PAHIATUA NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3109, 6 February 1909, Page 6

PAHIATUA NEWS.

[; (From Our Resident Reporter). Friday. OPENING BOURKE'S BRIDGE AT HAMUA. Exceptionally fine weather was a pleasing feature at the function of cpe iing Bourse's Bridge to-day, which was taken advantage of by numerous visitors from outside places. Among those present were the Hon. A. W. Hogg, M.P., with his luniiy and private secretary, RB. iiuss, JVI.P. foi Pahiatua, Miss Ross, Mr David Crewe (Mayor of Pahiatua), and several members of the Pahiutua County Council. An apolorrv for absence was received from cue Chairman of the County Council. , Hon. A. W. Hogg spoke at some length, giving among other items of interest a detailed account of the first bridge he opened at Aliroclton, after his first election to Parliament (about eighteen years ago), the bridge being opened by candle light—his only chance of opening it being by that means. He had, in th-3 old days, considerable difficulty in getting the Government to recognise the utility and economy ot the combination wire suspension bridge. The first of these bridges was designed and built by Mr Joseph Dawson, at Kopuaranga, since when several bridges after the same design have been built throughout the Bush district. Ihe presort bridge was an improvement, if that were possible, on the original design. Mr Hogg also mentioned the splendid bridge built by Mt Dawson over the Hutt River, which is 360 feet long, and when the Hutt County Engineer was prepared to take the County's largs ten-ton roller over it without any risk. The present bridge gives access to the • properties of several settlors, to whom it would be of gre'it advantage. The settlers interested raised between them £2OO and the Government subsidised the •amoun'; £ for £. The bridge is 114 feet hng by 10 feet wide, supported bv two cables, each capable of a breaking strain of fifty-eight tone. He had always held it was the duty of the Government to assist the settlers and he was only too pleased to

see tha present structure erected. At the invitation of Mr Hogg, Miss Ross, daughter of the member for Pahiatua, cat the ribbon, and the bridge was declared open for traffic.

Mr K. B! Ross, after the ceremony, spoke and dealt with how the Government intendad to help the settlers. He was pleased to be at the present function, although out of.his district, and heartily concurred in the remarks made by the Minister of Roads and Bridges. It had once been-in hi 3 district, but since the alteration of the boundaries it was no?? in Mr Hogg's district. Nevertheless he felt a Keen interest in all that benefitted the settlers.

At the invitation of Mr John Bourke all present enjoyed a hearty luncheon at his residence. Mesd?mes Bourke, Galvin, P. Quirke and Misses L. and M. Bourke, attending to the requirements of the large number present. Mr Robert Smith, who was chairman, called on Mr T. Quirk to propost: the toast of the Ministry, which was responded to by the Hon. A. W. Hogg and Mr R. B. Ross. The toast of the Ruahine County Council ■was responded to by Messrs R. Smith, Ihos. Quirk, A. Ross and G. S. Milne.

The Hon. A. W. Hogg mentioned that none of Mr Dawson's bridges had ever collapsed. The gentlemen mainly responsible for getting the bridge erected at Hamua were Mr John Bourke and Mr Geo. Ross.

'Cheers were given for Hon. A. W. Hogg and family, the builder, Mr Dawson, and Mr and Mrs Bourke for their hospitality. Afterwards the various parties motored to Htikanui to attend the banquet in honour of Mr Hogg in the evening, tha affair being a decided success. The Rev. Isaacson will hold service at Marima in the Schoolhouse on Sunday at 2.30 p.m.