THE GALLOWAY BRIDGE

Otago Witness, Issue 3555, 2 May 1922, Page 45

THE GALLOWAY BRIDGE

OPENED BY SIR WILLIAM FRASER. A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION. (Fbom Our Own Reporter.) ALEXANDRA, April 27. If the completion of a new bridge is regarded as an occasion of some importance to-day it must have been an event of very great note indeed in the early days of the province, when these structures represented a very definite link in the chain between the backbloeks and civilisation. With the advent of the railway and the motor car that chain has been very materially shortened, but the links, constituted by bridges, are as necessary as ever, and they continue to be one of the evidences of the country's progress. There is more than a passing significance in the metaphor which speaks of old landmarks as “bridging the gaps of time,” for bridges not only help to join up town and country, but they form a bond between one generation and another, revealing in a striking way the progressive advancement made by the rural districts of the dominion Associations of this kind will undoubtedly centre around the new bridge over the Manuherikia River at Galloway. To-day, in the presence of between 300 and 400 of the settlers of all the surrounding districts, the ceremony was made the occasion of a picnic, and, as the afternoon was beautifully fine, it proved a most enjoyable gathering. The Alexandra Band, under Bandmaster Bringans, lent an added air of the brightest to the proeedings. This bridge, which was completed some little time ago, was erected for the purpose of doing away with the road over the Manorburn, which in event of flood forced settlers, many of whom are returned soldiers, to make a long detour with their produce to Alexandra. It also does away with Robertson’s Crossing, a very treacherous ford, and one which has been a source of great inconvenience to settlers; and, furthermore. it reduces the distance from Galloway to Alexandra by a couple of miles. The contractor for the structure itself was Mr T. Wilkinson, of Clyde, and for the approaches Mr William Smith. The bridge cost £IBOO, and the approaches another £SOO, and it took between three and four months to build. Its length is 274 ft, in 11 spans of 25ft each, and it is 9ft wide. The material is Australian hardwood, and in its finished appearance the structure promises to be of permanent usefulness to the whole district which it serves. The level of the bridge is sft above that of the 1878 flood and about 9ft above ordinary flood level. An additional safeguard is provided by heavy stone abutments at each end. The work was carried out under the supervision of Mr W. P. Black. Vincent County engineer. Cr Ritchie, chairman of the Vincent County Council, who presided, read a number of congratulatory telegrams from neighbouring public bodies, and also one from.the Hon. R. Scott. Continuing. Cr Ritchie said the erection of the bridge supplied a long felt want in the district. Prior to its erection the only means of communication was by means of a ford half a mile down the river, and this had been the cause of much hardship, especially when the river was high, as a settler who lived there frequently had to pull people out at night. They felt thankful to have such a substantial structure, and they all owed Sir William Eraser a deep debt of gratitude, that it was now. an accomplished fact.—(Applause.) It was he who had placed a vote of £2300 on the Estimates for the bridge, and it was only another example of the splendid, way in which he attended to the wants of the district. The present Minister of Public Works (Mr Coates) was also entitled to his full share of the credit for having provided the money, and if was a very pleasing circumstance that every vote promised by Sir William Fraser had been honoured by Mr Coates. They were very grateful for what was being done for them. Their district all round was making a great advance, and on Galloway alone, where there were formerly only two or three settlers there were now between 30 and 40 Wherever there was irrigation added it was followed by population.—(Applause.) Mr J. Horn. M.P.. said their hopes were all centred in the future of the district under irrigation. In respect to mining, he also believed they would get more gold in the future than at present. He congratulated the settlers on having this bridge, and he hoped that others of a similar type would follow as population increased.—(Applause,) The Hon. G. J. Anderson, who was well received, said that he was in Otago at the request of Mr Horn, and he was astonished to find they were so well off, and wanted so little.—(Laughter.) Continuing. Mr Anderson said he was aware of what Sir William Fraser had done, not only for Central Otago, but for the dominion as a whole, and he could assure them that Sir William was just as highly respected in every other part of New Zealand as in his own district. He believed that in the future Otago would come back into its own, and instead of there being 2000 miners camped at the bottom of Muttontown Gully they would have 20,000 prosperous and flourishing settlers. —- (Laughter and applause.) Or Spain, member for the riding, recounted the negotiations which had led up to the erection of the bridge, and emphasised the value it would be to settlers, and to soldiers in particular. Messrs W. P. Black and T. Wilkinson also spoke briefly. ,STR WILLIAM 'FRASER’S ADDRESSSir William Fraser, who was received with loud applause, asked what there was left for him to sav? The mere fact that so many people had gathered to sec the bridge opened was proof of it's enormous import anee to the district, and that they had now attained their hearts desire in this one direction. at any rate. The previous speakers had referred to rite marvellous results of irrigation. He had been one of the first to start irrigation in that district to any extent, and he bad always realised that under the application of water Central Otago would vie with any part of New Zealand. —(Applause.) Irrigation should result in small estates, but not too small, and under more intensive cultivation the dis triot would carry thousands where there was only a score or two to-day. It was true he had been instrumental in getting grants for the bridge put on the Estimates, but it was due to the practical sympathy and support of his successor (Mr Coates) that the bridge had been completed so expeditiously. Sir William went on to say he was deeply sensible of the honour conferred upon him in asking him to perform the ceremony, because, although he had ceased to repre-

sent the district, his heart was still in it, and he would still help it in every possible way, and lend every assistance in his power to their member.—(Applause.) “It is 69 years,” continued Sir William, in an interesting glance backwards, “ since I came over that range there, and looked at this country. I knew then that it had immense possibilities, and I still believe in it. There was no talk of gold in those days, but shortly afterwards Hartley and Riley came. While they were getting gold from the banks of the river they got their food from me. Since those days I have watched the progress of the district, and after that long association I am not likely to forget tho interests of the people I have known all down the years, and whose sons and daughters I see round me to-day. My powers will always be at the service of tho people I have known so long.—(Loud applause.) Sir William Fraser then proceeded to the centre of the bridge, whore Mrs Ritchie cut the ribbon, and he then declared it open for traffic. The ohairman's motor car then passed through the cheering crowd and crossed to the other side. The handing round of afternoon tea by the ladies brought a very pleasant ceremony to a close.