Kiwitea Bridge.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 225, 26 March 1896, Page 2

Kiwitea Bridge.

.«. _ OPENING CEREMONY. Since the heayy flood of May, 1894, which washed away the bridge and a portion of the road where the Kiwitea stream cross the Kimbolton road within the Feilding Borough, the ford has been at times a source of danger to drivers of vehicles, when the river was high, and at all times it was a source of trouble and annoyance to settlers and others in driving sheep across. The Feilding Borough Council took the matter in hand as soon as possible after the old bridge was destroyed and, the Kiwitea and Pohangina County Councils objecting to pay a portion of the cost of a new bridge, a Royal Commission was asked for and sat in Feilding in November 1894. After hearing evidence the commission decided that the local bodies should contribute as follows : — Feilding Borough, one-half ; Manchester Road District, one-fourth ; Kiwitea County, three-sixteenths ; Pohangina County, one-sixteenth. The work of preparing plans for a new bridge was entrusted to Messrs C. Bray, senr., and Mr G. C Hill, Engineers, and. the contract was let to Mr J. Saunders. The construction of the bridge was pushed on rapidly under the management of Mr Malcolm and the work is now completed excepting the protective work at the western end, which will be finished in the course of a few da3 r s. The bridge is situated about fifteen chains up the stream from the site of the old bridge and is approached from Feilding by a deviation of road about twenty-six chains long, but, on the tar side, is approached by about five chains of deviation. The bridge, which is known as a truss bridge, is 330 feet long, composed of four 70-feet spans and two 25-feet spans, the eastern approach being protected by crates filled with large stones and the western approach will be protected in the same manner, the work being now in hand. We understand the total cost of the bridge will be J22200, including protective work and Engineers' commission. Yesterday afternoon the bridge was formally declared open for traffic by the Mayor, Mr W\ A. L. Bailey, in the presence of a fair attendance of ratepayers and others, including Mr W. F. Jacob (chairman Kiwitea County Council), Mr W. Jones (member of Kiwitea County Council), Mr F. Y. Lethbridge (chairman Manchester Road Board). The Mayor, Mr W. A. L. Bailey, in referring to the want of the bridge, which was severely felt during the winter, said the steps taken by the Borough Council were not at first approved, but were afterwards endorsed. In addition to the Borough Council, three other local bodies contributed to the cost— viz., the Manchester Road Board and Pohangina and Kiwitea County Councils. The settlers would say with him that the work had been finished m a good time before winter, He complimented the contractor, Mr J. Saunders, on the efficient manner in which the work had been carried out, and the Council had not made a mistake in giving him the contract. He also complimented the Engineers, Messrs C. Bray (senr.) and G. C. Hill, for their part in the work. Mr F. Y. Lethbridge, chairman of the Manchester Road Board, endorsed Mr Bailey's remarks, and he was pleased the bridge was erected. The Manchester Road Board had not opposed the erection of the bridge. Mr W. F. Jacob, chairman of the Kiwitea Cpunty Cpuucil, felt some diffidence in speaking, as the majority of members of the Council he represented opposed the erection of the bridge, and the matter was settled by Royal Commission. As an individual member he congratulated the Borough on the erection of the bridge, and suggested the continuance of protective works. The contractor and engineers were to be complimented on the manner in which the work, was carried out. Mr 0. Bray, senr., referred in high terms of praise of the manner in which the work was completed, and said hf? never saw a contractor who carried out his work more faithfully. This site was the best that could be found, Mr J. T. Stewart and Mr Holmes, Government engineers, having both reported ajfc different times in its favor. He did not think it possible the river would wash away the approaches, as they were well protected. The breakage strength? ot the bridge was IQO tons, which meant that it would carry a load of from 20 to 25 tons. Mrs Bailey, wife of the Mayor, then drove the last spike, and His Worship declared the bridge open for traffic. Cheers were then given for Mrs Bailey and the Mayor, who drove over the bridge, followed by several other vehicles.