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Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1921, Page 2

The Westland County Council is still bombarding the Government to proceed with the Slippery Face deviation in the far south district. It seems years since the necessity for this work was Inst , heard of. It must certainly have n*’cn ; in pre-war days—and still the work re- j 1 mains untouched. About two yeais 1 ago, when County Chairman Duff passed 1 over the route, pointed reference w.,s made to the necessity for the deviating but it remains still untouched. At me County meeting yesterday a motion "is J carried, urging the Government to call for tenders for the work without further delay. Some months ago a new ! route was explored, and the particulars supplied to the Public Works Depart- ! nient. It is said that the want of cnI gineers to lay off the work is the main cause for the protracted delay. However the work is so urgent that it should ; be possible ere this to find the requir ’d I staff to prepare the plans for the work. J Slippery Face is on the main south road on the long stretch between Mahit.ibi and the Haast river. It is in the high country, and its name betokens the particular physical features of the country through which it passes. There me ! high sidelings with deep ravines below. ; The road or rather horse track, has to be benched out of the slippery sideling

11s it surmounts the hilly country. The j wet weather and storms play havoc with I the roadway at times, and all that is I left is often a narrow footway—a death trap to the unwary and a positive < an- , ger to stock when being driven al mg j the road, as is often the case, in '-on[siderable herds. From time to time an outside rail gives a semblance of security to the traveller, but this often disappears in a storm, and the average traveller who knows something of the risk: alnd danger in negotiating the portion of the road referred to, invariably dismounts and proceeds afoot. When ilie King’s highway is in a condition akin to that just described, it is high time something were done to cope with the menace to traffic. The Minister of Public Works is said to be going over the route in a month or two, and if lie negotiates Slippery Face in ti.e condition it often is in, doubtless something prompt and practical will be done to improve the position by a safe deviation route.