RIVER IMPROVEMENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 1939, Page 4

RIVER IMPROVEMENTS

PROGRESS WITH WAIPOUA WORK. SCHEME OF SOME MAGNITUDE. The magnitude of the river improvement work now being carried out by the Masterton Borough Council in respect to the Waipoua River is apparent to those who pay a visit to the Horse Paddock of the Masterton Park. Gangs of men, with shovels, horses and drays are engaged in excavating and filling work and the cut for the new river-bed is now taking shape. Although a fair amount of excavation has still to be carried out, the new course is quite apparent and gives an impressive idea of the vast improvement which is being effected. Half a dozen or so sharp bends in the river have been eliminated and a practically straight course provided from the Northern Approach bridges to the Colombo Road Bridge. The scheme is one to safeguard the town from flooding and substantial stopbanks have been erected on either side of the new bed. It will probably be two or three months before the task is completed, as in addition to further excavation, a stopbank has to be constructed along the eastern side of Colombo Road to prevent flooding from downstream, a new suspension bridge has to be constructed across the river to give access for pedestrians to the hospital and the river has to be turned into its new course.

The piers for the suspension bridge, which is much larger than the .existing structure, have been in place for some 'time and it is hoped to put in the anchors this week. A considerable amount of work has still to be done with the bridge, which is not likely to be finished before two or three months.

Once the river work is completed other important proposals for the beautification of the area will probably be proceeded with under the direction of the Masterton Beautifying Society. One project is for the lay-ing-out of a centennial memorial walk, planted in trees representative of different parts of the British Empire, while there are several other smaller schemes dealing with other portions of the Park area. There is no doubt that the river bank in this region will in time be one of the beauty spots of the town.