Much Work for Highway Blocked Carpenters by Floods

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 5

Much Work for Highway Blocked Carpenters by Floods

PREPARING BOXING FOR CONCRETE The shortage of skilled labou as wel as difficulties in securing adequate supplies of steel has had the effect of slowing up the progress of work on the "Whirokino project. At present the most urgent need is for carpenters. A large proportion of the 56 men at present employed fall into this category and more will be placed in work in the very near future. A number of the men engaged come from the neighbouring town of Foxton while others have been brought from further li field. The acute positio* l in regard to unemployment in the Foxton district, which is mainly attributable to the sorry stato of the flax industry, has been to some degree eased by the fact that the contractors have been able to find employment for about 20 labourers who would perhaps otherwise be compelled to seek assistance from the Employment Promotion fund. Representing the Public Works Department on the job is Mr. W. J. Jenkins, while Mr R. Davies is acting as foreman for the contractors, the Williamson Construction Company, of Christchurch.

of listening to speeches by those great historical figures of our country, Lord Ranfurly, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, the Hon. J. Carroll (afterwards “Sir 77 ), the Hon. J. G. Ward and others, each speaking in his own inimitable and ever-remembered style, Sir James Carroll’s poetical flow of Maori oratory being unique. Finally Lord Ranfurly declared the bridge open, and amidst more blowing of sirens and whistles, and loud cheers from the spectators, the Manawatu river was officially spanned and the Whirokino bridge at last ready for traffic. Thus happily ended one important episode in the history of the Msnawatu district

ANNOYING DELAYS AND DANGERS. To motorists who comprise in these modern days the majority of road users, blockage of the Whirokino road was no uncommon thing, and before the advent of the up-to-date road information service conducted by the Automobile Association, it was a most annoying experience to arrive at the Whirokino bridge aud behold nothing but a sea of yellow water where one felt a road should be. It was there all right but to negotiate au unfamiliar stretch of water covered highway with tho added peril of striking debris, was no enviable prospect especially when on occasions the icnce tops could not be seen. Under conditions such as these the more cautious individual preferred to detour through Shannon to risking a probable stranding of his vehicle, where it would be at the mercy of the flood. Many episodes humorous and otherwise, are told of the adventures of the more daring motorists who managed to get half way only to land in a hole that had been scoured in the surface. Other* ngain came on the water in the dark

and were caught unawares. Often the road would be completely blocked for as much as a week at a stretch. In the winter of 1930 it was closed 31 times in three months. With the aid of direction posts and water level indicators, cars would be able to traverse the flooded highway as the water began to recede. Shortly these posts will only be a reminder of the march of progress aud Whirokino floods will become a legend of the past. Motorists who previously were forced to undertake a detour through Shannon to reach the main road again at Foxton will be able to- travel in security over the trestle bridge aud embankment and the presence of flood water will occasion only passing notice.