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On this Page 7
OPENING OF THE HINDMARSH
BRIDGE.
The ceremony of opening the new bridge over
the River Torrens at Hindmarsh was performed
by the Hon. G. C. Hawker (Commissioner of
Public Works) on Saturday afternoon. August
14. Those who have been in the habit of using
the Port-road to any extent will doubtless have
anything but pleasing recollections of-the ugly
and dangerous old structure which for many
years did duty as a bridge at the point where
the river intersects the main road just within
the municipal boundaries of Hindmarsh. The
old Thebarton Bridge, as by a misnomer it was
generally known, stood well for many jsearay .
considering that it mi by no meansapreten- .
tions piece of engineering work; bat in its Utter' -
daya it fell into general contempt. The bridge
was narrow, and altogether Bra*!"* 1 to the im
mense traffic which passes along the Port-road,
while of late it lost even the reputation of .
safety, and on all hands was condemned as oat
of date and comparatively useless. Two teams
hardly dared to cross the ricketty old bridge at
the same time. Accordingly, like many othec
things which are no longer equal to the
Durpose they were intended originally to serve,
the Thefaai ton Bridge, with all theoldunplaasing
memories ibat gather around its history* waa
committed to the bands of the destroyer, and
the Government arranged to replace it wifli •
new and handsome structure more suitable te
the exigences of the time. The contract for
the new bridge was let to the well-known firm,
Messrs. Daviee and Wishart, who in August last *
year commenced the work of demolition, at the
same time proceeding with the erection of toe
h?nd««riA iron bridge which now more thaasup
plia* the plaoe of its antiquated predecessor,
the amount of the contact was £&fIOQ, but with
radons extza items of expenditure the total
cost may be set down as £7,000. In the- eom- :
pleted work, which was opened for public sae
on Saturday afternoon, there is certainly pkalj
to show for the money spent. The new bridga,
to which the name of Tn~im. T .ii Bridge baa
been appropriately given, is a neat, w?U
fii«hcfi n structure, which without mnch preteti
sion to ornamental display, is still not without
some beauty, and, what is of more importance,
is of considerable strength, and well-adapted
to meet the increasing *"\f*p« on *ft*f ?««?
road from Adelaide to the Port The bridga is
in three spans, one measuring 60 feet and the
other two 30 feet each. Theatraetureatandsoa
<rigbt cylinders, sunk to a dej&s of tram 40 to
80 feet m the bed of the rinr. The cyimdars
are some of those left over fromtteooastraelMa
of the Hurray Bridge, and were furnished to the
contractors by the Government. The abutments
of tbe bridge are boilt of ashlars tA Teatrea.
Gully stone, while the eight piers of the bridge
and the baltutzmdes are of Sydney frewtnne.
The width of the roadway is 35 feet, and on
either side tbere is a footpath 5 feet wide, pro
tected by a wrooght-iron handrail ■" The badge
will be lit at night by two lamps, pUosd ,
midway on either side. The lamppost*, are
of an ornamental description, ana have an
elegant appearance. The great superiority
of the bridge to the structure it replaces,
in respect of the facilities it affords te
the passage of traffic, may be gathered from
the tact that it is at least three times as wide
as its predecessor. From the time Ike ironwork
for tbe superntrueUire of die bridge arrived
from England only twelve weeks elapsed before'.
the sew structure was ready for opening.
During tie whole time the work has been^ia
hand traffic has proceeded without interruption,
the contractors having kept open one put of
either the old or tbe new bridge for tbe use oE
the public white the works were going on.
The} state that when the old bridge wn takea
away it was thoroughly rotten, and it was a
matter for surprise how tbe trams could bare
proceeded for so long without some fatal accident
occurring. Tbere can be no doubt that aba
original structure was not removed before it
was absolutely necessary. If it had been
vfry mnch longer in use it would
certainly hare given way. The north-east pier
of the new bridge bean a memorial slab of
marble, on which is tbe following inscription.:—
- Hindmarsh Bridge. Opened August 14, 1880.
Hon. G. C Hawker, Commissioner of Public
Works; Davies & Wishart, contractor*; Jonah
Mitton, mayor." In the middle of the road on
tbe northern side of the bridge there is an
obstruction in the shape of a building formerly
used as a toll-house. This the inhabitants of
Hindmarsh have asked the Commissioner of
Public Works to get removed. The new tram-
way to Adelaide will pass around the building,
and on the ground not merely of interference
with the natural course of the traffic, but of
actual danger to life, tbe removal of the obstruc-
tion may be fairly urged. The Commissioner
has promised to call the attention of the
Central Board of Main Roads to the matter, and
to advise them to make arrangements for the
removal of the toll-house.
