THE ALEXANDRA BRIDGE

Dunstan Times, Issue 905, 22 August 1879, Page 3

THE ALEXANDRA BRIDGE

j The fonn latino of the pier of the Alexandra Bridge on the East bank, we may fairly conclude is laid, and that all speevlation as to whether such a fact would have j been accomplished is once and for all at an e id. Concrete, for a depth of three feet, however, has been used instead of stone, as originally intended and laid down in the specifications. The work has been carried through under the personal superintendence of the County Engineer, we may therefore confidentially assume that by the substitution of concrete the structure will be, for all purposes equally as substantial as had the original specifications been adhered to, and stone used. The reason for substistilting the one material for the other was on account of the nature of the strata below the gravel, and on which the foundation was to base. This strata on being reached was found to have a strong dip in towards the bank, thus forming a narrow ridge between the river bed and the bank, and consequently bad to be sunk into to give a level. In this work it was discovered that what was at first thought to be a tough brown schistose rock was but a layer of conglomerate about a foot in thickness, laying on a bed of soft blue clay, and under which was a decomposed blue rock consisting of quartz and slate combined—this was gone through for about two feet, and as at that depth it becoming more solid it was determine I to level it off, fill up the hole made with concrete and build upon that. The system, doubtless, is a correct one, and provided the concrete sets well, as a base for the pier, it will be more secure than if the original design had been carried out. The amount of leakage into the large hole that has been made is remarkably small, and the engine working at about one third its power is able to drain it easily. Mr Drurainy, the contractor, who was on the works during our visit kindly gave us every informotion. He stated that since the uninterrupted work of excavating commenced, three seperate gangs of men, each working eight hours, have been employed, and that many of them being masons, when that the building is started he hopes to make good headway. Besides these men there are other two gangs engaged on each side of the river pteparing the stone, and our readers can readily imagine when the quantity of stone requited is taken into consideration, each pier requiring some 130 cubic yards of stone for every three feet in height that the gangs are not very small at that. Having heard that good gold was discovered in excavating, we made enquiries, and asked if any means had been taken to save it. Mr Drummy informed us that some very good prospects had been obtained from off the conglomerate, but that time would not admit of his doing anything With it ; about twenty ounces he thought might have bean got, but that it had to be thrown away with the dirt. With so large a body of men engaged on the works, a considerable impetus is given to the business of Alexandra, and as a consequence cheerful countenances are the rule, rather than the exception.