OPENING OF TE RORE BRIDGE. [BY OUR TRAVELLING REPORTER.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1423, 16 August 1881, Page 2

OPENING OF TE RORE BRIDGE. [BY OUR TRAVELLING REPORTER.]

Thk ceremony of opening the new bridge across the Waipa at Te Rove was performed with much eclat on Friday last, in the presence of a considerable gathering of the residents of the district. The bridge is a handsome timber structure of 400 ft. in length by 14ft. in width, and 70ft. above the water, erected by the Geneial Government at a cost of £4000, part of which was raised locally. The contractor (Mr J. OBrien, of Auckland), deserves all credit for the manner in which the work is done. The timber is all totara and kauri, bolted and braced substantially with iron, and with the extensive embankment of great depth on one side of the river and the cutting on the other, the bridge is an admirable and economical piece of workmanship. The company assembled on a pleasant little sloping green on the bank of the Waipa, overlooked by the lovely wooded slopes of the Pirongia ridge, and here the band of the Te Awamutu Volunteers discoursed sweet music. In the landing-shed of the company that does the steam navigation of this fine river, a substantial luucheon had been provided by Mr Finch, of the Alexandra Hotel, and the decorations, consisting of the boughs of fern and nikau trees and the flowering Australian wattle, were very charming. The decorations of the bridge, also in the same fashion, with the addition of flags and mottoes, such as ' ' United we stand, " and so on, made up an effective picture. At about 3 o'clock a procession was formed, headed by the band towaids the biidge, and aii address having been delivered by Mr McMinn on the benefits the bridge would confer in opening up the country on both bides of the liver, a bottle of champagne was broken by Miss Hodgson against the balustrade, and tho Te Rore bridge was declared open, amidst loud cheers and the strains of the National Anthem. The Luncheon. The next feature in the ceremonies was the luncheon, to which about seventy people sat down, the chair being taken by Mr Aubin chairman of the Waipa County County Council. A certain space of time having been devoted to the consumption of the tender cold roast fowls, succulent hams and other good things provided, and the absorption of certain good tilings in certain bottle 3, the chairman proposed the usual loyal toasts, which were duly responded to. Mr McMinn then proposed "The House of Repiesentatives, coupled with with the name of their own member, Mr F. A. YVhitaker," which was responded to much applause and a lusty chorus of " He's a jolly good fellow.' 1 Mr W. Sloane, of Te Awamutu, m replying to this toast said in refererence to our member, Mr F. A. Whitaker. "You all know as well as I do, that for the bridge which has been opened to-day, nearly all the credit is due to him. You have been told that this biidge wag burveyed '.even ve-irs asfo, and seven years more would have been wa3ted in empty promiaea had it not been for the persistent and energetic efforts of your member, who has this day you the fruit of these promises in the shape of the Waipa biidge which joins the districts together. (Cheers). This only shows us that unless we have a good and useful and honorable member to repiesent us, we shall never obtain our rights. Before the election of Mr Whitnker the Waipa bridge at Alexhad fallen into a most dilapidated and neglected state ; tho putting of this bridge into a proper state of repair was his first consideration after getting into the House. The next work was to get the Whatawhata bridge built, and this bridge opened to-day makes the third time since hid seat in the House that he has Bpanned the Waipa, and conferred what cannot fail to be a great benefit to the dibtrict. (Applause). The nucleus of the sum for the payment of this bridge was started by the energetic people of Harapepe, from a proportion of the £40,000 grant to tho Highway districts some four yeais ago. This was added to by the Waipa and Raglan, counties by small special grants, leaving still about £3800, to be granted by Government. This was looked upon at the time as one of the blessings of the remote future, and so in all probability ifc might have been looked upon to-day without the assistance of a stirring and capable member in the House, and therefore I think that all the credit of this great benefit to the district is due to our member, Mr F. A. Whitaker, with the many other grants that he has obtained for the opening up of the district. " (Much j applause.) Mr McMinn then proposed the Army, Navy, and Volunteers, coupled with the name of Sergt. Major Higginson. Mr Hodgson drank to the Commercial Interests of Ndw Zealand, coupled with the name of Mr Edwards of Ohauoo, Mr J. S. Buckland proposea the Agricultural Interests, and Mr McMinn proposed the Press, remarking that he thought the Walhato Times was certainly one of the best newspapers in NewZealand, and the staunchest advocate foe tho interests of the Waikato and Waipa districts, and in drinking this toast, he begged to connect with it the name of Mr George Edgecumbe, (" For he's a jolly good fellow " followed bythree cheers). Mr Edgecumbe thanked them heartily for their good feeling, and he hoped that whenever he might be called upon to return thanks for a compliment paid to the press, it might be on an occasion like this, when the newspaper he represented , might have had'sewne influence in ptomot-

ing the interests of the district in which it circulated as the Tiniei,, ho believed had always steadily endeavoured to promote the interests of the Waipa. Ho wished health and prosperty to all assembled there. After other toast including "the Contractor, Mr O'Biien," "the Ladies," and " the Volunteer Band, accompanied with the Tiahie of Mr dibley, the leader," and an interval of munic on the ground, the company assembled departed in the dusk of the evening. Later there whh a dance in the school-room of Te Rore, which was kept up by about thirty couples with much spirit till daylight.