''A bridge across the Taieri sufficient to carry infantry in single file,'' was the order given by the divisional staff.
Now, the river, at the site selected, was 80ft wide and flowing at about six miles an hour.
First, a raft constructed from eight casks and a miscellaneous collection of timber, was utilised as a flying bridge to take a heavy rope across.
This done, the raft, ''after many vexatious delays'', was brought back to the original bank and broken up, as the material was required for the bridge.
It was decided to have seven floats, making eight spans of about 10ft each.
The first pier was made of four casks, cunningly lashed together; these were boomed out from the shore and two long, stout pieces of timber were placed from the bank to the pier.
These were the road-bearers on which the planks which formed the roadway were eventually placed.
The second pier was also made of casks and it was boomed out, the road-bearers placed in position, and the pier anchored to the big rope stretched across the river.
However, with only 20ft bridged, and 60ft still to do, the material ran out, and here the initiative of the sapper became apparent.
A couple of tons of straw were procured from the Army Service Corps, tarpaulins were secured from various places, and the wooden floor of the headquarters mess was pulled up and carted to the river bank.
There, a big hole about 12ft square and 3ft deep was dug in the sand, a tarpaulin was opened out and placed therein, and about 6cwt of straw was shaken on and then tramped down.
The tarpaulin was then securely tied at the top, and when pulled out of its mould it looked like a big parcel wrapped up in brown paper.
This was floated out past the barrel piers, anchored to the up-stream cable, and the road-bearers put on.
In rapid succession the parcels were made, floated out, and secured in their places.
The flooring timber was then placed in position, and the bridge was to all intents and purposes ready for use.
Uprights were secured to the road-bearers, and a stout rope attached to these made an excellent handrail.
Another cable was stretched across the river just below the bridge and just out of the water; this was to act as a lifeline to stop any nervous individual from taking a cheap trip to Taieri Mouth.
A notice was erected: ''To carry infantry in single file,'' and the work was finished.
On Wednesday about 3000 men passed backwards and forwards over the structure.
The Inspector-general, on going across it, characterised it as ''a devilish bit of ingenuity'', which made the hearts of the sappers very glad.
• A bolting horse, attached to a vehicle, caused some little excitement to the people in the vicinity of the railway station.
There was no one in the wagon, which belonged to the New Zealand Express Company, but the wheel was chained.
Despite this handicap, however, the horse got up a good speed.
The reins became entangled round its hind legs, and hampered its movements somewhat, but after completing a circle in the space in front of the station, it set off up Stuart street.
It was making straight for some carts standing in front of Messrs P. Hayman and Co.'s, but fortunately waving arms turned its course into Cumberland street, and it was finally stopped just opposite the Victoria Hotel.
The harness was the only thing that sustained any damage. - ODT, 7.5.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
