IMPORTANT ROAD LINK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 286, 4 December 1933, Page 8

IMPORTANT ROAD LINK

RUAPIRAU STREAM BRIDGE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY PERFORMED TRIBAL CUSTOMS OF THE PAST REVIVED Past and present were happily intermingled in a scene 32 miles up the Wanganui River Road on Saturday, when the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. Bitehener), on behalf of the Government, officially declared open the Ruapirau stream bridge. Maori custom, handed down from the days of the Big < 'anoe and reminiscent of the tribal activitiy along the river long before the coming of the pakeha. contrasted with the more formal methods known to British tradition to mark an occasion of significant importance to the river settlements, the City of Wanganui, and the great hinterland on the lower King Country. Within a few yards of where dead warriors lay hundreds of years ago, and close to the graves of others, famous in their day. a representative of the Government of 1933 opened an important structure to the accompaniment of tribal ceremony that was better known to those whose bones lay underfoot. The bridge connects the Wanganui River Road at a point where, hitherto, a “bridle” swing bridge did duty, and its presence marks another big step towards the completion of a round trip from Wanganui, via Pipiriki and Raetihi, back to Wanganui again, via the Parapara or Wangaehu Valley Roads. A three-year programme io completely metal the River Road, from Wanganui to Pipiriki, was put in hand by the Government. That programme will be terminated next metalling season. A surprising area of land of fertile productivity lies beyond the Ruapirau bridge, and the Minister was afforded an opportunity’ on Saturday of seeing the class of country that will be tapped by the Wanganui River Road.

THE MINISTER WELCOMED CHARACTERISTIC SPEECHES MADE. IMPORTANCE OF THE ROAD. ‘’Never in my life have I been accorded such. a welcome as this,” Mr. Diicbencr said when the spirited Maori hakas had linished and the quaintly worded speeches of welcome had been said. The Minister was accompanied by Mr, Duncan Mackintosh, chairman uf the Wanganui County Council, the Mayor Ox Wanganui (Mr. N. G. Armstrong), Mr. Alex. Stuart, M.P. for Rangitikri, and Mr. P. Keller, District Public Works Engineer, Stratford, and engineer to the No. 8 Highways GA>up. All the local bodies interested were represented. In addition to the chairman the following members of the Wanganui County Council were present: Crs. W. Craig, A. Rice, D. McGregor, A. Collins, J. Todd, J. J. Lis sette, J. Marumaiu, T. Mitehell, the engineer (Mr. Ji. R. Dawson), aud the • lerk (Mr. G. Darbybhire). Mr. W. Morrison, chairman of the Waitotara County Council, represented the Highways Boaid, and was accompanied by Cr. T. Alexander and Mr. T. 1’ , clerk - engineer of the Waitotara ec y. The

Waimarino County Council was represented by the chairman (Mr. C. Bally, Cr. L. Duigan. the engineer (Mr. H. ].. Hogg', and the clerk (Mr. A. E. Mabbott), Messrs. A. E. Rankin (vicepresident) and W. J. Gilberd represented the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, Messrs. D. Dustin (chairman) and Tancrcd Cooper (secretary) the Wanganui and District Development League: Mr. F. Allen (chairman;, Mr. Gregor McGregor, Mr. T. W. Downes i supervisor) and Mr. W. Brown (secretary), the Wanganui River Trust. Dr. K. E. Porritt vice-president) represented the Wanganui Automobile Association. Mr. J. D. Crowley (chairman of the Works Committee; the Wanganui City Council and Mr. 8. A. R. Mair (engineer) the Rangitikei County Council. Mr. Ron. Hatrick, managingdirector of the Wanganui River Services was present. Settlers all along the river, a number of city folk ana practically every Maori resident of the v alley completed the gathering. Uncertainty in the weather that was evident early in the morning gave place to a fine afternoon, the heat of which was lessened by a fairly strong easterly breeze. The Minister, who arlived in Wanganui on Friday night, motored to the scene of the celebrations, arriving shortly after 11 a.rn. A band of warriors, stripped to the waist, and led by chief Tanginoa Tapa, greeted Mr. Bitehener in traditional Maori fashion. As the official party walked slowly down the road leading to ine Hat just before the stream, the braves started their haka. Spears were brandished, and with facial expressions of the past that lent reality to the strident cries, the native welcomers performed their task well. The Minister and party' were escorted to a specially prepared shelter and were seated. In the ring which formed, another haka was given as a prelude to the characteristically worded speeches of welcome. Native Welcome. “To the Minister of Public Works, welcome, welcome, welcome,’’ said Chief Parete Wereta, speaking in Maori, which was interpreted by Mr. Takarangi. “We deeply appreciate the \ isit of the Minister and of the representatives of local bodies. Their presence here to-day is to declare open a long felt want, the last link on the :oad—the Ruapirau bridge.” Continuing, the speaker said that the completion of the bridge opened up a great future for the district and would bring a mutual benefit to all settlers on the river. The Government had been slow in putting roads through native lands, but he supposed that other matters of importance had to be attended to. For many years the river had been plied by the River Service steamers, but a road to day was necessary to get the produce out and to promote doser settlement. The speaker hoped that what the Government was doing would never cause the Maori to be banished from tile river, but that the Maori would be helped to maintain his hapus (tribes) along the river valley and that be would be assisted in seeing that his pa-tunas (eel baskets) were not destroyed in the river channel. “I pray you that the Government does not press too hard on the Maori for rates,” concluded Mr. Wereta. “Kia ora. kia ora. kia ora to the Minister of Public Works! ”

