HARBOUR’S CROWN

Southland Times, Issue 21658, 21 March 1932, Page 7

HARBOUR’S CROWN

SYDNEY’S GREAT BRIDGE

THE OPENING CEREMONY

MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE

SENSATIONAL INCIDENT

The largest arch bridge in the world, spanning Sydney Harbour, was officially opened by the Premier of New South Wales, Mr J. T. Lang, on Saturday morning amid scenes never to be forgotten by the hundreds of thousands present. Visitors were present from all States of the Commonwealth and from New Zealand.

Both architecturally and from the standpoint of engineering, it is s claimed that the bridge holds pride of place among the arch bridges of the world. 'lhe main piers of the bridge are located on Dawes Point and Milson s Point, and are founded on solid rock about 20ft. below main sea level. The turning of the first sod of the approach to the bridge from the North Shore end was performed by Mr Ball, Minister of Works, on Saturday, July 28, 1923, and the ceremony of laying the foundation stone took place in 1925 in the presence ol the Governor (Sir Dudley de Chair), the Premier (Sir George Fuller), the Lord Mayor (Aiderman P. V. Stokes), and invited guests representative of all the professions and commercial and industrial organizations in the city. Mr Ball (Minister of Works) laid the foundation stone of the bridge on Dawes Point. Before the Premier could cut the ribbon stretched across the bridge, he was forestalled by an officer on horseback who, with sword drawn, galloped up and slashed the • ribbon twice before he was pulled from his horse by the police. The ribbon was re-tied and the ceremony proceeded according to schedule.