OPENING OF BRIDGE AT MARIMA.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XII, Issue 2371, 30 May 1906, Page 6

OPENING OF BRIDGE AT MARIMA.

The new bridge just completed by the Roads Department over the Mangahao River at Marima was opened yesterday b y the Hon. T. Duncan, Minister for Lands. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones had promised to perform the ceremony, but, owing to the pressure of important business of the State, it was found that he could not leave AYellington. Mr Duncan, who was in Palmerston North on Monday, on his way to the conference to be held in Pahiatua, was communicated with, and he kindly consented to carry out the duties on behalf of the Alinister for Public AYorks.

The Minister and party left Pahiatua by the down express, and were met at the Alangamaire station by several settlei-s of tins Marima district and conveyed to the site of the bridge iu vehicles provided by the residents.

The following gentlemen were members of the Ministerial party:— Alessrs J. T. M. Hornsby, M.H.R. for Wairarapa, R. B. Ross, AI.H.R. for Pahiatua, R. Smith and H. Cornelius, representing the Pahiatua County Council, J. D. Wilson, Pahiatua Borough Council. W. Nathan, of the Roads Department, and J. Young, of Palmerston North.

The party arrived at the bridge about three o’clock, where about 150 of the residents had assembled, there being a goodly number of ladies present.

Air R. Smith welcomed the visitoi's on behalf of the settlers, aiid said it afforded him great pleasure to have the Hon. Air Duncan with them on this occasion. He (the speaker) had been striving for about ten years to have this bridge erected, and was pleased to sex* that the most urgent need of the settlers had been provided for by giving them safe access between their homes and the town of Pahiatua. Air Smith then called for three cheers for Air Duncan, which were heartily given, and a similar compliment was paid to Air Seddon.

The Hon. Air Duncan said it was a great pleasure for him to he with the settlers of Alarima that day, and to take part in the opening of their new bridge. By having a substantial structure of this kind it would he a relief for them to know that they would he able to come to and go from their farms with a feeling of security, and not be troubled with the thought that some day some members of their family would he drowned in attempting to ford the river. The bridge had been built by the Government, and he i engra-elat-ed the settlers on having such a aixhstantial structure. The workmanship of the contractors was a cred t to the firm, and he felt sure the bridge would last at least 40 years. The Alinister theft gave the following details as to the cost, of the wovir : Totara timber, from Taupe, £744 4s 4d : ironbark. New South Wales. £6B

15s 4d ; piles, £ll7 13s Id : ironwork, £lO5 14s 4<l: carting. £ 1 '>2 Vis 5d ; contract for construction, 4417; paint, tar. etc.. £4B 19s 101; cngineer and supervision. £4O 10s—total, £1705 0s Od. Continuing, Mr I'uncan said that owing to t lie liver flooding its hanks to the depth >f live feet, it was found necessary to build the bridge, so as to enable the settlers to cross at any time. This necessitated building the bridge high, and. consequently, expensive approaches had to he made on both sides of the bridge. About 10 chains of new road had to be formed, w hich also added considerably to the cost of construction, but the work was well done, and the bridge should last for many years. The settlers had contributed £9OO towards the cost of the bridge. (Applause.) Air Ross, member for Pahiatua, was the next speaker. He said it was a distinct privilege for him to be present in this part of his electorate, and take part with his constituents in a function of this kind. The late Air O'Meara had doin' a good deal in the matter of agitating for the building of the bridge, and he (the speaker) had also assisted in getting the matter pushed ahead, although he did not claim any credit for having the bridge erected, as the vote was passed by the House before ho was elected as their representative, lie had crossed the river on horseback and in vehicles, and was convinced that a bridge was the most urgent need of the settlers in that part of the district. There had been some misunderstanding between the residents anil himself ns to ttie date on which the opening of t lie bridge w ould take place, lint lie had just returned last night from a visit to the hackhlocks, and found a letter in connection with the matter awaiting him, ami lie trusted the residents would overlook his not having replied to their correspondence on that, account. lie considered it. was a pity that the total’ll had not been preserved in the reserve in the vicinity ol the bridge, as it would hove meant a saving of at least £SOO on the construction of the bridge, lie trusted it would he all object les'on to tie (iovernincut, not to vest timber reserves in any local bodies. All Hornsby, of Carterton, then briefly mb IrnsHod tlio iinhoin bingo. ITo " *i' pMMisod jo |>e present, on this

occasion, an dto know and feel that the Government were doing good work for the settlers. (A voice: “Y r ery slowly!”) Well, perhaps, slowly, but usually those who did things in a hurry generally made a muddle. It -was well to remember the old Latin phrase: “Make haste slowly.” Mr Hornsby paid a tribute to Mr W. D. McCalmont, of Masterton, who was the contractor for the bridge. He said the work was ideally first-class, and quite up to the standard of other important works that had been'undertaken by Mr McCalmont and his father in the Wairarapa district.

The Minister, for Lands having called upon Mrs Egan, the oldest resident in the district, to cut the ribbon, he then declared the bridge duly opened.

The Minister then presented Airs Egan ,on behalf of the contractoi’s, with a beautiful pair of silver sissors and case as a memento of the occasion. Airs Egan i-etiirned thanks.

The party were then conveyed to the Alarima schoolhouse, about a mile and a-lialf away, where a splendid luncheon awaited the visitors. After justice had been done to the splendid repast supplied by Mr East, of Pahiatua, tlie following toasts were duly honoured:—’’The King”; “Parliament of New Zealand,” by Air R. Smith, responded to by the Hon. T. Duncan and Alessrs Ross and Hornsby; “Local Bodies,” by Air J. Elliot, responded to by Alessrs H. Cornelius, R. Smith, J. D. Wilson and Aloss; “The Contractor,” by Air J. Young, responded to by Mr AlcCalmont; “The Ladies,” “Press,” and “Chairman-' being the other toasts duly honoured. The party made a start for the Alangamaire station shortly before 5 p.m., and returned to Pahiatua by tlie six o’clock train.