HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 438, 22 February 1909, Page 6

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(from oob sriiciAL bepomeh.)

MELLING SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

■;.: THE; OFFICIAL OPENING.- > :■;;-.' The -opening -of ..the ■ Melling - Suspension Bridge.over the Hutt River, ac Camp Road,? took; -place '/; under perfect weather, conditions -on^Saturday. afternoon. The. ceremony was performed by, the Min. ister for Roads and . Bridges, the '^A.. jW. Hogg, who' was accoinp*anied by; Mrs,; 'and; Miss -Hogg. ; -The bridge, was gaily: decorated .with, Hags,' and.these .and.its sym- : metry' and.'the 4Uo'or : soo people in' attend' ahce : '' made.': a": very ./..attractive ,, sight. 1 ' Amongst; those preseutMvere: Mr. H. J; H.' Blow, 1 Under-Secretary of- Public■ Works,; the. Mayor (Mr. T. Av. Peterkinj/'the: deputy... Mayor (Councillor-.'Russell),, CouncillorsJudd.and Baldwin, the Borough Engineer,. Mr. H; Rix-Trott, the Town Clerk, Mr. P.R.; Purser,. : Mr.;M.' Wv , AVelchy'chairman/bf the .Hutt .County' Council,. -Mr.-T. ■ W. M'Donald,■■: an : ex-mayor,. : and Mr. Dawson,contractor ;;for .the bridge.::... ..".'- ,:. i.'' .- .'• _ Apologies for absence .were received- from Mr. T. M. .Wilford, ;M:P.,;;owing to illnessp ■Dr;vHector l '-_ , and ; .Mr'.-'-E: v .p;-Bunny.'''/'. , Un opening;: the proceedings,- the -Deputy-"' Mayor (Councillor -W. H.: Russell) briefly introduced the Minister., He explained- that; : the .bridge took its name : .from'.old associa-:: Tt? nS v°j th f " late . Premier/ in .Lancashire:' lhe- bridee; formed- a link in -"the approaching completion of the original 'PublicTWorks Uelhngtoiii to,,the r Wairarapa,: complainf : made ; people on..the eastern sids' v. 1 n u% that " tll6 y could : not' connect, and./the bridge was promised'. . The; total' cost';was' a .trifle dver;£lßCQ,' and it was erected /by-..'Mr.: Dawson /under the "super. vision...of ,the borough'.engineer: 'Mr. Bus.'- ■ «eU- i -pouited..:.out.. that/in 1846 a company' -ortho- 58th : Regiment was cut "off-by a Maori'. detachment .from Poririia close by .the bridge'-' .and it. 1 -; would -be/reihembered'bow. Bugler Allen; gave; the alarm 'while being killed by' a tomahawk; -..There: was present tha6 ? day' °ne settler:;. who helped' to.' uiter ; the dead. - lhe- officer commanding the ".'regiment was' Colonel Wyhyardj ■ : who- -iras:; 'afterwards"c Acting-Governor ~in Aucldand. : The 'officer; in-charge of the -detachment 'in-'-'question' was/. Lieutenant:- , "Rush/. -Concluding , '-. 'Mr " : Russell remarked/that.; no, Joan 'had:b , eeji. raised; to' build'the bridge,-and no interest payments .'had to 'be: met.' '. A .:.. : -- //.'■/

