ROAD MATTERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1923, Page 1

ROAD MATTERS.

IMPORTANT DISTRICT AFFAIRS. •Mr .1. D. CI illi i • . District Engined of Westland. vi'itfil Hokitika yesterday nml conferred with the County imtimritiivs mill the owners of nml or lorries regarding various road matters. The meeting took plate at the County C Ini miters. Kanieri Bridge.- Air E. A. Wells urged speedy attention to the repairs lt> the bridge. which was now closed and greatly inconveniencing local traffic. Air Gillies said lhe Department was satisfied that the bridge could, very quickly, he put in safe condition for light traffic, but the mol it it was opened lor restricted traiUc. all sorts ol heavy traffic used the bridge. Their oUieers liad been defied by some ol die

curriers, and the position of the bridge was too serious in run risks with heavy trulFc. The Couinv Chairman a greet I the bridge was in a very bail way. and eo did not eon II teini m-e slight repair' to the proindiee of t fie larger w ork necessary. as the bridge ting;:! dairth. i: II into the Council’s hands, lie wa.- mil prepared to agree to the reopening ol the bridge till the Council considered ihe matier next week. Air Wells agreed in iln' meantime to see those responsible for the heavy traffic, and to obtain an assurance that ilic bridge would not be used by lorries and timber waggons while the structure was restricted solely lo light traffic. Mr Jeffries emphasised that the bridge was aetuallv dangerous and unsafe I'm heavy trallic. Mr P. Fitzgerald, RoadOverseer. concurred, but stated repairs for light traffic could be carried out expeditiously, and thereafter the gross load crossing the bridge must not exceed tliroc tons. The matter wa- thee, referred to the County ( ounril toi filial adjustment next week.

Main Roads .Maintenance.--Mr Oil li,*- intimated that the Hon Alinisiei had referred lo him. the reports oi the Council regarding the repairs to the bridges between Kumara and Ross. -Mr Cillies considered the estimates by Messrs Milliter and Boucher in tins region of Co.tiOO as reasonable, and lie aas prepared to recommend that a mount. Air Cillies did not think the .Minister would make any grant tor restoring the mad surface, as the condition of t lie main road was generally better limn that of adjacent County reads. In reply to an enquiry it was indicated tin- Department had four surfacemen on the section, hut on liehalf ol the Council it wa- sfateil only ,wool I lie number could be taken over. The • 11 • |pm wa . made, also, on be I I ihe f otincil. that if the road i., the local hotly, that portion

rjie map: ynit.!: I'fi.i'j t!'?in M (.aim's corner by Brandi's road, via Matainiii. and bv the Wataroa flat toad back to the main road, lie taken ore;' bv the Department. Al.r Cillies suggested an application to that effect when the matter would he looked into.

Crants In reply to an eii(|iliry Alt oidles indicated tint* the amount fot rn:n‘ grants in West land County had fern over-'petti during the financial V, .;,r. and it wa- not likely any further

grants would be authorised until tin lien finaoeial year was entered upon. Ii was intimated that as soon as the present financial year i losed. the ( ouii-<-il would renew its application lor the expenditure ol the balance ot the ..iiiiits voted by Parliament last *s-

Motor Lorry Trallic on Alain Smith Road. —With regard to the regulations governing the traffic rclcrred to. Mi Cißies met Messrs Hit. Allan. Searlc and Mati'llip and di'Ctlsscl the posit ion . It was stilted tliiil the regulation:. lately gazetted were now due ir be enforced. Glider tin* regulations heavy traffic was to stop for of the year, but it was likely this port ion'would he repealed. Glider the regulations, anything over three tons was declared to be heavy t radio, ttill* a full limit ol five toils. All heavy j | j|fli,. must be licensed, and the driver of the vehicle must carry tin* license* aud produce it on demand to any road, official. The license fee proposed is afollow-. : -fi tons, Clso annually or CP-' I(i. monthly' in advance: I tons, C'!,o or Cl I ll' Sid : 5 tons, C'-’OO. or W l ' j n s - Id. Tin* sped was limited also, l oth for lorries and motor cars, ane would require to be observed. I •*' I:i,y- nropriettir< aid they wouhl barivil . under tin* regulnl ions by thi

lit!-,il of !i>:if!i 11!JC- while (i.f license I'-*' . Wl> i,,.. high. 11 »as suggested lighter lorries should ho used, as the inteiiiuu, ; was l,> force tin- heavy lorries oil the nmd. The damage done hy a onrV lorry was beyond the resources of <hi Depart men t to ensure sntisfncf.or> maintenance to meet, all other tiallu using the road. The lorry proprietors- toyed that 1 hc\ were under contract which still had con siilerahh- time to run. ami the hmil ami hitch lees meant ruination. They claimed they were feeders for the railway line, while the wear and lour fm tv res was a heavy recurring cost, fjjrom which Government derived the henetit of the i-nstoms duty. In increase freights would penalise the s. iih-rs. who were without railway eon nc.-t -on. and it would mean that if the lorries were thrown off the road, draw;md waggons would he put on. and tin excessive" truffle would do greater dam-a„-e still to the roads. On behalf < ! ) I he sawmill firm involved, it was pointed out that while one Government He oartment eneoitrasrcd 11 0 trade, allot msought to hloek it. Carrying tlm smaller loads proposed would mean I more trips over the road, and the dam- | would he accentuateil. Considern | i ion miuhl also he -tven for the lam I that the linn had carted hundreds or i • .-.1 of heavy metal on to the road, j which was now in a hotter condition Ilian ever. Generally it was eontende ! that the I -aw tra'Se had Iwougjr ahout a great improvement in tit ro-uls which were hott cm able to can. i the trallie now than ih- y were a yea ' i Allowance should also he mad" ! IV,- the weather, uhieh when had cause,l the roads to deteriorate. bn. with line weather the roads improve, ve less lyretind for complaint. Vfter a general exchange of views. Mr Gillies explained the rotations 1,. i t.cen sent to him to enforce. > iotm- asked the natter he dfI .ill t-li.’ end of the month to oni,l>le an appeal to the Minister of 1 übiic Works, as also to the Prime Mni.stc with regard to the epmties ot she i Mr Gilhes nerood to deter actio'.. accordingly, and the Prupnelars wi!i -..-ranee for a depntatmn “01-111 111 Mr "g lilies drew atien. ion to lorries on' tlie Christchurch road using igh im'tor bridge* ior lon\ ti.-.F fordwere available. The bridges restricted to a two ton loading, and anv offenders using the light hrulge.. wit!, heavier loads would he proseeu - C ,l Proprietors should note the position and instruct their drivers accordingly as further latitude could not Do allowed.