The Oebskoxt.
Shortly after 3 pjn. tbe Commissioner of.
Public "Works, with a number of other in-.
soentia! gentlemen from tbe city, arrival at
the seen* of the opening ceremony, and were*
received bj His Worship the Mayor of Hud
marsh (Mr. Joeiah Mitton) and the councillors
of the town. There was a large attendance of .
various persons interested.
Bis Worship, in a few appropriate worJs,
asked tbe Oommianoner to publicly open and .
riirintwi the bridge. He expressed bis pleasure
at seeing so many present,'partly because tbe ■
large attendance showed that the action of the
town council in inviting tbe Comnustiener to
perform tbe opening ceremony was thoroughly
endorsed, and also became it proved that they
folly appreciated tbe importance of tbe noble,
commodious, -and handsome bridge which, tte .
Government had constructed on tbe main" road
from Adelaide to the Port. (Applause.) He
was sare chat the bridge "was one of which they '
might all be proud. It was a structure equal)]'
worthy of tbe road and of the site where it was
placed. (Applause.) The old bridge had been
called the Thebarton Bridge. That was a
misnomer, and be was glad that when
the matter was pointed out to the Commissioner:
by the to wn council he at once saw the reason
ableness of aaming tbe new structure the HrndV
marsh Bridge. Tbe town was much obliged to
tbe Commissioner for tbe hearty m***>*r in
which he bad met the views of tbft coqbcQ in
this respect, and on behalf of the municipality
of fiindmarsh he (the mayor) publicly thanked
him. (Applause.)
The Covmissiom&k said it gave him much
pleasure to be there for the purpose of perform
ing the ceremony ot opening the new bridge
and giving it its proper name. (Applause.) Aa
; a very old colonist, having been in South Aus
tralia for nearly forty years, be could not bit
to recognise the vast progress, that bad beea
accomplished iu the ertction of bridges over,
the Kiver Torrent; nor could he help contrast
ing the difficulties that once stood in tbe way of,
i crouhsg theTocreos, which nosappeared bat as
ioHigttificant stream, but in the early days was
often a high and roaring torran t, with the facili*
ties now enjoyed for aeoaM-fsoaa one aide to the
other. Where he then stood the only means of
crossing the river was, in IS4O, a ford, and they
oould well iimgina that when, the floods oamsi
down, in those days much higher than they had
been in recent times, free nor?mnnK?tion be>
tween Adelaide and the fort was often inter
rupted for several daya together. He remem
bered well the first bridge built in (Oqoiinuation
of Morphett-alnet* which was swept away, and
two other bridges which cam* to a ■■?■!" end.
In the neighborhood of fiindmarsh. he recol
lected tbe old bridge built of logs by Mr.
Wilkinson. It stood longer than any of the
others, but at last it too was washed way. In
the early days, tbe floods were much stnmgec
than they were at present, and he thought tbe
reason was this:.—At that time there
was no cultivation in toe hill districts,
and the whole of tbe way* that feil
on the laad came dona in floods, carrying
with them large ioys and epen whole bees.
These got choked apaear the bridges and helped
to destroy them. He asked them %?.eompaxe>
that time with the present. Nothiugoould «host
more clearly the great progress made in the
direction of proper means of aooeaato and from,
the city for the residents of the suburbs, than,
the bridges which now crossed the Tonena in
various places. The fine bridge on tbe King;
WiUiam-road, tbe Victoria Bridge* and the
Albert Briige over tbe TorreM, near the site of
the old frame Bridge, were all of them worka
worthy of the city and th? suburbs. Among
the old bridges the Oompaay's Bridge was one.
of the few thetbad not hsen swept away.. Mow
they were met to cpea another new bridge,
across the Torrens—the Hiudmarea Bridge.
(Applause.) The oldThebartoa Bridge, which,
stood in that place lor so many yean, wag far
too narrow and altogether unsuitable for the
traffic. Although there was a railway to the
Fort, there we* also a large amount of traffio.
that would «o by the road, and the great
traffic on that (road thoroughly justtfiea
the erection of tbe sew bridge. Ha
approved of the bridge being named the
Hindmjmh Bridge. It was withia tbe Hud*
marsh district, while Thebarton was some
disUuoe away. Some members of theThebar
t'jn Distriot Council objected to the change of
name, but immediately they found that he bad
given his word to the Corporation of Hind
marah they assented to the change. They
knew that when be gave his word he kept it.
