THE SOUTH ROAD

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1924, Page 3

THE SOUTH ROAD

e*xst«* -•- SERIOUS CONDITION OE ROSS ROAD BRIDGES.

The County authorities received a report from the Overseer to-day which indicates that several of flic bridges on the I toss road were in a dangerous state. Mr Dull'. Countv Chairman, called the available members together, and Messrs .Jeffries and Murdoch, and the Hon J. Grimnioiul discussed Hie position Dll. forenoon. It was resolved to claim the cost of damage done to different, bridges by heavily laden vehicles Ibis week, and if necessary to sue for same under the Public Y\ orks Act. It was further decided in represent the state of the bridges in Hie Government. ami ask lor n straight out grant—the Council nut having the filial- to rope with the repair work in i.j, h 1 The alternative to thi- will he to close Hie road, or as one nwm'vr stated, “to resign in a body as a protest against the Government handing over Iho defective bridges to Hie Council." Ii was stated lie- Minister of Public Work- v.,1 ■ c:;uc< t*■ d at Olira shortly, and it wo. dwid-d M. send a deputation to mod -■!• Uerir, .md thrash out the Got •: , rniv< ns - i-obiirty m the mnt“~lh* C.hairnur. t!:< proprietors of motor vehicle were not helping the Council in any way. yet they expected the Council to maintain the roads—at the expense of Ibe ratepayers while others reaped the benefit. As it was decided to test the motor licensing by-law in the Supreme Court, this would’ delay revenue from that source, and the upshot would be, with the heavy payments now being made for road making machinery which the motor vehicle owners had encouraged the Council to obtain and now declined lo pav licenses till the Council v* n* t„ the expense of recovering at law, a (iiniueiii stringency which would P"'vent proper aUeution to he r. ads. It was indicated that the Conned had no funds for any exteu-ive repair work on the Lake road, and nothing hm hare maintenance to keep the mac open could he faced. Broken metal was being put on the mam roads lo carry the traiiie. hut the funds are not available to use the mad roller, and traffic would have to put up with the conditions as they are till the money was forthcoming to do all that was necessary to ensure good mads. It, was recognised that the Boss '°.u was of importance to the South Gallic, but until the bridges were put in order honvv transport to and tmm the South would have to he earned hy the railway. The heavy trallic by road 11,1 |,. 1V1 . to be prohibited entirelx . ' Rpports of damage to the Dorothy rood. Lake Known, by heavy motor „,as reported, and it was resolved to claim the cost, ol repaiis. also to no life the sawmillers at Goal Creek that the. deposit of waste timber m tie stream was a, danger calculated to divert the river and do damage which would affect, the traffic bridge.

/For continuation of news see fourth page).