ACCESS TO WAITANGI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21639, 3 November 1933, Page 10

ACCESS TO WAITANGI

PROGRESS WITH THE WORK BRIDGE SPANNING RIVER ROADS ON THE ESTATE [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] K AIK OHIO, Thursday The Public Works Department is making every effort to provide suitable access to the Waitangi Estate and to have the work on the old residency finished in time for the celebrations to take place on the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 0. Two scoria quarries are being used to obtain metal for the road, and by the end of this week about three miles will have been laid. The culverts have been repaired throughout, but there are two bridges which were erected about 50 years ago that are ieeling the strain of the extra traffic that lias been over them lately carting material to the bridge site at T'i Point. There has been some controversy over the bridge site. Some of those interested wanted the bridge across the entrance of the Waitangi inlet at Ti Point., and others thought it should be above the falls, so as not to block the waterway. Instructions were issued to the Public Works Department! about four weeks ago to erect a bridge across the mouth of the river. About 20 men are at present engaged in the erection of (he bridge, and they are working long hours to push the work ahead. The road approach on the Paihia side is also under way, the road going about two chains from the beach and across the Maori reserve round the Treaty House and on to the bridge approach. On the estate itself the Public Works Department has graders, scoops, ploughs and a tractor at work putting in the roads needed, and there will be drives to all places of interest. The work of renewing and renovating the old residency is proceeding fast.