Big Bang at Matawhero

With so little sunshine and so much rain, odds could be that Gisborne's long freedom from floods might end this winter.

If that was the case, at least the Catchment Board can thank the weather gods for withholding major floods in the Waipaoa River for long enough to allow the new stopbanks to consolidate before they have to stand a major test.

Meanwhile, finishing touches are being made to the two river cuts. At Matawhero, the banks of the cut have been blasted to widen the present low-level waterway.

Holes are drilled and plugged with gelignite. After a day of this work, the lot is detonated.

"Photo News" tried to photograph the big "blow-up". Our cameraman stood handy to the scene while the fuse was lit, and came through the ear-splitting explosion unscathed. But the picture (above) suggests he was somewhat shaken by the experience.