PUKETITIRI ROAD ACCESS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 79, 20 April 1937, Page 5

PUKETITIRI ROAD ACCESS

Need For Imjprovement To Be Urged HASTINGS SUFFERING Attention to the conditlon of the road from Puketitiri to Hastings _was drawn at the meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce last evening by Mr. Gordon Roach, and after a brief discussien it was decided that a special sub-committee interview the member for the riding on the Hawke 4s Bay Oouiity Council to learn if thero is any possihility of the road being improved. }Jr. Roach said that another route had been adopted as the main highway from Puketitiri. Formerly the main highway ran along the Hakowhai road to Puketapu and tlience to Taradale. Now a new Toute had been gazetted and the main highway would branch off some two miles beyond Puketapu and follow the road down the Wharerangi Hill to the Napier-Taradale road. Mr. Roach mentioned that many of tho settlers living in the area felt that their means of access were not in keeping with modern transport development. In order to come to Hastings they had either to continue to traverse a loosely metalled and bumpy road, or travel several more miles along the new highway. A great many of the settlers from this area, it was pointed out, visited Hastings fairly regularly to attend the Stortford Lodge stock saies, and in consequence made frequent use of the old route. Mr. F. E. Smith was of the opinion that representations should be made to the Hawke 4s Bay County Council on the matter in a proper manner, He thought that it was primarily a matter for the settlers themselves to act, and that the Chamber should avoid any possibiliy of the suggestion being made that it was telling the County Council what it should, or should not do. Several speakers agreed that th'e road was in an unsatisfactory condition, and it was felt that Hastings was suffering a disadvantage in that the settlers from this area did not have better access to the town. It was eventually decided to set up a small suhcommittee to discuss the question with the member for the ridiug and also the county engineer, .