OLD BLACKFRIAR'S BRIDGE,

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 165, 6 April 1871, Page 7

OLD BLACKFRIAR'S BRIDGE,

Since the demo^tion of the old Black friars bridge, many unsuccessful attempts have been made to find the foundation stone. A number of navies recently discovered ifc forty feet under the bed of the river. The whole of the contents of the stone, w'lidi weighed "2201'i5., were in an oak chest, •laving a metal tablet, on which was engraven in larsro characters fiis inscription : — " On the last day of Ortol>or, in the year 1760, in the most spii'unus I'eign of Gvorge 111, Si>* T'lomas Coitty. Knight, the Lord Miyor, laid the fin-t stone of this bridge, undertaken by the Common Council of London in the height of an extensive war. The bridge being for the aecoinodotion and ornament of the City, Robert Mylne being the architect, and that there may remain to prosperity a monument of this city's affection for the man who by the strength 6'f his genius, the steadiness of his mind, «iu«i a kind of happy contagion of hia probity and spirit, under the Divine favour, and fortunate auspices of George the Second, recovered, augmented, and secured the British Empire in A*ia, Africa, and America, an I restored the ancient reputation and influence of his country amongst the nations of Europe, the citizens of L >ndon unanimously voted this bridge to be inscribed with the name of William Pitt." Beneath this stone were fo-ml a tjuinoa, a half-guinea, a crown ahilfcrown, a shilling, two sixpences, thi • | 'vone hilf>ew'e, and a farthing. The stone and everything else found have been removed to Spring gardens for safe keeping.