March 20, at 7 p.m.) Half a million people who had a close-up view of the bridge pageant have something tangible to remember. Thanks to the brilliant sunny day the carnival spirit was everywhere, and thrills on land and water and in the air kept a vast, surging crowd keyed up during the day and at night. The depression was forgotten by the huge well-dressed, wellbehaved crowd which thronged every vantage point. Thousands of people, perched on rooftops and parapets, saw a marvellous spectacle when a procession of floats, bands, soldiers, whiteclothed school children, and Boy Scouts crossed the great bridge from south to north, with charming tableaux depicting finger posts of history, industries, and sport. Graceful surf girls and gallant surfrnen in costume, and full-blooded aborigyials afforded sharp contrasts. Old-time coaches and ancient highwheeled bicycles, in fact everything symbolical of the old and the new order of things seemed to be represented in this colourful and diversified procession. While various arms, defence groups, war veterans, and scores of bands stirred the public to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, overhead naval seaplanes and Air Force and private aeroplanes cut capers. They flew in formation, and did everything possible seemingly to attract the attention of the vast sea of people beneath them, but so thick and fast were the novel scenes on the bridge and the harbour , that it was physically impossible for people to pay much heed to what was going on above their heads. Nothing so impressive has been seen in Sydney, probably in the world, as to-day’s procession of large liners in the narrow confines of the harbour. Gaily-bedecked and festooned vessels of 12,000 tons and upwards, at a given signal, passed beneath the bridge at a snail’s pace, one behind the other in a long line, to anchorage far beyond it, each sounding; its siren continuously, making a medley of noise, as if proudly acclaiming the great event. When the official speeches were over the people were permitted to cross the bridge, and what an amazing sight it was when there was a mighty rush of tens of thousands of people who seized the first opportunity to view the vast panorama from the dizzy height of the bridge. During the whole of the afternoon the broad highway was a moving mass of humanity. At midnight on Saturday the bridge was thrown open to train, tram, and vehicular traffic for the first time, and a special electric train, loaded with passengers at 10s a head, made the initial trip. During the afternoon and at night the festivities were worthy of the occasion.

It is estimated that 750,000 people gathered on both sides of the harbour and watched fireworks and a spectacular searchlight display by Australian warships and the New Zealand cruiser Diomede, which were moored on opposite sides of the harbour and illuminated the bridge, its towering steel outlines standing out in bold relief against a cloudless, moonlight sky, making an entrancing picture in silver and grey. The climax to the wonderful setting was when the whole of the warships and large liners were themselves simultaneously illuminated, bursting into a blaze of light and revealing their majestic outlines in shimmering gold. Air-commodore Kingsford Smith supplied thrills aloft by flying in an illuminated aeroplane, and every now and then discharging rockets. At least four deaths were directly due to the bridge carnival. A man was

killed by a motor lorry during the procession, while three people had fatal heart seizures in the crowded streets. People, chiefly women and gilds, fainted in the dense crowds at an alarming rate, and at least 2500 cases were treated by ambulance men in the forenoon in the city area.

OVERSEAS CONGRATULATIONS NEW YORK, March 18. (Received March 20, at 8 p.m.) Governor Moore, of New Jersey, sent the following message of congratulations:—“May I extend congratulations upon the completion of the Sydney Harbour bridge. We in New Jersey, where two bridges have just been dedicated, rejoice with you upon the completion of another link ,in the chain of Australian progress.”

COST IN MONEY AND LIVES SYDNEY, March 20. (Received Marcli 21, at 0.15 a.m.) Twelve workmen lost their lives during the construction of the bridge. The cost of the work, including the approaches, viaducts, and land resumption, was nearly £10,000,000.

FERRY LINES AFFECTED THREE CEASE RUNNING. SYDNEY, March 20. (Receved March 21, at 0.15 a.m.) Traffic over the harbour bridge has been in full blast to-day, and trams, trains, and cars have been passing to and fro, linking the north and south sides of the city, exciting the curiosity of ferry travellers, especially those who still prefer to use the ferries. So far only three lines of ferries have ceased running on account of the bridge.

The main bridge consists of a twohingod arch of 1050 feet'span with live approach spans on either side, the total length of streel structure being 3770 feet.

The bridge provides for four tracks of electric railway, a main roadway 57 feet wide between kerbs, and two footways each 10 feet wide. Its capacity takes 80 trains and 0000 vehicles per hour in each direction, whilst 40,000 people can walk across in one hour. The live loading for which the bridge is designed, 12,0001 b per lineal foot, provides for congested loading of all traffic avenues, railway, roadways, and footways. The effect of a hurricane at 100 miles per hour and a variation of 120 deg in temperature are also provided for.

The granite-faced towers and pylons arc the architectural features of the bridge, and harmonise with the lines of the arch. The tops of the pylons are 285 feet above mean sea level; they give an expression of solidity to the abutment towers which resist the enormous thrust from the arch, and by their weight steepen the resultant arch thrust and so minimise the size of the skewback foundations. The towers had a definite function to perform in the erection scheme of the arch, as well as to add to the structural adornment of the bridge, which would otherwise be purely utilitarian. The northern approach comprises North Sydney and Milson’s Point stations with the four railway tracks and viaduct, beneath which shops are constructed from Arthur street to Burton street on the eastern pair of tracks. Alfred street is crossed by a steel arch of 220 feet span, and Lavender street extension by a reinforced concrete arch bridge of 120 feet span. These give uninterrupted traffic facilities to the vehicles passing below. The roadway) from the bridge meets the existing surface near the intersection of Alfred and Junction streets, North Sydney. The latter street is widened to 100 feet, and extends to Lane Cove road.

The four bridge tracks connect Wavertou station with Wynyard station on the city railway, a length of two and a-half miles, via the two new stations on ‘the northern side, North Sydney, and Milson’s Point stations.

Widened and new roadways connect the Lane Cove road at the Post Office, North Sydney, with York, Clarence, and Kent streets on the city side, a length of one and a-half miles.