New Bridge across the Tamaki Creek at Otahuhu.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 520, 9 April 1851, Page 2

New Bridge across the Tamaki Creek at Otahuhu.

A public work calculated to be of the most essential service to the district in which it is situated, has been undertaken and is now advanced about half way towards completion. We allude to a Bridge which is being built across the Tamaki Creek, on the great southern road, by which a saving of about three miles will be effected between Otahuhu and Papakura. Nor will this, great as it is, be the only advantage to be derived from the work. The levels of the road will be materially improved also, and a fine and extensive tract of land beyond the Tamaki will be at once opened up. The piers and foundations of the Bridge are of scoria, with wooden spaces between the piers. The roadway conducting to it will be nearly level, or having only a slight descent on either side. There would be Jittle difficulty, we are informed, in largely increasing the accommodation which will be thus afforded, by improving the track which already exists towards the Waikato by filling up some swamps, and erecting a small bridge across a gulley here and there, so as to render the present broken line passable for carts. The benefit of such a plan would be immediately realized : while the formation of a regularly metalled line, however desirable in the future, would necessarily be a work of time, besides involving a much greater expense As an evidence of the appreciation in which the undertaking is already held, as well as an additional proof (if any were needed) of the certainty with which such works repay their own cost, we may state the fact that since the Bridge was commenced, upwards of two thousand acres of land have been sold by Government in the district, at the price of One Pound per acre.

The departure of the William Hyde, which sails for England this day, demands notice not merely because she carries a cargo of the produce of our Colony, such as only requires to be more fully known at home in order to secure an increasing and paying demand, but also because she takes as passengers the widow and the larger part of the family of our late generally respected Lieutenant-Go-vernor, General Pitt. We are sure we only echo the public voice when we wish them a safe and prosperous voyage, and express an assurance that should any of them ever again visit our shoies they will be received with great sincerity and cordiality of welcome. We are gratified to observe in the list of exports by the William Hyde not only flax, copper regulus, &c, but also wool. There can be no doubt that our Colony possesses gieat advantages for the production of this most valuable article of commerce. Already at Nelson and Wellington it is exported in considerable quantities ; and we trust that the beginning which has been made will be followed up in such a manner as, at no distant day, to include this amongst our constant and remuneiative shipments from this port.