Two Notable Links

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 348, 8 May 1928, Page 8

Two Notable Links

ACCESS TO “ROHAE POTAE”

Picturesque River Travel

AMONG the great achievements in the effective and contented settlement of the King Country are ranked the recent efforts of the State and of the settlers m the erection of lasting and up-to-date bridges, two of which provide notable inter-provincial links. The construction of one ot these spans will have a direct effect in facilitating travel on the upper reaches of the picturesque Wanganui Kit er.

The Rohae Potae, or King Country, is one of the latest-settled districts in the North Island. More particularly does this apply to the central portions of that vast region which not so long ago were regarded as peculiarly Maori territory. Up till quite recently —and, in fact, at the present time in some localities —the chief obstacle to successful settlement was the lack of proper avenues of transport; but during the past year or two the Government, local bodies and settlers have combined to improve the position, and nowhere is this so apparent as in the erection of up-to-date and permanent bridges where they are most needed. At Te Maire, on the Wanganui River, eight miles down from the upriver terminus, the Public Works Department has just completed a very important structure that unites the far-flung fertile acres of great areas on both banks, and brings a large number of settlers in what is known as the Kiribati, 10 miles nearer Taumarunui, their natural trading centre. No great difficulty was experienced with the undertaking. The engineers had a swift current and deep water

to contend with, but by the use of a special steel plate device, as shown in the second illustration, for keeping the water out of the coffer dams, rapid progress was made with the work once a sound foundation was reached. This is the first occa§ion that this device has been used in the King Country, and it proved very successful. HOUSEBOAT TRAVEL The Te Maire bridge was first mooted 10 years ago, when it became

imperative that the growing number of settlers in the Kirikau and adjacent localities must have a better means of outlet than they had; but it was not till some years later, when the settlers agreed to be specially rated for a share of the cost, that any definite progress was made, though the importance of the undertaking was increasingly recognised. Apart from the direct benefits achieved, its completion is expected to have a big effect on the Wanganui River boat service. Already the houseboat, so well known to travellers, has been moved from the mouth of the Ohura River, 23 miles down, to Wade’s Landing at the mouth of the Retaruke River, about 29 miles. The Wanganui River Road from Taumarunui is open in good order to the Kirikau Landing, miles, while formation has been carried out to a distance of 26 miles, or three miles from the present site of the houseboat, which will undoubtedly be the future boat terminus. Travellers will have the choice of going overland from Raurimu direct, or via the Te Maire Bridge by the Wanganui River Road from Taumarunui in order to connect with the boat service.

Thus it will be seen that this bridge, which cost rather more than £8,500. is the natural outlet for a vast area of country lying south of the great waterway. The Kaitieke County Council was the only local body directly interested when the bridge was built. The work occupied twelve months. A DIFFICULT PROJECT

Another highly important bridge just finished is that over the Ongarue River at Taumarunui, on the route of the Stratford-Taumarunui Main Highway. This structure replaces a wornout wooden bridge built about 16 years ago, and is a decidedly handsome piece of work. The roadway is 18 feet, and the bridge comprises four spans of 50 feet each. In the absence of satisfactory tenders, the Ongarue Bridge was erected by the Public Works Department, at a cost of slightly over £B,OOO. Owing to the formation of the river bed, great difficulty was experienced with the excavation work for the piers and a great deal of woodwork was necessary to keep the coffer dams sufficiently dry to allow the work to proceed. Heavy floods also hampered progress, and the centre pier in particular gave a great deal of trouble, and caused the engineers many anxious moments.

With the completion of the Strat-ford-Taumarunui Main Highway, this Ongarue Bridge will become a very important link in the roading system of the central North Island. One noticeably good effect it will have is that by its use a number of dangerous level railway crossings on the main road to Auckland can be avoided. The increasingly large movements of stock that take place to the Taumarunui marketing centre makes this a very valuable feature. The Taumarunui Borough and Taumarunui County are sharing the cost of the bridge, with a proportional allowance from the Main Highways Board. This work occupied 15 months.