BRIDGES OPENED

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 191, 7 June 1939, Page 2

BRIDGES OPENED

RAUKOKORE AND WHANGA" PARAOA CEREMONY ON COAST LARGE GATHERING There yv'as a large gathering ol Opotiki residents and Coast settlers at the official opening of the llaukokore and Whangaparaoa hridlges on the new East Coast highway yesterday. Sir Apirana Ngata, representative for the Eastern Maori electorate, and ALr. A. G. Hultquist. Bay of Plenty representative, were present. Air. H. B. White, chairman of the bridge committee, took charge of proceedings ~ at Raukokore bridge, which was opened first, and called on various speakers, including Ah'. R. Stirling, who* spoke on behalf of the settlers; Mir. AY. A. Gault, chairman of the Opotiki County Council; Air. J. S'. W. Neil son, the oldest pakoba settler; Air. R. Kohea'c, . Alatakaon County Council; and Air. A 1!. R. Rulia, who spoke to the Maoris. Sir Apirana Ngata. said that the Hon. R. Seinple had kept his promise to have the bridges constructed!, and praise was due to him for providing the bridges, which were al necessity to the settlers. AVithout the Raukckore bridge there was considerable loss to farmers and the factory. Lives were lost when people had tried to cross the river. Air. Ngata also spoke directly to the Alaoris. Air. Hultquist expressed) deep pleasure at being able to open the bridge and stated that in time lie lipped to see the road a main highway. Sir Apirana/ Ngata was always willing to co-operate with him for the good of the district in effecting improvements. Air. Hultquist then called on Airs. Walker of Waihau Bay as the oldest settler, to cut the ribbon. Airs. Walker was presented with a. bouquet of flowers. The singing of the National Antli-

em concluded the ceremony. The party then crossed the bridge to RaukjO'kore where a feast had been prepared. After the dinner the party proceeded to AVhangaparaoa, near Gape Runaway, where a similar ceremony was performed/ ' ’ " . r l file Raukokore bridge was built by Miv J. G. Kerr, the contract price being £6577. . This is the largest bridge on the coast road being over 600 feyt long. Many delays and difficulties were encountered in the construction and the elate of completion was eighteen months after the expiry of the original contract d'ate. Similar difficulies and delays have been encountered with the building, of tile Whangaparaoa bridge, which is over 600 feet in length, with six spans. The work was started at the end of 1938, but was seriously delayed through flood damage. This bridge was constructed by the Public Works. Department.