THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE KAWARAU BRIDGE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 585, 4 July 1873, Page 2

THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE KAWARAU BRIDGE.

—o — Monday last, the 30th of June, 1873, the day on which the Kawarau I Bridge wad pened for traffic, may be put down as a “ red letter day” in the annals of the Cromwell District, and the names of Messrs. M'Cormick, Richards and Grant may ho added to the list of her enterprising sons, and deservedly will they merit honorable mention, whether of to day or in years to come, for their pluck and enterprise, taking in hand and successfully carrying put, as a private undertaking, so important a work as the construction of a bridge over the rapid and deeply bedded stream of the Kawarau, and thereby forming a link of connexion between Cromwell, the capital of the district, and the rich suburbs ox Bannockburn and Garrick, As the hour approached for the important ceremony, the neighborhood was fairly alive. Troops o' equestrians and pedestrians, together with wheeled vehicles of every description, were to he seen wending their way towards the structure, and by 3 o’clock in the afternoon, at Icait four hundred people must have congregated to take part in and witness the proceedings. Tho Cromwell Brass Band, un ler the leadership of Mr. Whetter, being in attendance, enlivened the scene by playing some exquisite music, thereby adding considerably to the pleasure of the affair. On a preconcerted signal,the hand playing an appropriate tunc, marched on to the bridge, followe 1 by Mr. l-’raer ftho Mayor of Cromwell), tbe proprietors, and Mrs. M'Cormick, on the la ter of whom devolved the duty of christcnin Arriving on the centre of the structure, the 0 thodox bottle of champagne, herb eked with gaily-colored ribbons, was susp n el to the side rail. Mrs. M‘Carmack was led to the post of honor, who, after addressing a few relevant remarke, in due form dashed the ottle against the railing, and wished “ success to tho Kawarau Bridge.” Mr. Fraer then read the Provincial Engineer’s certificate, declaring the bridge to be in a fit and proper condition for the accommodation of public traffic. Ha dwelt at some length on the advantage the hridga would confer on the district, and concluded by inviting all present, as guests of tho proprietary, to adjourn for refreshments, which were supplied with no niggard hand. After a short interval, the usual loyal and other toasts were proposed and respomle I to in the most hearty manner, the band after each playing an appropriate air. Tho proceedings were brought to a close by the band playing tho National Antho , and three cheers that made the welkin rimr again. The following description of the bridge we extract from the Cromwell Argus * “Ihe Kawarau Bridge is constructed on the suspension principle, and wire cab'es are used instead of chains. Tho bridge is suspended on twenty-eight wire cabl.s—fourteen on either side—each cable bein'* composed of six smaller ones, with seven wires in each, the cables averaging fourinches and a half in circumference. Tho dimensions of the bridge are as follows Span from pier to pier, 148 fost ; breadth between the wires, IS feet C inches ; clear width of roadway between rail end rail, 12 feet. Tiie beams are suspended on fiftyeight vertical rods, fully an inch in diameter, tho rods bearing above and below on subatant ial 44 inch clips. The lower end of each rod is fitted with a 12 inch screw, to enable the adjustment of the bridge' to he altered if found necessary. The beams, 29 in number, are each 11 inches by 8 inches, arc braced crossways by 4 by 4 inch timber, and stayed longtitudinally by timber of the same dimensions. The roadway is formed of two layers of diagonal planking, the first layer being 2i inches thick, and the second 2 inches. The protecting rails are 6 font high, made of 7 by 5 inch stuff, with diagonals 5 inches square. The wood used in the kerhing on either side of the roadway is 8 inches 5. The camber of tho roadway elevates the centre of the bridge two feet above the level at either end, and the height of the platform above the average height of the river is about CO feet. At the centre o’ the bridge tho cables have a djflection of 11 feet 6 inches below tho pier-hea.ls. The dimensions of tho main per may bo roughly estimated at 23 by 10 feet at tbe base, decreasing to 2G by 8 at top; height at level of roadway, 50 feet; with hollow chambers behind. At the hack of the chambers, the pier is built in steps on the solid reef. Tho object of the chambers is to prevent any slip or pressure from tho hill from affecting tho main pier. The pier on the noi th side is of the same width and thickness as the main pier, hut is only 12 feet high, being built upon a natural rock abutting on the river bank. The small piers are four in number, the base sections being 7 feet by 5 and the top sections 5 feet by 4. These piers are 13 feet in height, built of cut and dressed masonry (technioally known as rustic ashlar) in courses of 12 inches each. On the small piers rest tha saddles which receive and carry the wire cables. The saddles are secured to the piers by moans of Lewis bolts, and the ironwork connected with each saddle weighs over two tons. The anchoring plates are fixed from 65 to 70 feet behind tho piers, in tunnels driven th-ough tho solid ruk where such existed. Where the reef was not solid, masonry of a substantial character was substituted. The angle of the wire from the saddles corresponds with tho angle made by the weight of the bridge. In order to admit of inspection at any time, man-holes are left immediately over the anchoring. The anchoring plates, with the sheaves, weigh about three tons. The total weight of tho iron-work in the bridge is about 16 tons. Each of tho 28 wire cables used in’theVonstruction of the bridge is capable of sustaining a weight of 50 tons, so that the carrying capacity of the whole is equal to 1,400 tons. It was estimated that during the christening ceremony the aggregate weight of humanity on the 1 b ridge was between 40 and 45 tons ; yet,

so effectively had fhb work of ‘stiffening’ been performed, that there was no greater Vibration poVceptible.than would be caused by a horse walking across from end to end. The approach on the north side has a maximum gradient of 1 in 9, is 20 feet wide, and 12 chains in length. Ahoutj46,ooo cubic yards of gravel and stone—chiefly large boulders—were* excavated in the formation of this approach. The gravel was sluiced into the river by aid of powerful strean s of water, obtained from one of the Gorge races ; hut a vast amount of time and labor vi as consumed in blasting and removing the boulders. On the south side the approach is 30 chains in length, extending to the top of the‘rise at Richards’s Hotel, and is cut through rock and clay the whole distance. The cost of the bridge is said to he from 0,000/ to 7,000/.. and the .contracts for the approaches (which were constructed at Gove nnent expense) amounted to something near 2,500/. The rates of toll have not been definitely fixed, but they will probably be the same as those lately charged for crossing the Kawarau ferries. Let us hope that only a short time will elapse ere the bridge is transferred to the Government •and made free to all comer i.