OHINEMURI R BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5261, 11 April 1928, Page 2

OHINEMURI R BRIDGE.

' 000 New Structure at Paeroa.

Opening- By Minis

ter of Public Works

Another important event in the history of Paerca was set down on Thursday aftea-noon last, when the new traffic bridge over the Ohinemuri. River at Paeroa was formally opened by the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works.

Long before the time appointed for the ceremony a large concourse, of people assembled at tiie T’ac'Oa end of the bridge on the wide slope approaching the bridge. A temporary platform, on which were mounted rows of chains and tables, was erected on tiie right-hand side of the bridge. Seated on- the dais were the Hon. Williams, His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall), Mir A. M. Samuel M-P---for Ohinemuri, Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P. for Thames, Mr M. J. Savage, M.P. for Auckland West; .Mr H. M. Corbett, chairman Ohinemuri County Council, members and their yrives of the Paeroa Borough Council and the Ohinemuri County Council ; Mr L. B. Campbell, district engineer ; O. G. Thornton, resident engineer, Publ'c Works Department; officials of the Paeroa Borough Council and Ch'nemuri County Council, ;and a number of visitors. Strings of fl.ags were placed across the entrance to the bridge, while the platform was gaily decorated, the whole, combined with a bright sunshiny afternoon, presenting an animated scene, and one not likely to be hurriedly forgotten >n the h story of the progress of the Borough of Paeroa. Shortly after 2.15 p.m. the Ministerial party took up its position on the dais and the proceedings opened with the singing of the National AnthejmADDRESS OF WELCOME. In extending a welcome to the Minister and h's party on behalf of the citizens th© Mayor .said that the function that afternoon marked the consummation of another, important convenience which, had been provided for Paeroa. The new bridge was a structure, to be proud of, and the opening ceremony would: not have been complete without thei presence of the Minister of Publ’c Works, who had just eoucluled a strenuous tour of the Coromandel Peninsula and had acceded to the request to foimally open the bridge at considerable; inconvenience. For a young country the Public Works Department spent large suras of money each year- in an endeavour to assist progress and development in tli() . Dom'nion, and It could readily be realised that the Minister in charge of so large and important a department had a very onerous task. The speaker said he felt sure that the large gathering that afternoon felt honoured and privileged in being abe to take paiit in the ,welcome to so distinguished visiter, To commemorate so important an occasion be; waK, going to ask that a bronze tablet, suitably inscribed. be placed on the bridge, so that all who passed over the structure might have seme knowledge of thp visit to Paeroa of the Minister of Public Works. (Applause;.) The citizens of Paeroa were proud, of their strong and endurable bridge, and it had occur,red to him, the Mayor said, that the structure represented an ideal type for New Zealand. The Public Works Department could not afford to be lavish or build temporary work, and there could be little, doubt that the bridge they were about to open would last for generations, and it was good to think the'r children’s children would appreciate what was hande.d dewn to them. The Mayor said he since,rely 'hoped that future generations would have a clean OhinemiUli River, and that the obnoxious mining tailings would be a thing of the past, and that they would make a,n endeavour to leave the town a better place than they found it. In congratulating the . department on its work the Mayor said that the bridge had been erected, thoroughly and well, and there had. been, no skimping of time or material in ensuring a good job. He wished to pay a tribute and express his, appreciation of the spirit of co-oparation which the department’s officials'had shown, to local bodies, and of their desire at all times to assist, and he would ask the citizens to give fair and, reasonable consideration to the officers who carried out their arduous dut'es to the best of their ability, even though there were times when the public were prone to think that th e department wa,s acting contrary to what was wanted or was not doing enbugh. The Mayor thejn said that it was with pride and pleasure that he introduced the Hon. K. s. Williams and) invited him to address the gathering. SPEECH BY MINISTER.

