WANGAEHU VALLEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 144, 19 June 1936, Page 6

WANGAEHU VALLEY

A BLOCKED HIGHWAY COUNTY MEMBERS INSPECT DIFFICULT TASK EVIDENT W hen the waters of the Wangaehu River were abnormally swelled early in February last several chains of the Wangaehu V alley Road, just above the Koukoupo Stream, were washed out. Rains later in the season caused still further damage, and the highway has not been open for vehicular traffic above Mount View station since. Iq fact, it is almost impossible to negotiate the road in this region even on foot. An inspection of the I iculity was made yesterday by the chairman and riding members of the Wanganui County Council, together with the county engineer (Mr K. R. Dawson). Those in the party were Mr Duncan Mackintosh (chairman of the county), Air T. Mitchell and Mr A. Collins (riding members) and the engineei. Mr D. Whyte, manager of Moun: View station, accompanied the parry over the damaged portion of the road. Steep papa faces, which invariably present difficulties to road engineering, line the Wangaehu River at the affected portion of the valley, and when yesterday’s inspection was made rhe current was above normal and was swirling determinedly below the washouts. Crossings were made over the slipped areas on foot,“and it was ncccssar,- to exercise extreme care. It is estimated that the task of' repairing the damaged road wi'l Involve an expenditure of round about £3OOO, perhaps more. Further slips have occurred since that estima'e was made. The road is a highway and links the coastal regions with the Karioi Plains, Tokaanu, and the central portion of the island. The fact that it is closed is of distinct handicap to -settlers below and just immediately above the damaged portion. When this road was open it greatly facilitated county supervision, in that it was possible to make a round trip via, the Wangaehu Valley, over Fields’ Track, and down the Parapara, Reopening, in the light of piesent circumstances, presents something of a problem, particularly in view of the fact that the affected area is at the toe of what looks to be a w'de sweep of moving papa. If a road was put through the cost of maintaining it would be extremely exces c ivfl. When the original survey took place with a view to forming a through highway, some suggestion was made that the Wangaehu River be bridged fct, or beyond, Purgatory Point, but the fact that the opposite side of the river was native land, and that untold trouble lay in the wav ”f e.nv who sought to transfer the title, ”esulted in the idea being abandoned in favour of the apparently much easie- task of following the shady side of th* river /and forming a road whi.jh has now slipped out of existence. leaving a roaring current beneatn and an almost sheer face of papa cliff, 200 to 300 feet high, above.