CASHEL STREET BRIDGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16815, 18 August 1922, Page 6

CASHEL STREET BRIDGE.

DISMANTLEMENT TN PROGRESS. INTERESTING EARLY HISTORY. In th© musty old tomes in the records chamber of the Christchurch City Council many an interesting hit of history is held. In the days about the middle of the last century are found the first references to the construction of the bridges over the Avon, and the long interval between the awakenings of civic pride till the»present day has left its mark in old-fashioned writing that is gradually fading into illegibility. The work of dismantling the present Cashel Street Bridge to make way for the splendid Bridge of Remembrance that it has been decided to erect provides a chance to recount the history of the structure that will soon he lost to sight for all time. In one of the disintegrating volumes in the Council building, under date July 23, 1866, there is first mention about a bridge over the Avon at Cashel Street. The minute reads: “A letter was received from Mr R. J. S. Harman with reference to a bridge being erected across Cashel Street. It was resolved that the Town Clerk inform him that a previous application had been made to build a bridge in line with Worcester Street, but th© council has not been in a position to entertain the question for want of funds, which is the case in this instance, and therefore is compelled to defer consideration.” In those far off days they must have been troubled with a complaint that is fairl.v rife in these days.

The next mention of th© bridge is on July 8, 1871, when a letter from Messrs Harman and Stevens on the matter was referred to the Works Committee. That month the city surveyor reported that the cost of a bridge would be £350—£300 for the structure and £SO for approaches. There is no mention as to the size of the proposed link. There follows an eloquent silence, until July of 1872, when the council resolved that the city surveyor be instructed to submit plans with an estimate of the cost for a bridge similar to the one being constructed in line with Armagh Street. With beautiful gravity the City Fathers solemnly resolved—“ That the plan of the Cashel Street Bridge be laid on the table for a week.”

So the little game went on, the subject being the shuttlecock for the Works Committee, city surveyor and council. At one time competitive designs were called for, and a subscription list opened. On October 21, 1872, the city surveyor was asked to draw up plans for a bridge 29ft wide. On December 9 of that year Mr E. G. Wright, civil engineer, forwarded a design for a bridge with concrete foundations, and a superstructure of wood with iron piles, and tenders were called As a result that of Mr Wright for £429 was accepted, but after this acceptance the tenderer made the important discovery—which he notified to the council—that he had reckoned on a bridge 10ft short of what was really wanted. He was allowed to increase his tender price by £39 as a result. The work ol the approaches cost in the region of £2OO.

There the series of references to the Cashel Street Bridge ends. There fa no minute of any opening ceremony. It will be only a few weeks now when the structure will he dismantled entirely. Already the top boards are off, and in the course of a few days the contractors, D. Scott and Son, will have in hand the big new work. This old bridge and similar conveniences for our fathers and forefathers have had their day ; they have served their generation and must give w'ay to the needs of a greater population.