WAITARA’S NEW BRIDGE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 14, 22 May 1913, Page 6

WAITARA’S NEW BRIDGE.

OPENED BY MR W. T. JENNINGS. [Per Press Association.] Waitara, May 22. To-day, Waitara is gay with bunting, which is flying on the occasion of the opening of a new steel girder and ferro-concrete ’bridge over the Waitara river at the foot of Meanokorihl pah. The bridge cost £10,500, and has four spans of 60ft. each. It is'the best bridge for vehicular traffic in Taranaki, two traction engines being able to pass abreast. The late Government gave a subsidy of £3OOO towards the cost.

On the bridge being declared open for traffic, a bullock dray and a motor car, representing the old and new order of traffic, passed over the bridge. The Mayor (Mr Salter Penkins), read apologies frbm the Hon. Mr Massey and Hon. Mr If raser, and in the absence of the member for the district (Mr Wilson) Mr Wm. T. Jennings, ex-member and senior member of the Harbor Board, declared the bridge open for traffic.

The local Mail states : “Now that tht uso of the bridge over the Waitaff river, connecting the, town -vith the main north road, is drawing to a close it is worth noting that during the forty-two years’ life of the structun there has not been a single accident ir its crossing, although the width has only been sufficient to allow one vehicle on at a time, and pedestrians have had little protection; During the last twenty years there have beer three runaways across, and thougl the frightened horses have dragged vehicles behind them, the negotiation of the bridge was made without injury to man or beast. In the bridge about to bo opened, there is a width for two vehicles to pass at the one time, and pedestrians have safe sidewalks.”