Historic Chain Found

An historic piece of chain has been unearthed on the Pauanui to Tairiua Trail  project.

The chain is thought too be part of a Tairua River log boom crossing the river in the 1880s.

Trail Boss Garry Fowler says the piece of chain was probably once connected to a large ring which has been mounted in a nearby rock.

"These chains stretched across the Tairua River to collect logs being floated downstream for collection," he said.

"We have wondered about the ring for some time so the chain find seems to confirm the ring's origin."

 The chain was uncovered during the digging of foundation holes for one of the Trail's seats.

Mr Fowler said the Trail committee is considering plans to mark the chain site with an information  board.

The chain joins the unexplained wreckage of an old car uncovered during trail formation.

Mystery solved?  John McKenzie holds a section of chain unearthed on the Pauanui to Tairua Trail.

Logjam! This is the scene across the Tairua River when the chain held back logs.