Bridge to Nowhere

The ill-fated Mangapurua Settlement, is a book by Arthur P. Bates, that traces the story of settlement of the Mangapurua Valley. This was opened by a Government scheme in 1919 to provide land for farming for returned soldiers.

A timber swing bridge for horse traffic was erected in 1919 connecting the isolated valley with a steamer jetty on the Whanganui River. The concrete bridge was built in 1936 following many years of agitation by settlers for improved vehicle access. It was designed by the Public Works Department and built by private contractors Sandford and Brown of Raetihi.

But the splendid new bridge was used for only six years as the soil of the valley was not fertile enough for farming and the last settlers walked off their land in 1942, a personal tragedy for the families who had endured 20 years of hardship for no gain. These days the bridge is a tourist attraction on the Whanganui river and is nationally known.

The Friends of the Whanganui River have recently reprinted the book, and it is available for $40.