Mr. J. Marumaru, a member of the Wanganui County Council, after addressing a few words to the Maoris in their native tongue, said that it gave him great pleasure to welcome the Minister, Mr. Duncan Mackintosh ( chairman) and the members of the Wanganui County Council, Air. Alex Stuart, the Mayor and members of other local bodies. No event of greater importance on the river had occurred since Aft. Egmont had ploughed its lonely furrow, than the opening of the Ruapirau bridge. The Maoris had accorded the visitors welcome by hakas. a way which had been customary since time immemorial, so that the Minister would see that the old traditions of the race still lived, though in a subdued manner. Although the Ruapirau was an important bridge there were others on the road which had yet to be made permanent. The Minister would have an opportunity later of seeing some of the road further on, and Mr. Marumaru hoped that, with the assistance of Air. Stuait and Air. Veitch, he would he instrumental in having a main highway created to Pipiriki.

European Welcome. Air. Marumaru’s speech concluded, the native portion of the welcome. Air. Mackintosh thereupon formally' extended a welcome to the Minister on behalf of the county, and called upon Mr. Gregor McGregor, one of the oldest European settlers on the river and sn ex-councillor, to speak. Air. AJcGregur said that the opening of the bridge was an event which the river people had waited 23 years for. They' all realised, of course, that the Government had many other matters to attend to. and that the river road had had to take its proper place in the order of things. On the whole, the river people had been well treated. It was unfortunate, perhaps, but the speeding up of the work on the road jn recent months had been largely because of relief work labour. The road was a most important one from Wanganui’s point of view in that it would bring a great deal of foreign capital to the city and would give a fillip to settlement on the river. A scheme was in progress whereby the natives could

break the land in and farm it. That would mean further increase in the volume of production to come through the city. Mr. McGregor paid tribute to the late Air. Alexander Hatrick, who had established the river services. Though people had grumbled about freight m the past, perhaps were inclined to grumble still, the speaker felt that all would take off their hats to Mr. Hatrick. But for him there would never have been the development there was on the river. “I hope that yuu will not be a bird like the white heron, a bird of one passage,” said Mr. McGregor in. conclusion, addressing the Alinister, “but 1 sincerely trust you v.ill fly frequently. We are all very grateful for what you are doing for the district to-day.

Mr. Alex. Stuart also spoke, saying that it was with a geral deal of pleasure that he welcomed the Alinister of L üblic Works on his first visit to the Rangitikei electorate. The speaker realised the importance of the river road and would do all he couldt to help it along. He defended the actions of the Government against some of the criticism levelled at it. Rev. Father Dy nan, Jerusalem, appeal to the Minister to see that the road further on was pushed ahead. He hoped that the department would (hange its opinion aud gu right ahead with the portion that linked Kanana with Jerusalem. The lorries and material were no»v on the ground and it would be better to carry on than go to the extra expense of bringing the gear and material in afresh. The speaker was certain that it would repay all concerned if the Mangoibi bridge was made safe for heavy traffic. Mr. Aimstrong said that the people of Wanganui city were very interested in the road. It would not only open up back country, but would undoubtedly be the finest scenic route in the island. The Minister’s Speech. “Words almost fail me in expressing gratitude lor the wonderful welcome you have given me,” said the Minister. “I will never forget it as Jong as life lasts. I feel to-day at home amongst friends and do not feel a stranger on the Wanganui River, though it is my first visit. The idea at the back of my mind in coming up her? was to see your requirements in loading and bridging. 1 am pleased to know that one of your own race is a member of the County Council. I have listened very attentively to your requests and I will do what little I can

