OPENING UP THE WHANGAMOMONA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 285, 3 December 1901, Page 2

OPENING UP THE WHANGAMOMONA.

While the construction of the Stratford -Whaugamomona railway » proceeding very leisurely, fiom this side, our Whaugamomona friends, we learn from the Chronicle, are losing no time in opening up this important district via the Wanganui and Tangarakau riven. At a meeting of the Biver Trust Board held at Wangtnui on Wednesday, it was stated that the expenditure for the past year on plant, wagts, etc., all in connection with river improvements, had been £1744 8s 6d. In additioo 10 tlis fli" chairman reported that wuu . in Wellington recently he was questioned by the Hon. Mir Duncui as to how far the Tangarakau was improvable above Futiki-tuna. He was then not in a position to advite the Minister, and on his re urn to Wangtnui he deemed it his duty to go up t,ne river aid inspect. He had prepared a report for presentation to the last meeting of the Trust, but that meeting had lapsed for want of a quorum. The report was as follows : -" I vi-ited the Tangarakau on the 27tb, and the following morning, in conapany wth Cptaia Mar-ibnll, proceeded by canoe tp Kotutahi. Captain Marshall has two punts and crews (not fully manned) working about one and a half miles from Futikituna ; the river here is eas\er to clear than in the lower reaches. Captain Marshall expects to reach Futiki-tuna about Christmas; there will then be some work to complete, such as removing a few snags that have appeared through scouting on some of the bare. Several papa bars and reefs will have to be disp sed of *o improve the channel for low river, and it> is anticipated that this work will tike quite a month to accomplish. From Futiki-tuna to Korutahi the distance is estimated at about three miles. With the exception of a heavy block of timber below the Futiki-tuna creek, this portion of the Tangarakau is tbe best water and least costly to clear fran the mouth upwards, the tall being very slight; indeed in several long reaches tbe movement in the water is hardly perceptible. The obstructions are easy of removal, and when completed it will be certainly the best pari; of the stream. On the I return jouney wemetHatrirkandCom- | pany's (launch Wai-Iti at Futiki-tuna. I I was informed by Oap'ain Marshall that the launch bad run without interI ruption since tbe inception of the serI vice to his camp, and frequently when 1 the water was good to Futiki-tuna over j the uncleared portion. From the foreman's report with this you will note that he does not expect to finish tbe Tangir&kau till January, and that the cost from November Ist will be for labour about £3OO. He estimates tbat it will take two pun's and crews three months to clear from Putiki-tuoa to Korutahi, the probable cost being £3OO During the eary part of the month a freshefcdepisitel a considerable qiantity of timber in the channel out of Feao creek. Messrs Hatrick and Company gave the use of their launch of ccst, to tbe Trust, and the timber has been removed. I may Bay tbat the free use of the Wai-iti saved the Trust both time and money. Captain Marshall suggests that, a set of hirrows should be cotistruc'ed to assist the clearance of the papa bars and re?fs. He proposes th*t these should be dragged backwards and forwards over the birs by winches on the punts moored above and b <low tbe bars. The suggestion seems a feasible one, and the cost of clearance is anticipated to bn less than by ciowbars, dynamic, etc." The chairman added that he bad, on his return received a wire from Mr 0. W. Hursthous*, E. 8., as follows: " With £24o.und<r agreement of 23rd, how far above Putiki- 1 una can yt»u o'ear Tangarakau Biver?" He had replied on the lines of the above report, indicating that the £240 would not permit ol any material extension above Puiki tuna, end applying for a grant of £SOO He had received a reply from the Minister, dated 14th September, a'ating that the application wouH be considered in preparing the Estimates, However, the amount was not put on tbe and he again communicated wi'h the Minister, from whom he had received tbe following satisfactory rep'y, per tbe Chief Engineer of Roads —" In reply I am to inform you that although for cogent, reasons tbe amount provided in the Estimate is small,it is intended to carry on the work of snagging and cl-aring the river to Komtahi, if possible without interruption."