BRIDGE OF REMEMBRANCE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18221, 4 November 1924, Page 8

BRIDGE OF REMEMBRANCE.

DATE OF UNVEILING. GOVERNOR-GENERAL EXPECTED A desire has been expressed that the unveiling ceremony in connexion with the Bridge of Remembrance should take place on the afternoon of Sunday, November 9th, instead of Armistice Day, Tuesday, November 11th, which is a race day, it being considered that the former day would be the more suitable in the circumstances. The opinion has been expressed that a large number of people who would attend the ceremony if it were held on the Sundav would not do so on Armistice Day. " Mr W. E. Leadley, secretary of the K.S.A.. said the suggestion had not been considered officially by his Association, but ho had discussed it informally with some members of the executive, and they all favoured the idea of tlie opening taking place on Sunday afternoon. The more he thought of it the better he liked it, for there was no doubt that twice as many returned soldiers would attend the ceremony on Sunday afternoon as would if it were held on Tuesday. The bridge was a citizens' memorial, and the' opening should take place when most of the citizens could attend. If the ceremony were held on Sunday afternoon there would be a record" crowd present. Mr Leadley added that it was a pity the suggestion had not been considered earlier. When a representative of "The Press" brought the matter under the notice of Mr A- Borrows, chairman of the Bridge of Remembrance Committee, that gentleman said that it had been decided that the ceremony should take place, as had been intended all along, on Armistice Day. A letter had recently been received, he said, from Captain Curtis, private secretary to the Governor-General, stating that he hoped to be able to perform the ceremony on the date stated. Mr Borrows added it was unlikely that any alteration would now be made in the date of the unveiling ceremony. The inconvenience which might have been caused by passing traffic on Armistice Day, continued Mr Borrows, could be obviated by diverting all vehicular traffic, including tramway traffic, to other thoroughfares while the ceremony was in progress: So far as tho Christchurch Tramway Board was concerned, a letter had been received from that body, stating that all Eic-carton-bound cars would be deviated to Colombo street during the time the ceremony was being held, and with respect to the City Council assisting in the direction of diverting other traffic, ho stated no difficulty was anticipated. The work of forming the roadway and approaches to the Bridge of Remembrance in Cashel street is being pushed on by the City Surveyor as fast as possible. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in obtaining a foundation for the kerb, and, in order to guard against any possible settlement, the concrete kerb has been reinforced with Bteel rods, and has also been formed as solid as possible with clinker from the destructor. A retaining wall to run parallel with the river on the left bank is also to be built.