io give you what other people enjoy, ’unfortunately, there is not much money at my disposal. All over New Zea land I fiud there are requests the same as yours, and my difficulty is to ap portion the money I have at my dis posal. I have Jived in the back blocks the greater portion of my life and appreciate your difficulties. It will be my earnest endeavour to do what I can to better your facilities if that is al ail possible. The roading porgramme on the river road was a three-year programme. It is now entering its second year and nothing will be lacking on my part to have in completed within the time specified, this year or next.” (Applause.) THE OPENING CEREMONY RUB EON NEATLY CUT. PUNGA FERNS IN EVIDENCE. Those present moved to the bridge itself, but a few yards further uu from the “maiae. ” A ribbon, blue in. honour or Wanganui, was tied across the centre. Beyond it stood a party of braves in full regalia. As the Alinister approached a. further haka, signifying jollification, was given. The bridge itself swayed under the thundeimg i’eot. “It gives me great pleasure to declare this bridge open to the public,” said the Minister, accepting from Air. Alackintosh a presentation of a pair of scissors with which to cut the ribbon. “In doing so I would like to say something for the Public Works Department. They are a body that is maligned from one end of the country to the other. After 25 to 30 years of local body work I have nothing but admiration for that department. It might be that some of the work it has done is before its time, hut as time goes on this country will thank more and more the Public Works Department for work well done.

“1 have read quite a Jut about this bridge and the design of it, and I must compliment the district on possessing it,” the Alinister added. “What I am wondering is how you people ever crossed this chasm before.” The ribbon was cut and there set in a big rush for pieces of it which were distributed and worn as a mark of respect to the occasion. Natives erected punga fems over the bridge approaches. THE BRIDGE DESCRIBED STEEL SUSPENSION TYPE. The Kuapiiau bridge spans the last stream, that was not provided either with a permanent or temporary bridge. It is 122 feet in length and is a steel suspension design, costing £lBOO. Il crosses the stream at a height of GO feet and will accommodate one-way traffic.

The work of building the bridge was begun in January of this year, but owing to unforeseen circumstances, its completion has been somewhat protracted. The bridge is 32 miles from Wanganui and I/i miles from Pipiriki, and its completion will be of importance to the eity and the township, in addition to the 20 pakeha settlers and the numerous Maori settlements n the river banks. THE COUNTRY BEYOND RIVER ROAD’S OBJECTIVE. DEVELOPMENTAL WORK. After opening the Ruapirau stream Bridge on Saturday the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. Bitehener) was motored several miles further on for the purpose of seeing the type of country that will be tapped by the River Road.

Following the easy graded, but twisty road the party reached a point overlooking Banana. and then turned inland and upwards towards the homestead on the Morikau farm, owned by the Aotea District Maori Land Board. Ascending to a high point above the Morikau woolshed, the Alinister and visitors we r e able to look down on Jerusalem, nestling in a pretty bend of the river, and to see the expanse of fertile land that stretches away towards the centre of the island, all of it sloping nicely towards the sun. Few in the party had any idea that such good country lay inland from the river. Sharply defined ridges had given place to sloping hills admirably suitable for either sheep or dairying.

Air. R. B. Dawson, engineer to the Wanganui County Council. Mr. J. Marumaru and Mr. Gregor McGregor, pointed out the various landmarks to the Minister and indicated the tract of land which has heen embraced by the special developmental scheme, launched under the direction of the Alinister for Native Affairs. Sir Apirana Ngata. The land is divided into small areas and Maoris are encouraged to develop and farm it. An example of the class of country as it was before the developmental work began was shown the visitors. On the opposite side of the fence was property that had b® en broken in. The contrast was striking in the extreme. On the one ham gorse, blackberry, fern and scrub: on the other a ploughed field and. beyond, paddocks* of waving rye almost ready for the reaper. Shearing was in progress at Morikau when the visitors arrived and a short stav was made on the board at the woolshed. Later, those present were entertained at the homestead, by Mr and Mrs Davidson (manager) to afternoon tea. It was an ideal setting oo a summer’s afternoon. High up in the freshness of a breeze that did not stir greatly in the valley below, looking out over the furrow Taranaki had carved on his flight to the sea. everybody' was aware of the magnitude of the" hinterland. Blue hills, broken every here and there with the blue grey of papa slips, reminded someone of the Corinth of Greece. Nearer at. hand lav thousands of acres of fine dairying land. After viewing the scene everybody appreciated moie fully- just what lies behind the zev.l of those who are striving to get. the River Road to enjoy the privileges of a No. 1 highway. There might he a little selfishness on the part of some, if anxiety to get a road to a homestead in the bush can he called selfishness, but underlying the whole thing is a concrete desire to bring nearer the world’s markets a tratt of country that has already begun its prod tie-

