WANGANUI RIVER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20043, 30 March 1914, Page 2

WANGANUI RIVER.

THE TRUST'S VOYAGE OF INVES-

TIGATION

Mr. T. D. Cufnmins gave a reporter some interesting information about the trip which the members of the River Trust made up the river last week. Leaving town on the 22nd, the water and weather conditions continued very fair all through for the inspection. On arrival at Pipiriki the-river was found to be 31 inches below the zero mark on Hatrick's Mark. Up to Pipiriki the channel was in a fairly good condition, but a few places were noted that will require attention during the next working season. A start was made early on Monday morning in the fast launch, the oil-driven Wairua. This little boat, which is equipped with a. 70-horse-power Thorneycroft engine, is the most powerful craft on the river, and for negotiating the rapids is a very great improvement on anything the Trust had previously inspected upon. The most difficult rapids were got over by this fine boat without resort having to bo made to the cumbrous methods of poling and wire-rope haulage. .So remarkable did the Trust think the Wairua's perform- ' ances that Mr Veitch remarked on one occasion that he believed she I could set up a ladder. The house- ! boat was reached on Monday night, j after an exceptionally speedy river trip. Careful ir>"r,^t^ n « was m aae at I several places between PipirlkT and tho Houseboat, where walls have to ; be repaired and new works carried ! out. The principal damage caused j since last inspection has been to the shingle walls, the wire netting on which has been ripped away in many places by tho snaes brought down ! in flood times. The stone walls were found to be much more permanent structures than those made of netted shingle, and to have withstood the floods better. In fact the vol- ', ume of water that comes down the river in flood time has had no effect whatever on the effectiveness of the j stone structures. A complete transformation has been made at Tarepokeore, which had always been a men • ace to navigation, more especially in flood time. Last year the Trust had attacked this danger spot in earnest, and now had the satisfaction of knowing that the channel at this point has been rendered absolutely safe at all conditions of the river. The cliffs, which here tower above the river to a height of 70 feet, have been cut back 32 feet for"a good depth below normat river level, and as a result of the improvements the dangerous whirlpool has now completely disappeared. This work has proved very costly indeed: so mucu so that the work ate up by far the major portion of the Board's revenue for last year. The Trust expressed j themselves as very satisfied with the ' works carried out, and can now rest! assured that navigation at this erst- ! while dangerous point is safe at an times.

The Houseboat was left on 'jLiießday and the party proceeded to Kokokonui, where they changed into the Wai-itl, a smaller "boat Than the Wairua. This little boat also made b'Kht or the rapids and went right uji to Taumarunui without the aid of the winches 'or ropes, and it was very seldom that the poles had to be "got out at the rapids. Taumarunui way reached that nlsht. and all the -way up the general conditions of the river were found to be satisfactory. As Uiwer down, the shingle walls had been very badly damaged in places through the snags ripphrgr the netting, and a good deal of repairing will oe necessary. Two gangs of, men are at present engaged on this" worlt. To meet the demands of growing

settlement excellent cargo landings have ueen erected by the Trust at Wade's Landing, and at Retaruke, both of which were being availed of to a large extent by tTie settlers on the left bank of the river, who havu access to it from their sections by. the Government roads that meet it at these points. Sites for wharves were also inspected at Manga-o-ohut,u, and at Otu-iti, and these will be erected next working season, as by "them the Government roads to these points on tho river, win be completed. it 's also probable that a landing will also be erected at Mangatiti, just ab.^ve Paranui-

. The Trust has always had trouble with tne shingle which is brought down by tho Ongarue and Wanganui Rivera, and bjtjlow the coullux the steamers are continually grating ..n the bottom when the water is Ijw. Tt Is well known that during tho flood season tiie shingle is always moving and thousands ol tons must be annually deposited in the Wanganui by its upper branches. As tins i:..::.i0; down when the river in in llco-1, v is deposited in the wider stretches and there form banks, dangerous :in-.i inconvenient to navigation. It is hoped, that wlieu the Trusts new .steel laun<:n is placed in commission that it will be able to be profitably uiliised In removing the shingle" from the channel where the water is not confiner! bj walls or groynes.