Know your town

The first bridge

Prior to the opening of the original Waihenga bridge in 1873 access across the river was by a ferry boat to W Smith’s Waihinga Station. The bridge crossed to G Waterhouse’s Huangaroa Station and then south onto Lower Valley Road.

The official Party left the Provincial Government Building on a wet Wednesday 29th October 1873 for the opening to be held at Noon on the following day. The party boarding the coach included Messers Bunny, Dransfield, Buchanan, Seed, Buckley, Duncan, Gillion, Plimmer and Fisher. The coach stopped at the Hutt to pick up the Superintendant The Hon T H Fitzherbert and Wellington Mayor G Crawford. A second wagon carried the musicians to play at the function at Otaraia.

Packed like sardines and those sitting on the top soaking wet they arrived at Mars Wagg’s Pakuratahi at the western foot of the Rimutakas at 7.30 pm. Here they were joined by John Martin and the Provincial Engineer J D Baird. Mrs Wagg was in a flap as she only had ten beds for the thirteen dignataries. Some of who slept in ‘shakedowns’ with the rest of the party spending the night in the stables.
Awoken at 4.45am for a 5.30 start to find it still raining but they set off. A stop was made at the top of the Rimutakas to rest the horses, and to their relief saw that it was fine on the Wairarapa side. They arrived at Mrs Shirley’s at 9am on a beautiful clear spring morning.
They telegraphed Greytown of their safe arrival and set off for Martinborough. The route taken was over the Tauherenikau bridge east of Morrison’s Bush with a stop at Mrs Hodge’s ‘Bush Inn’ . Her dignitaries from Masterton and Greytown joined the party and they all set off at 11.30 for the top of Bidwill’s Cutting. From here they could look out across the basi

n to see the new bridge, tents, flags and twenty of so gathered traps, carts and buggies.
At noon on Thursday 30th October proceeding began with R Barton as Chairman. Over five hundred people had gathered in procession led by three mounted troopers and Masterton and Greytown combined bands. At the Centre of the bridge Miss Bidwill dashed a bottle of Champagne on the main structure saying “I name this bridge Waihenga Bridge”. Then it was back for luncheon, provided by Donecker Catering of Wellington, and then some very long speeches – what country can do what the city can do (nothing changes).

Statistics: Bridge was 278 Metres long and 5 metres wide with eight main spans and three short spans either side. Built of heart totara at a total cost, with approaches, of twelve hundred and fifty pounds ( today’s equivalent $160,284). Comment at time; ’It should last for two generations’./

Following the official ceremonies everybody clambered onto coaches or mounted their horses to make their way in an impressive line to John Martin’s Otaraia Station for the evening’s entertainment. Here the city folk enjoyed themselves inhaling the healthy air of a balmy spring evening.

There was much feasting and dancing in the new woolshed, a gigantic structure with a twenty seven metres by twelve metre upper floor, ideal for the ball with Mr Marshall’s Band from Wellington providing the music. A report from the time reported: ‘The ladies were splendidly dressed and displayed a surprising amount of culture’( what did these Wellington reporters think we were?).
The dancing continued until midnight when there was a break for supper. Then it was on with the festivities until day break.For locals it was to wearily make their back to their farms and homes, for the Wellington visitors it was the long trip back over the Rimutaka.
Mr Hastwell’s coach left at 9am taking them over the new bridge then turning up over Bidwill’s Heifer Station track and across the plains to Featherston arriving there at 11.30. Then it was over the hill to arrive at Mrs Wagg’s ’Pakuratahi’ hostelry at 6pm. The following morning the travelled on to Wellington. It was an acknowledgment of Mr Hastwell’s skilful driving, knowledge of the ‘road’ and his splendid team of horses that the heavy coach load of dignitaries covered the 180 Kms in good time and without incident.
All the celebrations tended to belie the fact that the bridge had not been without controversy. While Mr Bunny was in favour of a Toll Gate Mr
Pharazyn was against the proposal. Mr Bunny prevailed and the newspaper of 18th November 1873 advertised: ‘ Mr R J Duncan is to sell by public auction the three year lease on the Toll Gate, Accommodation House, 10 acres of land, stables and sheds. Ruamahunga Waihenga Bridge, Situation of such on Lower Valley and East Coast Road. Accommodation, public and private Sitting Rooms, Bar and kitchen’.

A report of 25 – 9 1884: ‘Featherston Roads Board Re Toll Gate Waihenga Bridge:
Tender of Mr A O Considine was accepted for this particular bridge at nineteen pounds PA ( today = $3,369). Lease includes Toll Gate Waihenga Bridge East Coast and Lower Valley Road Government erected accommodation which includes: Ground Floor, Public and Private Sitting Rooms, Bar, kitchen scullery and bedrooms. On Second Floor, eight additional bedrooms. Extensive and excellent stabling with carriage sheds. Other outbuildings. The paddock is ten acres securely fenced.’

Quite a settlement on that side of the new bridge. Meanwhile down at the old Ferry Crossing things just began to fade away. In a speech on the great advantage of the bridge Mr Waterhouse told of when he purchased Huangarua Station a coffin was part of the chattels. There were so many drowning’s at the river crossing that a coffin was always kept on hand.