MINISTERIAL REPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1927, Page 1

MINISTERIAL REPLY

ROAD FROM FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER OVER. HAAST PASS.

At the meeting of the II estlaml County Council yesterday, the following letter from the Minister ol Public Works to Mr Seddon, M.P.. was read:—

Referring to your letter ol the Bth September, in which you requested that a survey he made for the purpose ol locating a suitable line for the portion of the Franz Josef Glacier-] laast Pass road, from Paringa to Haast, I have to advise that my Department investigated the whole of the route Horn Waiho on the Westland side to Makarora on the Otago side, and 1 have now before me a detailed report setting out full particulars relating to the state ol the present track, settlement served and approximate estimated cost of constructing a full width road for the whole distance.

The estimate is an approximate one only, no survey Inn ing been made owing to the excessive cost which is considered to he unwarranted at the present time, as there is little likelihood ot it being found possible to have such a road constructed in the near future. Tlie figures supplied, however, are sufficient to show the enormous cost o' forming a full-width road to connect the two points mentioned. In regard to the road as at present situated, the .section from "Waiho to Cooks River, a distance of 20 miles, is formed and metalled 10 feet wide and can he used by motor cars, although some of the corners are very sharp and difficult to negotiate. There are two fairly large creeks still unbridged in this section, namely, Doeherty Creels and Ocmoerua Creek, which hold up tral. fie in flood time. The metal on this portion is a light coat only and would not stand up to heavy traffic.

Cooks River, where the road crosses, is approximately one mile wide and it would ho necessary to construct a deviation some nine miles in length in order to obtain a suitable bridge site. In addition. Fox’s river would also have to he bridged. The Cook River is only fordable for motor ears for about one month in year. Hie next section from Cook's River to the Karangartia River, a distance ol 13 miles, is formed a width of Kill and tan he used hv motor traffic, hut there are four streams, the Oinetamatea. Saltwater, Black Creek, and Havelock Creek to lie crossed. A deviation of I miles would also have to he made to obtain a bridge site for the Karangarun River, this river being like the Cook, only lordable for cars for a period of about lour weeks in the year.

From the Karangarun to Bruce Bay beach, a distance of 11 miles, the road has been formed, but two fairly large streams, the Maiiakniatia and Jacobs River have to he negotiated. ’lbis is the furthest point which can be reached by motor ears, as there is one mile ol unformed road before reaching the mouth of the Matai River. I understand that section ol one mile would pass through Maori ground and the Maoris object to the road being formed. At the present time, travellers use the beach to avoid this section. Ihe road is then formed to a width of lOit tor Lht‘ distance of live miles to Condons at Mahitahi.

From Mahitahi to llaast, a distance of 50 miles, there is no settlement, and a sft. bridle track only exists, there are several large streams to he crossed on this section, these being the Mahitahi, Paringa, Blue River, Copper Creek, IVaita and llaast river, and of these the Mahitahi, Paringa. Blue River, and llaast would have to he bridged, as they would not he fordable by motors. In the event of a traffic road being constructed, it would he possible to follow Hie present track as far as the Blue River, which is a distance of 20 miles, but it would he necessary, however, to construct a small deviation in order to obtain a bridge site at the Paringa. From the Blue River to the llaast, a distance of 30 miles, a complete new line would he required, as 1 understand the present track goes right tip into the hills. Between the mouth of the llaast River, ami the Haast Saddle, a. distance of 47 miles, the track can only be classed as an ungraded pack track. \t some oi the blutls the formation has,been cut in the rock and these portion would work ill with a properly graded road. Tn other places the track crosses open flats, hut most of the way the river bed is used. There are over K)() streams to he crossed, on this section and some of these, the llaast, Clarke, Burke and Wills, are a fair size, and the country is all hush clad. The total distance from the Mahitahi River to Mnkarora. is approximately 110 miles, and before a road could be constructed, it would be necessary to undertake a survey over ibis distance at an estimated cost of approximately £3,000.

ilie approximate estimate of constructing the road is as follows: £ Deviation at Cooks River ... 18,000 Deviation at Karangarun River 8,000 Bruce Bay Beach to mouth of Mahitahi River 1,200 Mahitahi to Haast 100,000 Bridges (Doeherty Creek. Onmaru, Fox, Cook, Oinetamata, Saltwater, Black Creek, Havelock Creek, Karangarua, Manakaiaua, Jacobs, Mahitahi, Paringa. Bln. Copper Creek, IVaitai, Haast) 75.000 Minor Bridges 10,000 £212,000 Survey £213,400 Ten per cent contingencies ... 21,100 £234,500 Haast to Haast Saddle 112,800 Saddle to Mnkarora 24,000 £136,800 Survey, 59 miles 1,500 Bridges, say 50,000 £188,300 Ten per cent contingencies ... 18.700 £207.000 TOT AT £441.500 This does not include the widening and metalling of the mad between Waiho and Mahitahi.

Front information received, it appears that this road would he, practically speaking, a tourist road as South Westland is very sparsely settled,_ the extent of good country is very limited, and even if properly roaded, would support very few' more settlers than it does at present. The present population of Westland, south of Waiho, is as follows: At Doeherty Creek. 3 miles from Waiho: 2 families. At Welieka, 17 miles from Waiho: 5 families. 1 single man.

At Karangarun, 30 miles from Waiho: 3 families. At Bruce Bay, 40 miles from Waiho : 6 families, 1 single man. At Mahitahi, 50 miles from Waiho: 2 single men, 2 families. At llaast. UK) miles from Waiho: 2 families. At Okuru, 110 miles from Waiho: 5 families, 2 single men. There is no population between Haast and Makarora. In addition to the sum mentioned above consideration has to be given to the financing of the annual cost of maintenance of the road, if constructed, and in this connection it is estimated that it would cost at least £3O per mile or £4,800 per annum for the total distance of 100 miles ior the first year or so, but the cost would become greater as traffic increased.

In these circumstances, I regret to state that I am of the opinion that the road, particularly the portion between Haast and Makarora which would be a purely tourist road, is not warranted at present. "Provision has, however, as you are aware, been made on the’current year’s estimates for improvements to the existing road and track, the following sums having been provided:— Waiho to Cook’s river section, £509 for widening bends. Paringa to llaast Section, £3OO lor widening and metalling. Haast Pass track, Westland side, £IOO for improvements. Haast Pass Track, Otago side, £l5O for improvements. Makarora to Sawmill (Otago) £lo’’ for formation and metalling.