Stewart's (Central Otago) Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

TheCur8or: As this cache has been out of action for too long, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.

Regards,
TheCur8or
Geocaching.com Volunteer Reviewer.

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Hidden : 4/13/2011
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Stewart's Memorial Bridge

THE high volume of emails, snail mails and phone calls this week confirmed again that readers of Talk of the Times love a good quiz. Last week’s three photographic ‘‘what are these?’’ challenges were quickly solved, as I expected, and some fascinating background tales have emerged as well. The origins of the bridge on State Highway 6, at Island Block, was easily top of the response list although I have to admit to feeling rather foolish when one of the callers said if I’d stood at the Roxburgh end of the BRIDGE when I took the photograph, instead of the Raes Junction end, I would have seen the lengthy inscription on a BRIDGE pillar, which tells much of the story.

• . . .has a long and . .


. SO, to summarise a wealth of information provided, the bridge was officially opened on April 8, 1922, having been donated to the Tuapeka County Council by Robert T. Stewart, who also designed and built the structure, on behalf of his family as a lasting memorial to his parents, Robert Sen. and Isabella. And last it certainly has, the only change being a widening in the 1930s. The bridge which cost between £400 and £500, crosses a creek (name unknown) which, according to Balclutha author Mary Webb, who published a book in 1992 about the Stewart family, ‘‘rises very rapidly in the flood season’’.

• . . .colourful history


THE Stewarts whom the bridge commemorates, were a well-known pioneering family who ran a popular accommodation house for many years near the creek, although all trace of the building has long since gone. Mr. Stewart Jun, a consulting engineer, was the second of six sons born (in 1867) to Robert and Isabella (they also had two daughters) and eventually moved to Dunedin with his wife, Mary. Before shifting he was heavily involved in the gold mining industry and was known for innovative ideas such as a suction dredging method used to clean out the silted Avon River in Christchurch. Incidentally, it is thought the bridge is the only one on New Zealand’s State Highway system that was privately designed, built and funded, which would make it truly unique.

"The ODT (Otago Daily Times) sparked considerable interest in the history of this bridge by showing a photograph of it in the "Prester John" column. The above is a verbatim reproduction of the final article. I am reproducing it (the article) with permission."

A 200ml clear Klipit

Congratulations ....pipedream ..... FTF

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

TY haqre fznyy ebpx

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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