In rising to respond, the Hon. K. S. Williams expressed appreciation of the generous welcome acc'ordqd h’m and' assured the gathering that it was a pleasure to again visit Paeroa and take part in /so important an event. He wished to thank the Mayor and councillors for the hospitality extended to him, and also express his thanks for the crqdit that had been g'ven to tiie officers of his department. As head: of the department he could assure the gathering that thqy did not realise the many difficulties and troubles that frequently beset hi's officers, a.nd especially those who did the spade-work. Tribute was paql to the Mayor for the arrangements made, and the Minister also congratulated Mr Marshall on the work done by his council, espcc'ally in regard to the construction of the approaches to the bridge. Tn conclusion the Minister, turning to: the school children, of wlibni there were several, hundred lined up on the roadway, recommended them to take an interest in the bridge and civic pride in thaiii town. All gould not be Ministers of the Crown, but every boy and girl could do something to help along the progress or beauty of the town in which they lived.

MR. A. M. SAMUEL’S SPEECH.

The next (speaker was Mr, A. M. Samuel, M.P., who said that it was indeed a pleasure, to be associated with so important a function and to assist in welcoming the Hon. Williams. who wag always willing to help whenever he could and lend a sympathetic ear. The speaker referred te detail to the. noble part playqd by the Minister: and h ! s brothers in giving a large block of land for returned soldiers. and also to his many sterling qualities as a Minister of the Crown. Mr Samuel said that the borough and county councillors were to be congratulated on having such a hoe br’dgc. and it must be agreed that they had received a good job from the department. All. roads, and bridges led to Paeroa. and there was little, doubt that it was destined 1 to become mi important town. PAEIIOA-POKENO RAILWAY. Speaking on the progress of the town and district, Mr Samuel instanced the great need for the early construction of the Paqroa-Pokeno railway. He quoted particulars of the saving in haulage, the opening-up of good country, relief of congestion at Frankton and Morrinsville, and other reasons why the work of construction should be undertaken, and stressed the need for keeping the department’s staff busy in the district. The department had a large quantity of niachineiy practically on the job at the Puke and. a. very capable staff at Paeroa.. He understood that there were no sqrious engineering difficulties along the route, and 'he asked that the Government consider the matter of constructing the line an urgent and necessary one. PLEA FOR MINING ASSISTANCE.

The encouragement of mining and an earnest plea for assistance from th© Goverjnment was also made to the Minister by Mr Samuel, who pointed out that mining was dear to the hearts of many hundreds of people, and that it was an industry that had produced millions of pounds (sterling. He believed many millions more still remained to be won, provided some assistance from the Statq could he given. The speaker po’nted out that my revival in mining would not only benefit Paeroa and district, but would be a valuable help to the whole of the Dominion.

In conclusion Mr Samuel congratulated the pejople on having such a good bridge and the two local bodies on the arrangements made in connection with the open’ng function.

COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS.

On behalf of the County of Ohinemuri the chairman. Mr H. M. Corbett, also extended a welcome to the Minister and thanked him for making it convenient to attend the, opening of the bridge,, which was regarded as an. ’mpoi taut event by the people of the district. The speake,r referred eulogistically to the splendid work of the officers of the Public Works Department and the ready assistance and co-operation which had always, been met with by the council, ami he wished to take that opportunity of thanking them publicly, it was roal!sed that the department had difficulty in finding money to do all that was asked by local bodies, ami it was hoped the petrol tax would ease the position. Lt was pointed, out by Mr Corbett that had the wishes of his council been given effect to the tax would have been 6d a gallon, and there would have been plenty of money then. (Laughter.) He paid a tribute to the sterling work donq by the Mayor in the interests of the borough. Mr Marshall, he said, had: done, and was still doing, splendid work, and had set a very high standard, and the man following in office would have a difficult ,and strenuous time to maintain anything like that standard. Too much commendation, could not be, accorded the Mayor.

Referring again to the bridge, the speaker s:aid it was difficult to estimate the life of the structure. He well remembered the, opening ceremony performed by the late Hon. W. G. Nicholls of the old bridge, which at that time was a modern; structure, and it was thought it would last a life-tima MAYORESS CUTS RIBBON. The Ministerial party, led by the Mayor and Mayoress, then proceeded on to the bridge, a wherei the ribbon across the opening was cut by the Mayoress, and the Hon. K. S. Williams declared the bridge open for traffic. This being done, the Minister, Mayor, and Mayoress drove the first motorcar across thei bridge to the Te Aroha side of the river and back to the accompaniment of prolonged and enthusiastic chqering. The Ministerial party left later in the afternoon by motor-car for Auckland.

