Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Friday 30 November 1883, page 5


OPENING OF THE NEW JETTY AT

SOUTHPORT.

WEDNESDAY was a red letter day in the calendar of Southport As most persons interested in that thriving water nig place too well know, the want of convenient jetty accommodation has always been a source of discomfort and apprehension to visitors, and a

barrier in the way of progress About three years ago a spirited attempt was made by a few landowners in the southern end of the place to meet this want by the erection of a jetty at the mouth of Nerang Creek, and that structure undoubtedly served its purpose for the time being. Another attempt was afterwards made

by public subscription to build a jetty in front

of the Pacific Hotel,, and was successful to some extent, but it could not safely be approached by steamers at any time, while the jetty on Nerang Creek was also unapproachable at low water In consequence the practice of transhipping both passengers and goods by means of small boats still con-tinucd to be an income eight and sometimes portions necessity It became obvious that if ever Southport was to become a thoroughly attractive water mc place better facilities must be ponded, and that neither Nerang Creek on the south nor Labrador at the north were sufficiently central for a popular landing place The Nerang Divisional Board were appealed to, but they having other demands upon their resources, and being discouraged by the unwillingness of the Engineer for Hat boin s and drivers to accept the responsibility of record

mending the building of a jetty off Central Southport, declined to undertake the work Nine months ago there appealed as little hope as ever of the want being met, when Mr.

John Camoronendeavoured with his customary enthusiasm to arouse the people to action Southport unfortunately had two ends, each having its own vested interest, and one end already possessing some small advantage in the shape of jetty accommodation,

did not feel particularly anxious to assist the other Under these circumstances

several generous offer from Mr. Cameron, liberally supplemented by Mr H H

Stevens, M L A , failed to produce an adequate jetty subscription list, but these gentlemen, determined not to be foiled, ult

inately determined to beat the city e expense themselves and risk the recovery of their money at some future time Having obtained a frontage lease from the Government, and the assistance of the Harbours and Rivers Department in preparing plans and specified tions, tenders were called for the work and an eligible one was accepted a few months ago, and the jetty has just been completed to the equal satisfaction of Messrs. (Stevens and Cameron and the people of Southport who

cannot fail to perceive the important effect it must have in enhancing the value of their property and accelerating the progress of their town. Wednesday, therefore, was by common consent set apart as a holiday for the purpose of opening the jetty, with fitting ceremony, and a committee of towns-people were appointed to carry out all necessary arrangements. Mr. Cameron, of course, had to be present, and, therefore, he on Wednesday morning left Brisbane with a few con-genial spirits, including Mr. J. B. Stanley, of the Harbours and Rivers Department, by the steamer President. The day was a lovely one. As the President approached Southport the bright sun was tempered by an invigorating north-east breeze, and the azure heavens were beautifully reflected in the rallied waters, which kept up their ceaseless roll on the bar. The new jetty, stretching out into deep water, was gaily" decorated with flags and crowded with happy well-dressed crowd of all ages, sexes, and classes. The town itself was also decorated with flags, and the entire scene was an enliven-ing and charming one. Despite the swell, caused by the wind and rising spring-tide, the steamer approached the jetty without difficulty and lay alongside in apparent security. Shortly afterwards, at 4 o'clock, the ceremony began by the chairman of the Southport Divisional Board (Mr. Johnston) reading the following complimentary address to Messrs. Stevens and Cameron, the proprietors of the jetty :-" Dear Sir-We, the residents of the town of Southport and district, congratulate you on the completion of the ' Southport Pier.' We trust it may long remain as a monument of your energetic interest in the welfare of our town and district. Signed on behalf of the residents," &c. Messrs. Cameron and Stevens having successively made their acknowledgments, were loudly cheered, and Mr. Stevens's eldestdaughter, a bright little child of 4 years, timidly seized the bottle of champagne suspended for that purpose from a pile, and performed the christening ceremony amidst loud and reiterated, applause. The State school children, who had assembled on the pier to the number of about sixty, then, led by their teacher, sang the National Anthem with good effect,, and thus terminated the armed part of the proceedings. The company then went ashore, the children to be regaled with buns, and fruit, the ladies to perform the office of interested spectators, and the gentlemen to. Hanlon's Hotel to drink each other's healths, in champagne. Here some pleasant speeches- were made, Mr. Stevens expressing the hope that the jetty would be a monument of Southport's progress, and prove-a general benefit, to the town and district and Mr. Cameron counselling the people to pull together in all matters designed for the' public benefit, and always to be prepared to meet each other in inspirer of com-promise. He was confident that the jetty would benefit both ends of the town, and that every-one would participate in the advantages derived from its construction. The. assemblage then broke up with mutual exchanges of goodwill. We are indebted to Mr. J. B. Stanley, for a technical description of the jetty, which, we may premise, has a light and elegant although substantial appearance and gives an aspect of civilisation to Southport which it has not hitherto borne. The following is the description

referred to

The jetty is 800ft.. lung from high-water mark, and 8ft. 6in. wide, and has a depth, at outer end, of 10ft. below the lowest tides. At the outer end there is a head 30ft. by 20ft. to allow of vessels lying alongside, and to facilitate the landing of passengers. The inner portion, 400ft. long, is the old jetty raised and strengthened, and the outer portion, 400ft. long, Uconntrocted with pink formed, of two