..-' ■•Wγ- Hogg,'.who .was: cheered on :: commenc- '- ing- to 'speak, expressed, his" pleasure. at "■ ■ ing: the opportunity _to.;dec!arp -the'open. Hβ ; was. ; parti6ularly:':: gratified 'in- , - having/the ; respected ."Jlayor. 'present, who I-' naa just .passed-through-: a: severe .illnessv- ; j (Hear,, hear.) ;To a, largo extent;-the brid"-<> .'• was due to his. efforts, in 'common ]with- :: those, of-a : few. exceedingly.: progressive ■■ aents/- It would' : not; compare/with i those'^ r over big nversj : but .they Sad : a structure :' ,built of /the best material,, and" he' thoughthe . could., congratulate : the people' on: having such a: bridge.. .'-It had. been, built -under" the-authority; of .the: Departmeht over which ■ hei presided,*' and .that of', Mr.' Rix-Trott, ;: undoubtedly,-.one .of- the ..mist, men' they-had . in. ■ connection witli v . : ahy of their'' local' , in New: Zealand:./,He had seei.,' i sufficient ; vince: him'■ that- he: was quite' capable ,pf :uh- ■ .dertaking : works, v"of./this;::c]iar'aqfer. :>iieV.: ; looked^upori/ .the; :Melling r ßridge,,': as ■jbom--y pared:,;'witj: ihe : , bridges :;vbuilf..upph."-''pilee,',:': whicli.: were; simply an- ; obstruction '■. : iii ■'■ the; n .no- pbssujiiity -of:■:a,flood :.inf;e'rfenng-:with : f ; this.ybridge,' and,, on/the; other'lhandji'its'.lifetime' was' greater ./than,: .many/bridgea;.' which cost more,nionfiy!..Hβ had"much"plea-:■ sure in. uecla'ring. : the,bridge."bpen-ior'traffiqiV (Applause'.); i; -/ ; /,V'; ■;;:'/■/; :'■'■':• ■■'■':■■■'■; S'SS^ , ■ 'Mrs'./.Hogg:then cut : the'.ribbon, and.'cpia.;: ■pleted/fne .ceremony. ":'; :'; : ; ;■'■■/' /./"-/■:'.'"- |;".'The. A:/;Peterkin^:einis/ pleasure vat : '■-being vat •:? I the function.-., .Hβ.' took .the'.'oppbrtunity- of ."■ thanking; all; those. whq;;had been ; so • BndW to: him during : ' his severe illncis.- '' Hβ' alsovthanked -the...Goyernment; for: granting : .-:th9 m'oney-/xor ; the 1 erectiotf of the bridge; andVtlie ■• eng^eW'^na-:;th'e';,;builder;lvbut: more/- .■ especially .the' former,'.; .who. followed' .his',in-. :; . striictions: in not. spending .a- penny: more'-■' than.;Tra v s..' authorise.d..:/The.\Maygr ; '.went,'6rii/ ■to -.refer-'to r the;, beauties'; its suitability 1 , for the erection, of .'workmen's homes, -V where' the', train'would stop'before".'■■■ their/doors.v "If':.fifty,.houses':.were buUt., here to-morrow,": he; declared,; "they-'would... Bβ let' before ■'•■a'.-.week :was 'put. , '/ ,-;.':/;.

