OPENING OF THE PUKEWHOA BRIDGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8342, 26 January 1907, Page 5

OPENING OF THE PUKEWHOA BRIDGE.

♦— AN INTERESTING CEREMONY. (Special Reporter). A very interesting ceremony was performed at Hamua, yesterday, when the Pukewhoa bridge, erected by the Pahiatua County Council under the supervision of the designer, Mr Joseph Dawson, was opened. Settlers from all parts of the district, and also the Hon. R. McNab, were present. Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., called on the Hon. Mr McNab, Minister of Lands, to make a few remarks. The Hon. Mr McNab stated that it gave him great, pleasure to be present at the opening of the bridge, which would give settlers an outlet for their produce. He considered that a bridge was one of those things on which money was well spent, not only from a farming, but from a colonial, point of view. There was no doubt that the farmer was really the man that "kept the ball rolling," and what would benefit the farmer must benefit all. Apart from that, when one considered the heavy death-roll caused by unbridged rivers, one could not do too much to help the work of erecting bridges. One thing that struck him about the bridge was its simplicity and strength, and one who could design a bridge such as this was for £SOO, was indeed a benefactor to the colony. In' conclusion,. he hoped the bridge would prove serviceable to the settlers. Mr McNab then called on Mrs Smith, of Onslow Park, to perform the opening ceremony, which was gracefully done amid cheers. Mr Hogg said that the man whom they really had to thank for the bridge was Mr Joseph Dawson—a man who, without gain to himself so far, had constructed bridges which filled the settlers' requirements at a third of the cost estimated by Government engineers. Mr Dawson was asked to speak, and said the Government had some splendid engineers, and he had worked for a considerable time under Mr Robinson, who was one of the best engineers in the colony. His one object in going ahead with the bridges was to help a'lfew struggling settlers. Being a Crown tenant himself he wanted to do the best he could for his fellow settlers. Mr Ross, M.H.R., also delivered a short address. Votes of thanks were proposed to the Hon. Mr McNab, for the honour he had.done the district by attending, and also to Messrs Hogg and Ross, M's.H.R. Cheers were then given for Mr Dawson. , Mr Daysh recited a piece of poetry of his own composition in commemoration of the Minister's visit. The party then 'drove off to inspect the Burke bridge, recently erected by the Eketahuna County Council. Afterwards the Hon. Mr McNab left for Eketahuna.