disused railway rails- field back to back, pointed at the lower ends, and rivetted together, cross braced with angle iron 8in by 8in by 6in and diagonal braces of Djin, formed iron bolted to the piles A cap is bolted the top of the piles to receive the headstocks, above which are three strangers and planking over, with a handrail on one side This is a new form of coast acting a cheap jetty, being the first of the kind ejected, and was designed by Mr Nisbet, the Engineer of Harbours and Rivers The piles are a great success, and drove well, although the ground is rock, and the whole now bolted together form a 101 y substantial structure The contractor was Mr Lather of Southport, and every credit is due to him for having earned outthonork 111 so faithful a manner for a cost of under 4000

On the shore end of the jetty, which in michel by a tramway, has been erected a neat and commodious building of hardwood 11 weatherboard, roofed with iron, divided into two com]) 11 twenty-one for use as a goods shed, the other as a waiting room It has a veranda round three sides and being for marked with seats will be a cool and pleasant place of resort for visitors

It was satisfactory to note that the spirited proprietors of the u tty will sustain no loss by then speculation The) bare lease 1 chestnut tin to the (divisional board for thieojeirsat a yearly rental of illO It is ich will not only provide interest on the outlay but also (is usually extinguish the principal sum This is a gratifying illustration, of the pint each of carrying out public 1101 ka by pin into enterprise which should move an incentive to I olsens in other parts of the colony The pro-

sectors are! several other offers to lease the

jolt) but preferred, in the public interest to put it in the hands of the local authorities simply imposing the condition that the charge shall not exceed a certain prescribed maximum the bond is manifesting similar public spirit 111 imposing a still lower tariff and have stated that no charge will be made teamsters using the jetty) unless they go 01 ci it as passengers when the steamer owners will be liable Homo doubt is still on teamed whether the new jetty will be useful 111 ordinary weather, but the paper once of yesterday mm nine was favourably

When the President reached it at 8 S) there was a good south-east breeze blowing, and it being high spring tide at the time there was a considerable "jump" on The steamer, however, lay alongside without difficulty, and having taken 011 her passengers cast off and proceeded on her way). The belief of Mr Stevens is that the jetty will be found perfectly

practicable by all steamers trading in these water is in any state of the tide and many ordinary weather The 1 allie of the struc-ture will therefore be great, and its completion quite justifies the ceremonies which have attended its opening

On Wednesday cr sang a dinner commence rate of the opening of the jetty was given by the Celebration Committee in the coffee

room of Hanlon's Hotel, where about forty gentlemen sat down to an outing IC past The quality of the viands, with th

por fection of the cooking To which they had been treated, was the subject of general approbation, and the host and hostess received nairn congratulations for the exceptionally good and ran c mounts they had made for the entertainment of the company. The chair was taken by one of the oldest residents of the district, Mr C M Morris, of Bundall, on his right being,, seated the member for the Logan, Mr V J Stevens, and on his left Mr John Cameron The vice

chair was taken by Mr K Muir, of Nerang Creek, and there were present Mr R. F. Johnston, the chairman, with most of the mem bers of the divisional board, and most of the leading residents of the neighboring district. The limits of our space do not admit of even a condensed report of the speeches, but the toasts, after the usual loyal ones, were as follow -"The Parliament of Queensland,' proposed by the vice chairman, and responded to in an excellent speech by Mr. Stevens, 'the Guests of the Licensing, coupled with the names of Messrs Stevens) Cameron, Stanley and C H Buzacott," proposed by the chairman, and responded to 1 early by Mr John Cameron, who concluded by proposing " the Conti actor (Mr Latham)," who suitably responded " the Engineers of the Hal boars and Rivers Do apartment," which was responded to by Mr J. E Stanley," The Press,' " The Ladies The Chairman, and "The Host and Hostess" followed, all being drunk with enthusiasm, and 1 responded to in upper op) into speeches Some very capital son 1 followed, the evening's pro endings concluding about half past o'clock without a single incident to mar the lim mony of the occasion The dinner was generally held to be one of the best soil 1 ed, most 01 dearly and pleasant entertainments ever (,11011111 this part of the colony

Southport has made great progress during the past six months. The new buildings are numerous and of a superior class The Post and Telegraph Office is an ornament to the esplanade, while among other buildings the houses of Messrs A W Walker and 1 Taylor are particularly noticeable from the water The School of Arts, a neat church like building, stands in a street at the rear, and costing less than 1200, is a man 1 el of cheapness and as Mr Cameron is appealing to all his friends for presents of books, a very respectable library will soon be formed Another acquisition to Southport is the newly constituted divisional board, who are carrying out that most fish ful and necessary work, the for mation of a road along the (esplanade from Haillons Hotel to Lenneberg's Altogether the prospects of Southport are blight, and there can be no question of the determination of its residents to

permanently establish it as the premier watching place of the colony Among other pi aspect save benefits is the railway, which will, it is declared malta Southport the second town in upper tunes in the southern part of the colony.