live duty. The Native Land Board is looking for a fresh tract of that same land to bring it within the developmental scheme. "FATTED CALF KILLED GUESTS AT LUNCHEON i TOAST LIST HONOURED. I FOOD COOKED IN HANGIS-’ Twenty geese, six porkers, and six lambs were killed in place of the fatted calf to mark the jollification of the river settlements at the opening of the Ruapirau Bridge. After the Ministeri had performed the ceremony of cutting the ribbon he was entertained to luncheon, w'hich was really a first class dinner, cooked, Alaori fashion, in the hangis (ovens in the ground). A neat menu card, hand drawn by Mr. T. AV. /Downes, guided the guests to an appreciation of what, was best on the feast list. This was worded in Alaori and English and read as follows: — Aliua Kai. (Shape of Food.) Kau tunu —cold roast beef. Kau tote —corned beef. Kuao hipi—lamb (cooked in hangi). Kuao poaka—sucking pig (cooked in hangi). Kuihi—goose (cooked in hangi . Patera —duck. Pekana—bacon. Taewa—potatoes. Kumara. Kore papaoa—cauliflower. Pi—peas (green). Purini—pudding. Ti—tea. Kawhe—coffee. Wai reka nui o aru—soft drinks ad lib. In addition there were strawberries and cream, fruit salad, aud jellies.

Great interest was taken iu the opening of the ovens and surprise showed on many faces at the tenderness of the cooked meat. Air. Mackintosh presided at luncheon. Following the loyal toast Air. Marumaru proposed the toast of Parliament. Those who knew the river of th e past 40 years, he said, marvelled at the phenomenal snail’s pace at which the road had climbed Gentle Annie and reached Banana. The speaker hoped that the Minister’s visit would impress him with the needs of the district. A great deal of the credit for the road was due to the unemployed. “L don’t know what sort of highway the Minister thinks the road ought to be. but I think it should be a No. 1.” Air. Marumaru concluded. (Laughter). The Alinister. in his reply, said that he was quite prepared to assist Mr. Marumaru to have the road made a No. 1 Highway, right at once. He was reminded, however, by the presence of Mr. W. Alorrison, that the assistance of the Highways Board would be necessary in that direction. Air. Bitehener said again that h e knew the difficulties the back country people were faced with, and that it was in the interests

of the country to give them road access and enable them to get their produce out so that they might live happily on their farms. Never before in the history of New Zealand were so many men at work on metalling as there were at the present time. ( Applause). When the present depression was over the country would have a lot to thank the unemployed for. He knew that some people believed that the unemployed did not work, simply because a few were of that type. Mr. Alex Stuart also replied to the toast of “Parliament,” stressing the task and tne smallness of some of its difficult nature of the Government’s critics. “When we look round and see the type of men to which Messrs. Alackintosh, Alorrison, Dix and Dawson belong. we realise the importance of the county councils in the Government of New Zealand.” said Dr. E. E. Porritt, representing the Automobile Association. proposing the toast of “Local Bodies.” The county councils were equal to the cities iu status, he said. One could imagine how much easier the task of local bodies would have been had the Government not. found it necessary to raid the highways fund. Mr. W. Alorrison. a member of the Highways Board, and chairman of the Waitotara County Council, replied. He spoke of the necessity for amalgamation of local bodies where such could be proved to be financially sound, and said a commission was to make enquiries. Regarding the declaration of the River Road as a No. .1 Highway, he reminded the gathering that the Minister notwithstanding the Highways Board, had the final say. Mr. N. G. Armstrong (Mayor of Wanganui), replying to the toast of “Local Bodies,” congratulated the. countryside on possessing the river road, an important link of which had just been completed. The toast of “Settlers on the River” was proposed by Mr. J. D. Crowley, chairman of the Works Committee of the Wanganui City Council, and was replied to by Messrs. A. *l. Duthie, .1. J. Lissette and Tanginoa Tapa. “Those who do not live in the backblocks cannot realise what a boon this road is.” said Mr. Duthie. Mr. Lissette expressed thanks to all who has assisted to make the gather-

ing that day a success. It had been left to Cr. Marumaru and himself to arrange and he had found the Maoris willing to help in every way they could. Ho could not find words to adequately thank the settlers all along the river for the way they had answered the appeal to assist. The strawberries partaken of at luncheon had been picked by the wahines of Parikino at. 4 o’clock that morning, work that testified to their keenness. “A lot that has been said about the Wanganui River Road tapping useless country is all nonsense,” Mr. Lissette added. ’•'There is a whole lot of good country. I have travelled fairly widely find I can honestly say that there is no country to equal some that the Minister will see this afternoon. Apart, from that aspect, which, is the most important, of course, the River Road will be the finest scenic route in the world.” Mr. Tanginoa Tapa, in characteristic vein, thanked those who had co-oper-ated with him to make the gathering a success and associated himself with the •r. Marumaru and those anxious 10 have the road declared a main highway. He stressed the fact that many natives were out of work and would bo glad to see full activity along the jiver. He thanked the Aotea Land Board, who was represented by Mr. I. M. Lawless, for its interest in the nat.i ves. A toast in honour of the Maori race, proposed by Mr. Stewart and honoured with great, enthusiasm, concluded the luncheon gathering.