STOCK ROUTE NEEDED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 134, 8 June 1937, Page 11

STOCK ROUTE NEEDED

TO AVOID GORGE ROAD

COUNCIL TO BE ASKED

The City and Suburban Highways Board today again discussed the question of a stock route' between Johnsonville and the city abattoirs alternative to the Ngahauranga Gorge Road and decided to join with the Automobile Association in making representations to the City Council that action should be taken. . Mr.' E. Palliser said that some time ago the Automobile Association had been active in the matter and had paid half the cost of the survey of a suitable stock route. Then, because there appeared to-, be a possibility that, after the opening of the Tawa Flat railway line, the stock yards at Johnsonville would be shifted, and possibly also the abattoirs, the association took,no further action. It appeared unlikely now that the stock yards would be shifted and the abattoirs had recently been enlarged and extended and were there for a considerable time to come, although they were very badly placed. The Public Works Department was making a survey with a view to easing corners on the gorge road and other improvements and that would mean that traffic would become faster, with a consequent accentuation of the dangers to both motor traffic and stock using the road., Councillor W. Appleton agreed that something should be done: could not the old Khandallah Road be used in part?

Mr. Palliser said that that was what was proposed, with a connection mostly through land already owned by the Corporation. The grade would be about' one in seven, and an experienced drover who had assisted the association had expressed the opinion that the route proposed would be infinitely better than the present road.

Councillor J. Read agreed that an effort should be made to get the stock off the road, in the interests of the animals as well as of motorists.

Heavy expense was entailed in keeping up the macadam haunches and fences on ..the present road, said Councillor Appleton. There did not appear to be any likelihood that the city abattoirs would be removed for some yeajs. Several instances were given by members-of the falling and injuring of stock on the paved surface and of ■what happens when a heavy beast objects to a light car. Quite substantial damage could be done, said Mr. G. A. Lawrence. The chairman tojd his story of being held up on the Otaki bridge yesterday.

Councillor Read, not having a firsthand cattle-motor story, told a much better one, of a wild horse that landed on the bonnet of 'his car in National Park. The damage to stock through falling on the roadway was a serious matter, said another member, who stated that on one early-morning trip through the gorge he had seen seven sheep dead or dying.

"The work has to be tackled," said Councillor Appleton, and the board agreed to join with the Automobile Association in making representations to the City Council.