(Applause.) The new bridge was a work of
impoitance, not only to the immediate neigh
borhood, bnt to tbe colony at large. Traffia
ficm east tod west came down the Port-read^

and the provision of proper facilities far that
•nomoos trafficaffeeted wide ud general in-
Sererts.
~ The OonAnissianer then ijTHie "orthodox
aujmernnitagklxd^bfwb^aapeaded^k
khz* ribbon, against the hciilgevs?ying as he did
•o," I name thia bridge tha?iadminh Bridge, i
anddeelaratta?*?^*i?paldMaa?.? Tbne J
cheers M?|tw for the Qnaea. aadeheen
having also b«en given for the fhmmi-imtaF
and the Mayor of Hfrdmanh the proceedings
at the bride* mm brought to • clow.
. - - Thb Dixkeb,
Siren 4y the Mayor of Hndmsxsh in celebra
tion of the opening of the bridge, took place in
tfaelintitnfe Hall. Hlndinarsh, later on in the
afternoon. Between sixty and seventy gentle-
men sat down to a cold collation, catered by Mr.
R. H. Grade. The Mayor of Hindmash (Mr. J.
Mitten) occupied the chair, being supported on
his right by the Oommiarioner of Pablic Works.
There-woe also present—Bonn. W. H- Bean,
JLF, O. Peacock, MP., D. Bower. M.P., J.
Bart, SP, Mr.li. Fomer, HJ>., Mr. W. Haines,
Mf, Mr. D. Paskoam (Mayor of Kensington
and Norwood), Mr. T. Hack (Major of Port;
Adelaide), Councillors Btrik, King, and Hage
dom (ef tie Adelaide Corporation), members of
the Hmdmarsh Town Council, the Bngineer-in-
Ohief (Mr. H. O. Man),«ad other influential
gentlemen. ' Apologies for non-attendance were
received from the Majors of Adelaide, Kaponda,
and Gorier. After the nanal loyal toast* had
been honored,
The 'CKtitak&s gave " The Ministry." He
approved of the present Ministry, although he
dirt Dot endorse every part of their policy.
Where was-the-man that'did? The town of
Hindmarsh had much to thank the Ministry
ior, and *ey were under a special debt of obli
gation to tta Oomnrsdoner of Public Works.
Tnat gentleman had refused "them no reasonable
learns* which they had brought before him, ex
cepting one which he (the chairman) hoped
woold yet be reconridered and acceded to.
(Xangbter). The Hindmarsh people ' never
made any -unreasonable demands. (Applause).
The OoKMnsKiirE?, in responding, said he was
the only member of the Ministry present, bat he
would mot shirk the responsibility that fell on
him. At convivial meetings of that character
tile toast of the Ministry was always well re
served. - Bis thought fa* could infer from thai
the fact that the people of this colony felt con
vinced that no matter what might be the faults
of the preseat*Gnistry—and a perfect Ministry
never yet existed—they were doing their
best to advance *he general interests of the
country. Then were, of course, some mentors
who toM them wbsl they ought to do and what
they ought'not to do. They had been accused
of being as invertebrate -Ministry, and of con
tinually cliaa&luf; their front, but if that wa?
true it 4onld not -be denied that o& the Minis
terial Itentftesi they tiafl some very fine specimens
ef invertebrate animals. (Laughter.) He
seeded only to speak of the Commissioner of
Grown iAnds, who was not a bad specimen of j
the invertebrata. .{Laughter.) The Attorney- !
General; Mr. Bundey, was another good speei- i
men, and there were otters too, so that they ;
could only come to the conclusion that if the
Ministry were invertebrate that class of animal
was greatly superior to the vertebrata. I
(laughter) As to the policy of the Govern- !
ment, there- was enly one good' possible '
poliey to any Ministry, and that' was '
the advancement of the colony. U they
found ttiey could not gain their point in
one way, they would be foals if they did not try '
to get it in another, and by that means attain !
their object—the advancement of the colony.
