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Tractor driven by Trevor King pulling a stock wagon across the Ashhurst Bridge

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Description: Kings Transport Service, New Zealand's shortest Licensed Goods Service, was run by Trevor King across the bridge over the Manawatū River at Ashhurst when weight restrictions were in force. King had a small farm at the Aokautere corner with State Highway 2.
A news report stated: "The need for such an unusual service arose from the fact that the bridge is subject to a gross load restriction of 12 tons. However, it is on the direct route for a large volume of seasonal traffic, consisting mainly of truck and trailer (often carrying up to 100 sheet per double-deck trailer) with a gross weight considerably in excess of 12 tons. Mr. King's part in the operation is simply to haul the trailer across the bridge with his David Brown 850 Implematic tractor, thus keeping the overall weight well within the 12-ton restriction laid down" (unsourced newspaper clipping).
This bridge, spanning the Manawatū River, was officially opened on 9 June 1909, replacing a previous bridge that was swept away in the flood of 1895. The bridge was replaced by a concrete structure in 1969.
This image is derived from a copy negative made from a photograph that was loaned for copying. The original photographic print is not held by the Ian Matheson City Archives.