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February 9, 2016 February 2016, Regular Features No Comments

A brake loaded with wool for export fording a river.

A brake loaded with wool for export fording a river.

Wairarapa on the move

By 1873 good progress was being made in establishing a working society with boards formed for providing roading, local amenities, schools and churches. By 1874 every settlement large or small had it’s own school, Maroa, Kaiwaiwai, South Featherston, Tauherenikau, Tuitarata, Wharekaka, Pirinoa to name a few. Wharekaka’s was held in the Presbyterian Church, with a tender for a purpose built school being let in 1875.

A library service had been set up with six book depots; Wharekaka, Featherston, Greytown’ Pirinoa, Whatarangi and Kaiwaiwai.

The new bridge at Waihenga led to new roads being established and improvement of old tracks such as through W Smith’s property over a ferry to ‘Bidwill’s high ground’ – Bidwill’s Cutting – or through Huangrua station and across a ford at Morrison’s Bush to Moiki , either thence to Maroa and Greytown. There was no direct road to Featherston. A new road was also formed to the Waihenga bridge alongside Waihenga township. And a start was made on a railway line from Featherston to Wellington.

In 1874 a contract was let to form a bridle track from Wharekaka to the East Coast. Numerous other contracts were let for forming roads, providing metal, building small bridges and wooden culverts, drains and cuttings. Drains provided headaches for the Board, where to put the gathered water? Not just dump it on the next property.

Often just completed works were taken away by storm driven heavy rain and floods. A particularly heave deluge in 1874 washed away roads, cuttings, small bridges and culverts in and around Waihenga township. This flood brought up to three feet deep water rushing down Greytown’s main street.

The improvement in the roads resulted in Mr W Hastwell being able to travel from Greytown to Wellington and in one day – this by light coach.

Wire fences were taking over from Post and rail fences. These were hard to see in the dark and so caused many night time accidents. They also caused problems for Boards when the settlers erected them across roads or tracks.

Calls were being made for an improved telegraph and postal services, this resulted in a new direct line being erected from Masterton to Napier, previously telegraphs had to be routed through Wellington. The old line was kept for Wairarapa’s use, which was good for spreading local news or summoning held in the case of accidents. However there was still no link to Waihenga, Greytown was the nearest telegraph station.

Mate Higginson

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