SUMMARY' OF BRIDGE.

The bridge, was commenced in January, 1927, and; completed in April, 1928. Work was. stopped for one month owing to non-arrival of steelwork. The length of the bridge is 300 ft, made up of four 30ft spans and three 60ft spans, while; the width of the bridge is 18ft between wheelguards. The bridge is of concrete piers and piles, with steel superstructure carrying reinforced concrete deck. A cantilever, footway 4ft 6in wide, with wooden docking, is, provided on thet downstream The deck of the vehicular traffic portion is provided with a . bituminous surface 2in thick placed: on top of the concreted deck. The total weight of the bridge is approximately 824 tons. The concrete in piers is 310 cubic yards and the concrete in the dqck slabs is 144 cubic yards. The depth of the point of piles below the bed of the stream is 30fe., and the total length of thq longest piles is 65ft. The estimated cost of the' bridge is

£12,280, apportioned as follows : Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Fund, £4030 ; Public Works Fund, £5250; Paeroa Borough Council, £1650 ; Ohinemuri County Council. £1350; total, £12,280. Actual cost of bridge (including removal of old bridge and excavation of waterway), approximately £14,000. Reasons for extra, cost: Necessity of boring for piles, timbering of shafts, supporting old bridge and'abutments, and use of orange peel grab ; holes weti'.e bored in the bed of the stream to a depth oif lift in order to get piles down to the p ropey depth. All piles were driven to a safe bearing of 30 tons.

INFORMAL LUNCHEON.

MINISTER ENTERTAINED.

After receiving numerous deputations at the Borough Council Chambers the Hon. K. S. Williams was the guest at an informal luncheon held at the Criterion Hotel and tendered by the Paeroa Borough Council and the OhinemtUii County Council. Included in the official party were the Mayor cf Paetoa (Mr W. Marshall), who presided, Mr H. M. Corbett, chairman of t'he Ohinemuri County Council, membei s of the borough and county councils and staffs, and Messrs A- MSamuel. T. W. Rhodes, and M. J. Savtage, M’s.P.; L. B. Campbell, district engineer, and O. G. Thornton., resident engineer, of the Public Works Department, and other officials of the department’s local office.

After the sumptuous meal had been donle full justice to the Mayor proposed the toast of “The King,” which was drunk with musical honours• The toast to the health of the Hon. K. S- Williams was ably proposed by Mr H. M. Corbett, who expressed the hope that the, tour of the Minister had been an interest’ng and an instinctive one. He also trusted that their guest, having been brought face to face, with the requirements of the district, would use his best endeavours to promote progress and prosperity. .The toast was enthusiastically honoured to the accompaniment of the singing of “For Hefs a Jolly Good Fellow” and hearty cheers.

I.n responding the Minister expressed his sincere thanks to those responsible for the, kindly thought in providing the luncheon, which he had! thoroughly enjoyed. He stated that ha had had a very interesting tour, and had been particularly struck with the scenery round Mercury Bay and on the journey from Coromandel to Paeroa that morning. Seeing was believing, and by touring round he was the better able to gain first-hand information and realise the needs for new roads, bridges, etc. J.t also afforded him great pleasure to meet the; settlers and familiarise himteelf with local conditions. The requests he received were varied and many, but each one had been carefully noted and would be fully gone into with his departmental officers and the matters dealt with and action taken according to the urgency and nature of the work. The Minister said that the provision of reasonable access to settlers’ holdings was a strong point with him, but the. question of cost was of vital importance and always had to be considened in conjunction with a request. At the same time he had the greatest regard for the struggling back-blocks settlers, and he always tried his best to give (assistance to that class of request. Many qf the deputations which had waited upon him concerned the Minister of Lands or the Minister of Railways, but ho •• ould see that the requests were forwarded to the proper authorises.