WEST COAST ROADS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1920, Page 3

WEST COAST ROADS

GENERALLY GOOD. K NEED OF BRIDGES. (Christchurch “Sun.”) Concerning the roads generally on the West Coast, Mr P. R. Climie, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, speaks enthusiastically. As a. member of the recent delegation to that appar-ently-neglected part of the South Island, lie had ample opportunity during some 12 days of motor travel of observing the condition of the highways. Taken as a whole, lie considered the roads on the Coast fo he in good order for motor traffic. With the provision of three bridges on the 90-mile stretch of roadway between Hokitika and Waiho Gorge, this trip would rank with the finest in New Zealand. There is a good! roadi surface, due to the use of excellent metal; tlie Government keeps the road in repair. The road up Mt Hercules, a kind of spiral arrangement, appealed to him as one of the best sections of thejourney. Unfolded on every hand on the trip was a vast panorama of every variety of charming scenery, and the glimpses given of Lake lan the and Lake Mapourika were scenic gems. At the present time flic three rivers, requiring bridges are readily fordablo by the ordinary American ear under normal conditions, but rivers, like most other things, are subject to change, and with a fresh in the rivers a ford is impossible with any type of car. No complaint could be levelled against those re sponsible for the accommodation provided at the Wniho Gorge Hotel.

Before long the motorist will be able to travel up the coast from Greymoutli , tq Westport through Barry town, Brighton and Charleston. This thoroughfare will have the advantage of shortening the present route by about 50 miles, but the elimination of the grandeur of the Bnller Gorge is another matter. Nevertheless, the bridging of Ten-mile Creek, and the completion of a short length of road, will open up fresh seine attractions to the tourist along the coastline. If the tourist wished to travel via Buller, lie could do so, and return via the Coast

route. Mr Climie paid a tribute to the work of the Canterbury Automobile Association in providing sign-posts and danger sgns on the roads of the, West Coast . 'These, were to be seen at Intervals' on the highways; in fact, lie was of the opinion that they were just as well sign-posted as tlie roads in Canterbury.