OPENING OF THE CLYDE BRIDGE TO FREE TRAFFIC.

Dunstan Times, Issue 831, 22 March 1878, Page 2

OPENING OF THE CLYDE BRIDGE TO FREE TRAFFIC.

This ceremony took place ou Wednesday last, the 20th inst. On account of the shortness of the notice given, added perhaps to a typographical error in the advertisement which appeared in our last issue notifying the event to take place on Wednesday the 28th, instead of the 20th, the number of people present was not so large as was to have been expected ; there was. however, a fair crowd, amongst whom we noticed re presentatives of the towns of Alexandra and Crnnjwell, and the district of Blacks. The day was beautifully fine, and the programme of tho day's proceedings wsa carried through most successfully, not the slightest hitch occurring throughout in the least degree to mar, w hat was intended, and what proved to be a most enjoyable day. For the comfort, as also for the delectation of visiters there was an amount of everything provided. Taken as a whole it was a day to which the inhabitants of Clyde and its neighborhood must ever look back to with feelings of pride and pleasure, Tho event was one—as eloquently expressed in the steech of tho County Chairman (Vincent Pyke, Esq.) never to be forgotten as it relieved the inhabitants of an intolerable tax, and united and cemented tho dwellers on both banks of the river in closer hondi than had hitherto united-them ; while looking into no d stant futurity it was ca-ny perceivable that the land on the' West Bank of the Molyneux would be occupied by M industrious community who would reclaim an existing wilderness into happy homesteads and smiling orchards ; that instead of paying dearly for unwholesome imported fruit we would be in a position - -thanks to

the railway scheme, lately inaugurated -of nut only supplying our own want, but exporting to tho sister colonies unlimited supplies of fruit and vegetables-! The "Clyde Brass Band was in attendance, and kindly aided by a reinforcement of the Alexandra contingent Band discoursed appropriate measures aud in no small degree contributed to the pleasure of the day. Their worships, the respective Mayors of Clyde and Alexandra, spoke on the occasion effectively and well, and were deservedly applauded by those present. Norwas there absent a necessary chorus of champagne corks, the popping off of which served as marked punctuations during the delivery of speeches which marked the programme of a day that will long remain in the memories of those who were fortunate enough to be present on this most auspicious occasion. The proceedings were opened with a grand cavalcade, which started from the Town Hall, headed by the Brass Band, followed by the school children, the citizens, and visitors coming next in order, Vincent Pyke, Esq , (County Chairman)* and 8. Welsford, Esq., (Mayor), in.a buggy and pair, of greys, bringing up tbe rear. On arriving at the Bridge the Band filed off on cither side of the approach, and the chib dren passed through and took positions on the Bridge, the girls on one side the boys on the other. The Band then formed Jn order on the Bridge - by this time the buggy containing tho County Chairman and Mayor having arrived—the band playing “See the Conquering Hero comes," marched across the Bridge, the buggy following, the children as they were passed through forming in double file, the citizens and visitors bring’i ig the rear. Arriving at the other (western) side (if the Bridge, the order of march was broken, and all following the bent of ■ their own inclinations selected the best position for seeing and hearing what was'to follow. Tho Mayor, taking time by the forelock, took his position on the temporary platform, and claiming tho attention of the assemblage said, —The 'occasion of the gathering was to celebrate the opening to free traffic of the Clyde bridge—he was pleased to see so many present to do honor to the oecaaion-,ho did not purpose to go into the history of the Bridge further than to say that tho Bridge was built by the 'Clyde people, and now with the assistance of the Government and the’County Council they intended throwing it open ; if there was anyone specially to have any credit for the day’s proceedings it was Mr Pyke, the Member of the House of Representative's for the district and Chairman of the Countp, and he had great ‘pleasure [in calling npon him. Mr Pyke rose and said, Mr Mayor, Ladies, and Citizens. —The duty which I have been ca'led upon to perform is one which affords me very great pleasure and satisfaction. Because it is the relieving of the people from a most intolerable burden. It is the abolition of a tax whith. by its nature and essence, is calculated to retard and discourage enterprise. It is tho removal of a barrier tendering to sever the residents on the one bank of the river from the residents on the other bank of the river, and to 'make, as it were, two separate peoples of them. No man hero present can venture to predict the results -of this day’s work. Uninviting as it may look to tho unpractised eye, there is on this side of the Molyneux much land—countless seres of laud—which, if irrigated—for which purpose the Praam- River offers boundless facilities—will yield abundant crops of corn, and vegetables. If any one doubts this let him examine the small spots already under cultivation, and ho will cease to doubt. More especially do I anticipate a largo production Of fruit, for the growth of which in infinite variety and unsurpassed luxuriance the climate and soil of the district is eminently adapted. I look forward with a prophetic eye and I see iirithe future the ■whole of the Dunstan Flat, on both sides of the river, one vast orchard, capshle of supplying Dunedin and tho coastal towns with abundant supplies of fresh and fragrant fruit, immeasurably surpassing the stale and tasteless products of Victoria and Tasmania, •which now fills the ships and markets of those places. When goldmining shall have been abandoned, nr shall be followed only as an auxiliary pursuit, this County will be far richer in its perenial wealth of golden fruit than it now is, or was, even in tho days of greatest mining prosperity. Then indeed it shall be said of this'people— “ By their fruits they shall be known.” In those days when our children, and our children’s •children boar their produce across this Bridge nfitaxed and nntolled, let us hops they will sometimes remember with gratitude that their fathers did this work. Wo, the men aud women of this generation, have subdued the wilderness and planted civilization in the desert places of the uttermost ends of the eai-th ; wo have ma le highways where, before our time there were no ways ; we have spanned the rivers with costly and magnificent bridges ; but, likejtho pro; hot of old, from the top of Mount T’isgah, we do but survey the promised land from afar. Not nnto us, hut unto those who in a few years shall follow ns is it given to enter into the fnll enjoyment thereof. Enough for us that in our day and generation we have done the work ordained for us to do by the Great Creator of the Universe, and that when we depart hence we shall leave the world a little better than we fennel it. One word more. We should not forget those to whom the public thanks arc eminently due. In the first place there are the builders, of this Bridge--! mean tho people who caused it to be erected. A more publie-spirited and plncky thing was never done by anybody of men than was done hy the people and Corporation of Clyde in building this Bridge, Here is a small community, numbering 50 householders, with a population, all told, of 300 souls who, without the remotest prospect or anticipation of any direct gain to themselves ; not even of tho repayment of interest on capital, but instigated merely by- the necessity of iuter-commu-ideation with their neighbours, voluntarily wild a bridge costing some LCOOO—a bridge

