COLLAPSE OF SUSPENSION BRIDGE

Shannon News, 30 October 1923, Page 4

COLLAPSE OF SUSPENSION BRIDGE

OVER OTAKI GORGE. GREAT MISFORTUNE FOR SETTLERS OTAKI, Oct. 28. An accident which will have disastrous consequences for the settlers in the vicinity occurred on Saturday night, when the suspension bridge over the Otaki river in the Otaki Gorge collapsed.' This will cause serious inconyeni. ence to the settlers and will cut off the Waihoanga school from those children residing on the south side of the river, besides causing loss to those dairy suppliers who depend upon it. The bridge was a fine structure between 150 and 200 feet long, a single span between the rocky cliffs, about 75 feet above the water. It was suspended on steel cables, and was considered capable of supporting any reasonable weight. Designed and built by the late Mr J. Malcolm, the Horowhenua County engineer, about ten years ■ ago,. at a cost of £llOO, it. was considered a model of efficiency and eccnomy. As the cable ends were anchored in concrete bedded in rock, the cause of the collapse is obscure. A settler in the vicinity states that when he saw it this morning the bridge was hanging by one cable, in ah almost perpendicular position. He surmised that the high winds, which usually swayed the bridge, had caused the cables to chafe.

Mr. Anderson, the County- engineer, was notified by telephone and has visited the scene of the accident to make a thorough investigation.

A portion of the Rahui and the Otaki Dairy Companies' supply came over this bridge.