. •Mγ. : H.ogg::Efear,;hear. v':., '■■■/■'■■'v l ; .y ■:,, // ■•"'■ Mr./Peterkin:. I'hope. the Minister*; for: _;/ Labour will '■ do his level , , best 'ini.this matter.." ; , ; Mri Hogg: Yes, if I ran/find.-the money. :'•!-;. : ..' MrV Peterkin: The money.' .will: be found :■ : '■■ ail Tight. : ; :>■'•■ ;:■;, ■.::; "■.:;" .. • :r^ :^i ■ -The; Mayor 'concluded fcy thanking Mpssrs, /:;>/. A. Y. .Lees,\F.: J. Pinny, and Bennett, for ;! : their:' efforts /in/ collecting : the .■"necessary ■ /:' • : money p the;bridge.:■.'■,-■"/'.: ,"/■'/ ~/,,. \--y%■■■'. : r:'-'',}. _ .Mr.- Lies,-after paying Va; tribnte , to,; thir V. : /_; veryVr liberal .arid' unprejudiced Executive//;/": drew/the.Minister's: attention" to'_ the; necesi ,V V. ; ■ sity'••of 'S.shelter -shed; at the .railway;.stop,/ :■'■ ■■::■>:■ ping' place;, especially'in; southerly ..weather. ;/ ; ■After,cheers had been""given : for the; Kfin-/ / /, isterial party,- afternoon-tea', was .dispensed.":, ";; : :- ; FUNCTJON AT;^HE // ■ At:-:the"conclusion- of, the 'reremqny, , ' the ' ■ . Mayor ,(Mr/T. A." Peterkin):•entertained.-the .:./:■'/ ■visitors, ..councillors,/ and -a large;number.. V,;: of local residents'' , 'at the Lower-HuttiTown;.. ~-; Hall.::^.-.;--V,:-^- ; :r-;::; V■/ O^ - : ■W; /A •■>' ;. After welcoming the guests, Mr. .Peterkin. , ; ..: : ; .jpror«sed\tK:h'ealm'vbf : ! Mr; / ' i aiid r --Mrs.■■Hogg.: ;.;.- li.;doing so!he.reinarked .that '■■ when:;the ';.'.; Priine Minister appointed .'Mr.; Hogg Minis-:. '•: ter forXabonr hedid a.;good .thing, , .for.-no : ;..;; : ; more: energetic man, could have: been-,ap- ...:. pointed to this office; . He trusted the voice. -:v of the :MihisteV would- be raised : in 'favour«' .;'. or-the ;erection': of" a ■ hospital for',-the' > dis^..- ■ •;-.;■ trict.- (Hear,; hear.). ' X'L r : - f^' ,: ;- ; ; '-^r:0' '. -i'■/ .:In. returning shanks,'; Mr. ; Hogg; said: he-:: : ,;. hoped he: would be nble to :hold the good •.,•,. esteem' in■'which/evidently :-hevwas. : ;-■;'.';'■ present.. ■. (Hear,- .'.heai-,) ,; ; - .^present;, ; j would' be-pleased to- know/ that .they /.had '.■ -, Mr. Hogan, for;.AVangamii;:withthem;;-'■:> He :was; pleased, to high',; ;.v; : : ,compliment,;'a,nd-added; .that ...he -;had-not-. ,■;, . built his bridges: merely : for making:-money,■ '.■/' .••;. but to. aid the. s'ettlerslr --. : . : --i ■:<:/'.: '■-■"■ .--'; : ;' *- :i <' ;\ Mr. R;: V. Short .proposed-the toast -'.of .-.V/;: "Parliament,"-" coupled.; with the'; ;na"me : of ; : '-V - : :Mr.-Hpga£ . ; : :: , ' .. '. ■■-:'-' : :'oV::s*:h>'- v^ 1 ;::..; ; In replying,:' Mr.' Hbgani. remarked'"that '■'. ;.'-:., two.more brulges were "desired; over , ;^the : ~y}i~\'S : { nganui,. River, ;arid,ljei i>ad' ; <iome^down;for : ,: v :. . : the purpose of investigatiug 'this cheap, style' ; v:; of bridgOj arid he. Jioped .'.to, ca'riv' back 'an ; . .':■ V 'idea.of: it for- the , , benefit of 'tlie/Wanganui , y-v> people. ; ;-.':■•:'?.";■ .-■■'■■'"■,■'■ .'■'. - ■ ■■-'■ :■'■ '•'; Vf.■■:"-,"; ■'.';'■' v : v-,::/::.' ':•': In .proposing the; health of ■ the. Mayor -and ,;■:,,;;•'. ■'Mi\ypressiv.Mr/-.Hog^'.decldred/liafc'7.-He.'. ; and'v--J" : .-:*;. MrT;Peterkin' had .been , friends, for;, years, and paid:a tribute:to hia'fifty-years': 1 y-,] experience as an engineer.;-';:--' '■'.■'■'■!■:'~i\\. -;:',■:'■'■:■ ; . '• ; . Mr; -Peterkin \: expfflssed;.his- appreciation;-: •". and.:acknowledged Councillor' Russell'C'.ser-,:i .. : vices; during'his,illness. ; ' • ::■:.-.■ ;..'..-,.'.:. '"■• On'behalf of the 'Jlaybr, • Mr. -.Short'/pre-V--;. \ sehted-the' Hutt. HorOugh.Oonncil.ivith. //a.-:.-.:': framed enlargement of himself; , ; t<>:,bi>. hung ,'•..-.■;.;; •in the Council Chambers. 'Mr. ■, said.V'wh's held .in very high flsteeui ''hyp the.,■ '- residtnts. of ■ the; Hutt, and he;liad;tvied}to/■..-..;'•'.; .dohis best for. them..': '-. '."' ■:'■'■■''.':- '■'. .;;/' -;" ',3';: -■;.'. ■!'■.-; ' The- "J)eputy-Ma,Y6r; Bxprfssert tha;pjeasure.'.:;./ : . of the c'hinicil- Rt aiiqeptiiig, t' i,; onlargement '['■ J :. ,: .. The : Mayor-wjs lield'iirvcrv high estwhi by ■:>■:'■?_, :tli(?':coiincil, 1 ami: tlio work had-. always; beenv. r .; ;■' transactc'l smoothly/ "■:'>'■, '.Vv..';/ ■:,.■,;-.;.:;,;/-:.:; .:. !: 'A number of'other;toask:were also.hbn-•:■/:' : '-;.' oured; : ':■ ■"': ■;' /■( ■..'";,;';-"..:..-;':/';.-■ -!\.' '■■. '/■'■.'!-: V: i:S ':

■' I'erfectweatbbr-;prev;ulpd.;on ; - Saturday af-.v teru'ooii .fof ; -thfi'»niiuii)-'pioi'.itf or ri--. V.etoiio ; .which ; :^jis/::- v li.>l l l;.:. , !it'Y Trenthani.:; There vr : a? ■« ; anpe;.;.i>nd .those : present Had::a> Very 'Hijoj-v alilo-oiitihg. ."A; loiigtby pfbgi; iiiiiie-.<)f.raoi;3:V. and-Jiioiupetijiious: iviis; yau'Vpfi vaHAus • ■ events:' 'esiivirijj-.'considors y'V'rio v •l'etoii* Br.tss l|and:\vas in atttndwue" dur-'-' inp tho flay-s' .;; ./ '.' i~-', -V.'■'-.; : :■■■•■ ■•■ .■ >-..■ ; ' ; :; v.' :. ■The"funer!i! of ylio late:; Mr.' Jamns Sulli-ft ■' vantooli place*, at '.2.30 p.m. '■Vi: Suturilay; !aiv 'the - Catholic: -C-enioieryi■•, Pehviiei '■::.- •^ , »ther ; . : .! number /ot':■ [nourners :.and .friends .witnessed-, the iast rites i- > - .".•'■;■ ■■.■': ":-. : i^\:; : l : ~t' : S-:-r