WRECKED BRIDGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17437, 8 April 1931, Page 12

WRECKED BRIDGE

OWNED PRIVATELY PREFERENTIAL TOLL IN FORCE Many Wellington sightseers made the trip to the Taita Gorge to see the remains of the suspension bridge opposite Haywards, which was swept away by the storm of Friday night, reports the Dominion. This bridge was constructed, under an arrangement with the liutt River Board, by Mr. W. H. George, of Wellington, lie acquired the Manor Park estate at Haywards and also an extent of the country on the eastern side, of the river. When about to place the property on tile market some live years ago lie obtained the necessary permission to construct a suspension bridge, which not only connected his properties, but gave a much-needed access way from one side of the valley to the other, less than half a mile below the railway bridge at Silverstream.

This was the only bridge spanning the liutt River between Mellings, at tho Lower liutt-, and the Moonshine bridge, at Upper liutt. It was never thought that tho liver would rise high enough to flood the deck, and probably was never constructed to take in submersion the stress of a tearing river in full flood. It is understood that the bridge was insured in Lloyd’s.

Tile bridge was a toll one. Mr. George imposed a toll of threepence for every person walking over the bridge, one shilling for foreign cars, and ninepence for cars of British make. It was an niioxjK'cled spot to find a preferential tariff in force.

It is expected that Mr. George will arrive from Australia in a few days.