RAILWAY BRIDGE OVER THE WAIWAKAIHO.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 2338, 4 September 1875, Page 2

RAILWAY BRIDGE OVER THE WAIWAKAIHO.

This bridge, which has been in course of construction since the 10th of May, was finished on Thursday, and a locomotive passed over it the same day. It is a truss bridge of 250 feet in length, and consists of seven spans —3 of 60 feet, 1 of 30 feet, and 3 of 14 feet. There are five single tiers aud four double ones, aud tho pileß aro twelvo inches, aud shod with ohoes weighing about forty pouuds. The height of the bridge above the water, averages about eighteen to nineteen feet. There is no floor, but a two-plank gangway, runs the whole length of the bridge. The piles arc of black birch (far/us fusca), and tho superstructure of black birch and totara. On tho engine passing over ou Thursday, tho bridge appeared very firm and steady, and but slight deflectiou was noticed. The bridge has been built by Mr. Benjamin Butterworth, of Auckland; and the manner in which he has finished it shows ho is no novice at that kind of work. We learn that ho has constructed over thirty bridges on tho Auckland and Mercer line of railway. Mr." Butterworth is familiar with railway work having been engaged on tho Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, also on the North Wistem line. He was also at the building of tho Birkcnhead docks. In Auckland he has also erected some fine buildings. The block at the coruor of Wyndham and Queen streets, also the JYcw Zealandor oftico that was burnt, aro some of his work. Such being the case, it is a very good guarantee that tho work put iuto tho Wai wakaiho bridge is of a substantial kind .