OUR NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 299, 13 September 1919, Page 9

OUR NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

THE GORGE ROAD

"A POSITIVE DANGER"

The shocking condition of most of the roads leading out of Wellington has been discussed a great deal of late, At yesterday's meeting of the Makara County Council Councillor Windley moved: "That in the interests ol local bodies concerned, also for the salety of tiathc generally) steps bo taken to have the legislation passed last sessioi], enabling the concreting of the Hutt Road, amended so as to include the Ngahauranga' Gorge Road." Councillor Windley. in support of his motion, said that the only possible way of getting over the difficulty was to have the road concreted. Why the Gorge Road had not been included in tho Hutt Road scheme lie could not understand. If it were going to be such a benefit to have the Hutt Road concreted, it was quite obvious that with the amount of traffic the Gorge Road carried it would be a benefit to have that road similarly treated. From a safety point of view it was even more necessary, as tho Hutt Road was on the level. He had gone into the matter, and had ascertained that to concrete the Gorgo Road for three miles would cost about =67000. He said that, the road as at present was a positive danger, and the council was in a worse plight regarding it than it was twenty years ago. If the Government were to take it on as part of a national highway, he did not see why ill should not bear the cost of concreting that part of the road. 'I Ho chairman (Councillor Bryant) thought that Councillor Windley was a little premature, as tho Government and local bodies had the matter of, this and other roads under consideration, and tho Prime Minister was expected to mako a statement bearing on the question shortly.' The motion was accordingly hold over until next meeting.

, The 'Pukerua Deviation, * A memorandum was .received from the . (Hutt County Council stating that it had passed the following motion at its last meeting.:—"That a monster deputation of all interested bodies should wait on tho Minister of Public Works in connection with the main 1 western road, via Pukonta, also tho Wellington-Palmorston North main Toad, and Paekakariki Hill, to fully point out their view's in order that Oho various bodies concerned may act together in the mattor to ensure that proper action may be taken with respect thereto." A request was made to tho Makara County Council to appoint delegates. During the discussion ib was agreed that the Makara County Council was concerned, as the Ngahauranga Gorge Road was part of the main arterial road' to Palmc'rston. Thero was nothing surer than that the council would bo cited as an ' interested body in the event of either proposal .being carried, and it was desired that an early application should be made for a grant towards the cost of improving tho Gorgo Road, which was equally as dangerous as the, Paekakariki Hill. . . ' ' The chairman did not see why they were likely to bo askea to contribute to the cost of widening the Paekakariki Hill Road, when they had a considerable portion of, the- main arterial road running through the.coiyty. It- was 'decided that the chairman and Councillor Windley should be the council's delegates on the deputation.