THE VICTORIA BRIDGE AT THE KAWARAU.

Otago Witness, Issue 1179, 4 July 1874, Page 7

THE VICTORIA BRIDGE AT THE KAWARAU.

in the following letter a correspondent supplements the information already published by us regarding the above work :—: — The opening of the "Victoria" Bridge across the Kawarau. River has now become a matter of history, and need not be alluded to again. But the bridge itself has a history which, as I have never seen it recorded, I shall, with your permission, briefly narrate. It is now more than twelve months since Mr M'Cormick, after having, in connection with Messrs Grant and Richards, successfully spanned the Kawarau Itiver at Banuockburn by a neat and substantial suspension | bridge, commenced on his own responsibility to bridge the same river on the Queenstown road, a little above Mr Edwards's ferry, but unfortunately for himself, as the sequel proved, he (Mr M'Cormick) was induced to undertake the construction of a girder bridge. The first girder — a laminated arch, two hundred feet long, three feet deep, and eighteen inches wide — was built on the southern side of the river, and from thence launched, or rather carried across, and safely placed in position, the foot of the girder on each side resting in cast iron boxes, let into the solid rock, the crown of the arch being some sixty feet above the river. It was then intended to build twoothergirdersparallel to theoneacross, These were to be built in position, the first arch offering facilities for so doing by staging, &c. The girder had been m position gome three or four weeks, and preliminary measures were being taken for proceeding with the building of the others, when suddenly the arch collapsed, the centre drooped, and in a few minutes the work of months ; was null and void. The girder, which had cost, it is said, £100 in wages alone to carry across and place in position, with little warning and a very unceremonious leavetaking, slipped away from its position to a more congenial resting place on the bosom of the deep Kawarau. So unexpected was such a proceeding that the spectators gazed with astonishment. Was it a dream ? No. Hard as ib was to realise, it was too true. A. few moments before the girder spanning the river had been used as a foot-bridge by those whose nerves enabled them to " Wdlk a plank." And now all was blank ; whilst below, gliding away like some huge river snake, was the result of their past six months' labour. Every available effort was made to arrest its progress. A. boat was brought into position, ropes were frantically twisted and held, turns taken here and there to stay the monster. But all to no avail. It would not stop. Away, rubbing against rookf, shooting down rapids, and tumbling over falls, until a friendly current directed „ it on to some rocks, after a voyage of about two miles. There it was secured, and there it lay, until a few days ago, when it was broken up and hauled piece by piece to the upper bank-— a distance of about 200 feet. Such a disaster — a loss so serious — would have disheartened most men, and deterred any further attempts at bridging the Kawarau, and we need scarcely add, such a result would have been a public loss. But to his honour be it said, Mr M'Cormick girded up his loins for another effort, determined to try again. The second attempt was prefaced by an entire change in the plan. Instead of a girder bridge, the suspension principle was adopted, the reßult, as your readers are aware, being that a very substantial and neat bridge was opened to public traffic on the 3rd inst., or about five months after the unfortunate girder came to grief. A question now arises, should Mr M'Cormick be left to bear tne very heavy pecuniary loss which (direct and indirect) cannot be much less than LIOOO. If it is true, as stated, that he was induced by the Government, or their officials, to undertake a girder as an experiment, not only new to Otago, but from the great span, to the Australian Colonies also, then the country is directly interested in such experiment, and should bear the loss sustained thereby as a public loss. This is the principle acted upon by the British. Government. Witness the thousands of pounds spent in testing new weapons of warfare, explosive materials, and armament, both offensive and defensive. These are most, if not all, the inventions of private individuals, but the Government undertake the experiments and defray the costs, though if successful the inventor will undoubtedly profit. If such things as these are considered of public importance (and I suppose they are), how much more are the public of Otago interested in opening up communication throughout the interior. And in the matter of roadmaking bridges are of the utmost importance. The punts have served their purpose well, buf; they are not adapted for the present circumstances of the Province. Their fate is sealed on main roads, at least if Otago is to make the progress which we are continually reminded bythePress she is making. In all new countries, one of the first duties of a Government is the formation of main roads. This is an acknowledged and an accepted theory in thig Province. Yet, practically, it is not parried into effect. In this locality, the main road is carried to the river, a deep and rapid stream, over which travellers are to get the best way they can. Again, on the other •ride of the river — upwards— the main road is formed by the Government for about 10 miles, and then terminates at the river, oommencing anon on the opposite bank onwards. Tbis cannot be called a passable road, or a complete road, for there are two impassable gulfs, which have apparently been totally ignored by those who had the guiding of ?ueli matters on behajf, of. the public, W<?

may ask why, after forming so maliy miles ' of road, two places of such importance j should have been quietly passed by ? UnU ss | the river can be crossed, of what uae is the road ? Equally and with as good reason could they have formed the road as far as the Nevis Bluff and then left such to be cut away by any individual who was willing to make the outlay, on the understanding that he could, by charging tolls on all who passed, realize a profit on the scheme. There are many cuttings and formations on the main road which have cost far more than the price of ; punts to cross the rivers. If report is true, the Nevis Bluff cost more to make a road, round it than would build several bridges. But as it is now, we may thus summarise. The Government left the crossing of the river to private enterprise, and of course such must be reimbursed. We then, in addition to our very heavy taxation which We enjoy under the present economical Government, are also mulcted in very heavy tolls through the portion of the main road which crosses the rivers being altogether ignored by those who control the public purse. Let the Government erect the bridges and throw suck open free as any other portion of the road, and then we can cheerfully bear our share in contributing to the revenue, out of which the interest on the money borrowed for public works must come ; and if necessary to try experiments in bridge building, by all means do so if for the benefit of the public. But the officials who receive their salaries as experts in sucli works should undertake them for the public. Whenever such is left to private enterprise, as in the case of the girder bridge, then it is but fair that when auy special work is undertaken at the suggestion of any person in authority, aud from plans supplied, if such experiment be a failure, the loss should be sustained by the Province, and not fall wholly on the individual who has endeavoured to carry out the design. When experiments prove successful, all is well — the originator of the design or plan takes the credit ; but, if otherwise, the paternity is ignored, aud the individual who has to pay may be completely ruined. In this locality the universal opinion is that the Province should compensate Mr M'Cormick for his pecuniary loss ; and this is endorsed by yovir obedient servant.