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Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9745, 17 May 1899, Page 2

< Then a long reach called Mangapapa. Then Otahua rapid, and, with intervening; reaches of good water, Taurakawa, Kniwhaknuka, and Whakatara rapids. . About 104 miles the Retaruke River joins on the left bank. This is not navi- •• gablo, for canoes in the present lon water', but on a slight rise canoes go a ' C6ns4der£kbte way up it. Tile river banks and adjoining country \\d\6 been getting lower as wo have jfr.dce'eded up-river from near the TangaraKa'ii, , r A sliort .way aliove the junction of the ' Kejiaruke is Ma'Ho Mako rapid, and ther 3 fbae long reach called Waipahihi. . Th'drp l^ ii r kaii spring in this reach {■omtiig out of the papa face on the righ 1 hank,- a, few feet above summer level oJ ftio iriven • .- * • Then Mangaukauka, Otnhapa, Wai kukutea, Popanui, Mahoronui, Mangao hntu 1 , and' To- 'Hue rapids, with goot: «sa_e§ of water occurring betweer the_. ' ' ° '• " About" 108J miles, a native villagf called Tawhata on the left bank, with c

email rapid just above; and then Tanlimu and Ohuraiti rapids. Then a lonp reach called Ngatukuwaru, then Kahui- ' tara iapid, and then a good reach, witli Maraekowhai, an old native pa on the ' right bank; and at about 110 miles froir " " Wanganui the river Ohura joins on the . right bank. This river falls over a papa ledge about, - six feet high close to the Wanganui river. This fall is called Ratakura. Thereis a second fall 15 or 20 feet w height over a wido papa rock ledge a ' short way further up the Ohura. Thip fall is calledißeirigakokiri. -' In tile pf.Bs.ent low state of the river "theSe wate,rfails are Sonfined to narrow spaces in ihese ledges, .but when a moderate rise occurs the falls would cover-the wide ledges Stretching from bank tc " -<"The -natives sometimes haul their canfces over the low spur below the junction to above these falls, and can then go a long way up the Ohura in canoes. The portion of the river from the Tangarakau junction (84 miles from town) to* Kirikiriroa (98 mileß) is very favourable for improvement. 'Abovothis to the Ohura junction (110 ' miles) there will be more work, chiefly oh account of there being several broad, shallow runs. * These "are in general clear, but .will require rough etouo training walls in places to confiue the water SriU giVe hlorS deßth in the channels. 1 t ,.But for ih'o .whole flistanbe, from Tangirakau to .Omira, it may Be- remarked • ihatjtl\p. t elea_nn£ required. ,pf -timber, tjoukjera and;,roeks : nßt excessive, and generally f this 26 of rjiver is as flip'ab'ie of as tlie 26 miles elw^enjjjjnriiol diid Tangarakau. 'The rapids are riitiro numerous, there- ■ by involving more work, but are not in gonoral of more difficulty in their nature. In tho 26 miles between Pipiriki and Tan'garakau there are 37 rapids, while in p]icfo ar|t64 lapids^f more or less difficulty! uTh'e ,n'ume.rouff good reaches bejsyeen $he,rapids are m general clear and 'favourable.' -' , " There is slightly-more current in some of these reaches, or in parts of them, .than. exists in similar readies further .down the river, as here the general fall 'of the river is greater, accounting foi ' the greater number of rapids. Tne river 'banks are well defined with papa ro'k , f aces, promising periftnnency ,b the channels. , RWjwißf %os get Jdjrer^s w« gp.-u)),the. r},Ver, tiut. fob Kill pell dafuiodrnnd pjrptqctjiye.t The country ajjso^.ap jeara, to, get ,ganera^y , iower and more favourable for settlement. j ',J,Besideß its",,grbai o feq.tiire as. a- tourist youte,,thp v irapgrtance'of having the river ' gjeaied,. aiidi improved iup, to the Ohura •■ o^ beyond ib obvioiis in view of , the surveys, oi settlement blocks in tho. vicinity , of Rctaruko and the' adjacent country in •■the AVaimarino Block, to which the at■tention of the Trust has recently been 'drawn, by the Chief Surveyor; and also ' the importance' of roads > leading to the 'river from these settlement blocks; tiud thiß would equally apply to lands on the other or, right bank of the Wanganui, as for -a' long tlmO Yet tho river will be the easiest ffleaaai'wlien improved, of getting . Cargo to and frOril thiß quarter, and. while the tise! of.tho.TiVe'r wilt ndvor obviate ' ihß ne^ossity df go<sd Triads leading fxom ( ipe-. settlements t3, the railway' and to ' i_n centres} Jet itjairpfiable that for ■' WcomS all.)lj_^m lie a'ble to- , JB^undertak^n on thej.^nland roada and ■' ;__B-will"be the driving x r of stock and ' horse traffic. Even after tho roads are

constructed the river will, continue- its '. usefulness for general traffic. 1 ' During the year correspondence has " taken place between the River Trust and the Survey Department regarding the reserve belt of a mile wide along the river - bank of the Waimarino Block — as to how" {'if could, Be utilised in portions in conneci6tt wilfitfie SgttleiW fildcks" .lying indnd.frdm it, while" tit the a&me. time t>re- ' serving 'all the' f sreit r covered portions and the scenery along the river banks. tt \ Another , matter on which correspondence has taken place is the laying out of ' iEad.lines.cbmmunicating with the river - : ihvi&atloi^ frdnl _e_adj_e,nt settlement jldeKs' whorevSr. a favmlratfle liiie could ■ •be aotto^ the river banks; . j, 'jfhis opening up for'sottloment of. the , Wanganui River Trust Endowment block , of ",10,000 acres in the Waimarino Block has 'also been brought under the notice . of the same Department. i 'This endowment block lias been favour- ' ably reported upon as being- good for

grazing purposes. ■ , It is understood thatj theso several matters are undor consideration.

if •■have in connection with this report prepared a map showing the whole drain- , ago area of the Wanganui Kiver, with the rapids on the river and the principal lines of roads, etc.'-

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