[Swainson, William] 1789-1855 :Road round the second gorge, entering the upper valley of the Hutt. [1849?]
By: William John, 1789-1855 Swainson (as the artist)
When: 1844
Format: 1 drawing(s).; Pencil sketch, 98 x 160 mm.; Single art work.
Description: Looking along the Hutt River with a high narrow track skirting the steep hills on the right. Several figures are on the track
Subjects: Roads – New Zealand – Wellington Region ; Hutt Valley ; Hutt River ; Upper Hutt City ; 1844-1850 ; Pencil works
ID: A-024-002
from web site http://find.natlib.govt.nz/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?ct=display&doc=nlnz_tapuhi544081&indx=37&dscnt=0&fn=search&ct=Next Page&vid=TF&vl(D31185043UI0)=sub&indx=31&vl(freeText0)= Hutt River&vl(35124698UI1)=all_items&vl(1UI0)=exact&tab=default_tab&dstmp=1324152873326&mode=Basic&scp.scps=scope%3A(Timeframes) accessed 18 Dec 2011

Hutt City Library Online Database
Main Title: Taita Gorge
Imprint: 1888
Notes: 183
Indexes: E9
Language: English
Subject: Hutt River
Heritage resources
– photo in scrapbook attached to AA Taita Gorge (RIN 1336)

Hutt City Library Online Database
Main Title: Taita Gorge
Imprint: 1981
Notes: Indexes: E16
Summary: After three years work the alterations to the Taita Gorge are all but complete. The four stage project has involved widening the narrow carriageway by cutting into the hill on the eastern side and building crib walls on the river side, and using the fill from the hill to raise the road level in the Silverstream Hospital area.
Language: English
Subject: Roads and Streets
Heritage resources
– photo in scrapbook attached to AA Taita Gorge (RIN 1336)

Hutt City Library Online Database
Main Title: Taita Gorge
Imprint: 1907
Notes: Indexes: E16
Summary: Photo taken by B. Hector.
Language: English
Subject: Roads and Streets
Heritage resources
– photo in scrapbook attached to AA Taita Gorge (RIN 1336)

The Evening Post 28 May 1926
Road Completely Blocked
This photograph, taken from the northern side of the slip, shows how completely the 2000 to 3000 tons of earth and rotten rock blocked the roadway, which at this point is very narrow. It is the intention of the Government, through the Main Highways Board and Public Works Department, to recondition and widen the gorge road throughout at at (sic) early date
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includes photo
–
View From Across The River
It will be seen that the slip swept across the roadway and into the Hutt River, carrying with it the outer foundations of the road formation. As will be seen from the photograph, the slip started high up on the hillside.
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includes photo
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Evening Post 13 June 1931
includes photos
MORE FLOODS IN THE TAITA GORGE.- The Hutt River flooded again this morning, causing considerable erosion alongside the Taita road. Insert, a view of the paddocks northern end of the Gorge.

Evening Post 22 December 1939
MELLING BRIDGE
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC ONLY
FOR EAST-WEST TRAVEL
The Lower Hutt Borough Council has advised the Automobile Association that on account of serious congestion at the Melling Bridge, particularly on holidays and Sundays, caused by the blockage of the Taita Gorge Road, it has been decided to confine traffic over the bridge to one-way travel, moving from east to west; that is, from Lower Hutt Borough towards the Western Hutt Road: there will be no entry from the Western Hutt side.
Last weekend traffic was seriously delayed and congested, at the bridge, and the decision is made as the only way past the difficulty, pending the full reopening of Taita Gorge Road. Traffic from the Western Hutt Road to Lower Hutt should carry on to the Normandale railway crossing and reach the borough by way of the Railway Avenue bridge.
During hours of light traffic the s rule may be lifted temporarily, but generally it will be enforced strictly, together with the rule that not more than one car may be upon the bridge at once.

Evening Post 30 May 1941
Taita Gorge has been the scene of repeated troubles from floods in the Hutt River. Work in hand is designed to safeguard the road in future by setting it back on to the solid rock of the hillside.