which will bear favourable comparison with any simitar structure in New Zealand. It i no secret that these people have paid in rates ever 1,2*10 a year in excess of' the receipts for to’ls, to meet the claims for interest, besides expending over LIOOO additional out of the Corporation funds towards the cost of the Bridge. Talk of self-help after this. Why, I question whether in all the history of colonization there is ’a page more luminous or more creditable than that which records this fact. Then you have to thank the Government -of the Country who placed the purchase money for the Bridge on the Estimates* and the Parliament which cheerfully voted the amount when the circumstances were faithfully detailed. And in a lesser degree thanks are due to the County Council for having anticipated the date of your entire emancipation from tolls. I am sure you all feel this, and that you are not ungrateful to your public benefactors. The Mayor has requested me to perform the ceremony of opening the Bridge for free traffic. Well,, lam a believer in symbols. In the palmy ‘days of the Venetian Republic it was customary for the Doge to wed the ocean by casting into the Adriatic a golden ring. This was typhical of the maritime supremacy of the State In the days of the Pharoahs and tho Ptolemya symbols constituted the only written language, and to this •day, although alphabetical characters have superseded hieroglyphics, symbols ai-emore expressive and impressive than spoken language. Therefore, on this occasion, I shall now proceed to cast into the river the chain and padlock v hich 1 now hold in my hand, iu token of the removal of all restrictions on the free use of tho Bridge by the people. Mr Pyke then proceeded to the centre of the Bridge, and after declaring it open for free traffic threw the chain and padlock into the Molyneux. The toast of ths “ Queen ” having been proposed by the Mayor, and honored in the orthodox fashion, tho band playing “ Rule Brittania,” and the toasts, “ Oar Political Institutions, Parliamentary and Local," by Mr Beck, responded to by Mr Pyke. “ Pastoral and Agricultural Interests,” proposed by Mr M'Connocbie, responded to by Mr A. A Oliver ; “ Mining Interest,” by Mr Joss, responded to by Mr Sims; “Pros, perity to the Town of Clyde,” by Mr James Samson, Alexandra, responded to by tho Mayor ; “ Our Visitors, the ladies included, Qod bless them,” by the Mayor, and responded to by Mr William Grant, of Cromwell in a humorous speech having been duly proposed and honored, the proceedings were brought to a close by the Band playing “ God save the Queen,” and three cheers foreverybody. A general dispersion now took place to prepare for the danco announced to take place in the Town Hall in the evening, at which some thirty couples tripped it right merrily till past raibnight, when all finally made homeward, each expressing themselves thoroughly pleased with the day’s aumsemeut,