HERMITAGE ROAD

Press, Volume C, Issue 29516, 18 May 1961, Page 16

HERMITAGE ROAD

Improvement Requested

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, May 17.

A request from the Tourist Hotel Corporation that as a measure affecting the tourist industry, the National Roads Board should urgently consider improving the roadway between Timaru and the Hermitage was considered by the board today. In a letter to the board the manager of the corporation (Mr E. C. Colbeck) said that the country had an investment of £500,000 In the Hermitage and that 56 per cent, of the tourists who were forced to use the road came from overseas. He asked that in view of this the sealing of the road should be completed without delay.

The assistant Director of Roading (Mr A. G. Beggi said that of the 90 miles of road between Timaru and Lake Pukaki. 64 miles had been sealed. From the junction to the Hermitage there was 37 miles of unsealed highway. Mr W. H. Brown (representing private motor owners) said that steady progress in closing the gap in highway eight had been made in past years, but that lately funds did not permit much more to be done. The point about the Hermitage road was that it served only a few properties apart from the Hermitage Itself. After further discussion, the board decided to inform the corporation that it was doing what it could with the available funds, and that it would continue to seal the required roads when funds permitted.