P.W. Centred On Pakaraka-Paihia Road

Northern Advocate, 8 July 1939, Page 6

P.W. Centred On PakarakaPaihia Road

(Special to “Northern Advocate”} RUSSELL, This Day. Great activity is taking place in Bay of Islands Public Works circles. The moving of men and their homes from the various camps round the “Bay” to a central point on the Pakaraka-Paihia main highway has proved no small undertaking, but all has boon accomplished without mishap. Firstly, the frameworks of 1C huts, which have been lying on the Whangarei-Russell highway roadside for the past 12 months, had to be transported back to the Waiiangi side. These, and all the necessary equipment, beds, tables, etc., had to be lorried to the water’s edge at French-

man’s Swamp, some six miles from Russell.

From there (hey were conveyed by barge to Waitangf and unloaded.

Removed by Barge

A large number of lints and other equipment had also to bo brought up from the largo camp at the Rawhiti, and all, including the social hall, had also to be barged, the whole process taking the best part of a week. The new camp will bo located about three miles from Paihia, and it is expected that well over 100 men will be accommodated there. The road between Paihia and Puketona has been surveyed and the now road, which will be tar-sealed from Pakaraka to Paihia, will be considerably shorter and much straighter. Many of the

now dangerous bends and steep hills will be eliminated eventually.

Tar-sealed by February

Work on the new road construction is expected to commence immediately, as the finished article lias to bo ready for the Centennial celebrations to be held at Waitahgi in February. With the removal of workmen from both the Rawhiti and Tutumatai ends of that new road, only two gangs are left Lo carry on The removal of the 16 huts and equipment from the Russell-Whangarei highway means that for the time being, at least, the chances of the construction of the greatly needed shortcut road from Russell, through Waikare lo Kawakawa, are decidedly remote.