(Applause.) The particular office he held had
large duties connected with it, and unless he {
devoted the whole of bis time to it, it would be
impossible forlorn to carry out his duties aa he
felt be should do. Those duties had greatly in
creased during the past faw years. The drainage
of Adelaide and the suburbs, the whole of the
school works, and the Engineer of Harbors and
Jetties' department had all been placed under
his control. But he never shirked his duties,
and with the other members of the Government
he did all that lay in his power to serve the
interests of the colony. It was idle to accuse the
Government of changing their front and having
no policy of their own. They had to consider
she advancement of the colony, and the policy of
the Government must be to carry out the whole
of the departments under their control thoroughly
and efficiently (Applause.) What questions of
policy could arise? There was the question of
taxation, but the Government had done their
best with that They had tried to place a tax
on property, and their Bill after passing the
Assembly bad been thrown out fay the Upper
Hbuce. last year when taxation proposals were
again bronght forward the Lower Bouse bad
changed tbeir opinions. Under such cuewn
stances what could the Government do bat ee
soit the whole question to the country at the
next general elections? It was certain thatif
the colony was to continue carrying oat
public works and increasing its indebtedness,
tarrtion must eventually come, and when
it did ootne Us proper direction, most be the
taiatien of property, which at present did not
pay Us fair proportion towards, the burdens of
the Btato. (Applause.) The Government wen
coining forward with a distinetr schema, and if
the electors did not approve of it and returned
men who wen opposed to all taxation, and who
desired to see the burdens of the colony go on {
inereasing every day, fhe Government were per- ,
pectiy wQfing to resign and make room for
those who would by to carry on the business of
the colony without taxation. (Hear, bear.)
Kothing conldbe more absurd than to say that
the Government wanted to stick to office for the
sake of the salary. He did not think there was
one person on the Ministerial benches who did
not lose pecuniarily through being there. For ,
bis part he would be as willing to give his
whole tins to the aolony as freely if there were
no salary attached to the office he held
as be gave ft now that there was. (Applause.)
He was glad that they had drank she
toast of "The Ministry" with so much hearti-
ness. It showed him they recognised the
fact that the Ministry was doing their best for
the general interests of the colony. There was
no double-dealing with the Ministry. Every
body was liable to mistaken, but so long as the
Ministry were honestly trying to carry on the
business of the colony be believed they might
fairly demand the support of the electors.
(Applause.)
Mr. T. Hack (Mayor of Port Adelaide) gave
"The ParDament," remarking that there was
no Parliament in the Australian, colonies which
worked more conseientiouslv and more heartiiy
than ours did1. He referred to the step* be had
taken as a member of the Central Road Board
with regard to tin bad character of the metal
ling on the Port-road. The stoue from the
Stockade used for that road was not the bes:
that could be bad. If road metal without any
day slate in it could be got from other places he
believed it jroold go twice as far as the staff
used atpteeent.
Mr. W. EL Be*jj,M.P_, responded to the tout.
He was glad to be present at the opening of the
bridge that day, having been instrumental in
getting it speedily erected. The Treasurer had
put the amocmt for its erection in the Loan BUI
instead of in the Estimates, and tberesultwas
that no time bad been lost in having the bridge
constructed.. He agreed with Mr. Hack that
tbe Port-road bad not been property tnanagei,
and he thought that if tte work of maintenance
were let out in one or more contracts as required
the road would be kept in a far tetter condition
than at present. (Applause.) As a member of
Parliament] be objected to payment, and the
reward be coveted was, be thought, the bast one
—the sppcaciaiian of his constituents and of
the colony at large. Tbe House, he believed,
honestly endeavored to carry out their duties,
and had tbe confidence of the colony. (Ap
plause). . :
Mr. Pzasqcx, on being" called on, also
responded to tbe toast. He referred to the
great usefulness of the bridge just erected, and
congratulated tbe people of HUubnarsh on
having so fine a structure in their district.
Mr. W. O. Bunt, J.P., proposed " The Engi
neer-in-Ohief." Having had some experience in
tendering, be said no colony possessed better
engineers than South Aastralia. Mr. Mais, the
Kngin w-in-ChScf, had never pandered to public
favor, bat had always dene' bis duty. (Ap
plause.)
Mr. Mais, in responding, remarked that on
occaaiwui of that kind it was the custom to
flatter rather than to detraet,«nd be took all
that had been said about him in the spirit in
which it was intended. (Laughter.) It was
not the Engineer-in-Chief altogether that had
to cany out ail tbe works of his department.
Unless he bad proper assistance he would be
helpless, bus aided as be was by a Urge and ex
cellent staff he believed he was able to carry cut
works in an honest, straightforward, and credit
able manner. (Applante.) Mistakes were
sometimes made, but when they considered the
large expenditure under bis control, varying
from six to nine hundred thousand pounds per
annum, he thought there was not much cause
for complaint as to the way in which she money
was administered.
Mr. D. Boweb, M.P., gave "The Central
Board of Main Beads." He referred to the
splendid roans in ail parts of South
Australia as-showing tbe able ?n?""■?■• in which
the various road hoards carried out their duties.
Even north of she Buna <there were roads s*
Mnoath as a bowling green. The road boards
deserved every atedtt for tbe energy and spirit
they brought to bear in the expenditure of
jnoney. (Applause.) Be thought there ougnt
10 be an annual vot« of money for the Port

toad, and be was gUd that the Government had |
promised to give one. (The Commissioner of
Publio Works-i-Nothing Jif the kind.") In his
opinion an annual vote was desirable. ,
' Mr. T. Paltbidge, JJ?., 'a member of the
Central Eoad Board, responded. He pointed
outthatthe.boarihadnomeansofraisingmoney,
being dependent on what Parliament chose to
give, and any shortcomings on their pact could
be fairly attributed to that fact. He had always
held the opinion that the Port-road should be
dealt with by the board as an exceptional case,
the enormous traffic on it requiring a specially
large expenditure to keep it in repair. He
thought that it would have to be widened
before long—(bear, hear)—but tbe board
could not widen it unless they bad tbe money.
With regard to the quality of the metal used on
tbe road Mr. Hack was not the first who dis
covered that the Stockade stone was bad.
The board's saperintending-Barveyor had in
formed them of that years ago. The
metal they complained of was simply
used because the board could not
get anything better. The Governor of this
colony had once been entertained in the north
in a banqueting hall made ef bags of wheat;
and it was trne of engineering work, a* in
everthing else, that work must be done with
tbe material at hand. (Applause.) He was glad
the Government had determined to put the
question of taxation before the country. When
any man got on the stomp and lured them int j
a fool's paradise by telling them that they cjaid
get along without increased taxation, he
asked them not to believe him. It was
impossible that the increasing expenditure oa
public works could last unless money was placed
in the hands of Parliament to carry them on.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Peacock gave " Unnicipal Corporations."
Mr. D. Pacxhau (Mayor of Kensington and
Norwood) responded, referring to the great pro
gress made latterly in the class of bridges
erected in and around Adelaide, and contrast
ing the handsome structure now built with the
unsubstantial bridges which were formerly
erected.
Mr. W. Koto gaye " The Town and Trade of
rTJndmarsh." He considered the district one of
great importance, as it embraced many of those
useful manufactures without which no country
oould be successful. He hoped it would not be
long before Hindmarsh was declared a manu
facturing district, where enterprising men
would bejable to start useful manufactures with
out hindrance. (Hear, hear.)
Tbe Ghatbkah, in responding, said he might
call himself the mayor of a working man's para
dise. (Laughter.) At least the town council
tried to make it one. A bonus had been offered
to encourage the planting of trees in the streets
by the residents, and be hoped that before it
was withdrawn tbe already large number of
residents who bad availed themselves of it
would be considerably addsd to. (Applause.)
The CoumssiONH? of Pgbltc Wobks gave
the "Health of the Chairman." Everything
that His-Worship bad asked him to do he had
as far as possible done. There was now only
one thing remaining to be done, and that was to
pull down the old tollhouse, (Applause.) His
Worship said be bad refused to do so, bat be
had doue nothing of the kind. The road board
bad to foe onmsolted in the matter. Of course
be could. not force them to nave tbe bouse
pulled down, bnt he would advise them to that
effect. Applause.)
Tbe Chairxah, in responding, begged pardon
for the mistake he had made. There was no
doubt the tollhouse should be removed, as it
was not only a great obstruction to traffic but
dangerous to life. Human I'ie was of more
value than the rent of a cottage. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. Mais (Kngineer-in-Chief) gave "The
Contractors. Messrs. Wishart & Davis," whom
he spoke of as having put up as honest a struc
ture as could be seen on this side of the line.
Mr. Wiskast briefly responded. Referring
to the old bridge pulled down by the contractors,
he said it was thoroughly rotten, and directly
they touched it it collapsed.
"The Press" was then honored, and the pro-
ceedings terminated.

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