ROAD TO FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1928, Page 4

ROAD TO FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

“CREEKS SHOULD TIE BRIDGED.” CHRISTCHURCH. May 3. A story of three Australian tourist* who were marooned far several days owing to (leaded creeks on the mad to the Franz Jr of Glacier not being bridged, w.t.s told t> menders of The Canterbury Pi ogress League last night by Mr 11. W. 11. slop, who recently made the trip. The league decided to ask the Main Highways Hoard to expedite •(instruction of .bridges .tver live (reeks in order to ensure that tourists reach their destination. Mr He-lnp stated that the tourists were marooned for several days owing to hot being able to make the crossing over M’Cuilough's ("reek. They had very limited actetiueodatinii and vein little food. When the tourists returned to Australia, said Mr Hcslop, they would undoubtedly warn everyone against coining to Now Zealand. ft was a crying shame that the creeks were not bridged, as they made hazardous a trip which otherwise was one of the best in the Dominion.

Mr H. A. Knight said that he understood that as the outcome of the visit to the locality hv Air D. G. Sullivan, M.P., and negotiations with the Canterbury members »->!' Parliament, the Government had promised to remedy matters. Only one creek had been bridged since then. It was a pity that to much jnrney bad been spent on the Waiho bridge without any attention having been paid to the ereek.S; West Australian hardwood was used for the bridges, but the speaker believed that local silver pine would have served quite as well. With local timber three bridges could he built at the cost of one erected with Australian timber.

Mr W. P. (tine said that silver pine was not suitable.

‘"The matter of what wood .shook! be used should ho left to the Public Works Department, which is a business-like body." said Mr F. W. Freeman. “It is sign meant that the Main Highways Hoard has just returned from the Franz Joseph Glacier, and I think that the reason for the trip was to decide upon the building of bridges over the fivo creeks."

The secretary of the league (Mr P. U. Climie) pointed out that a remit urging the rection of bridges over the crelc.s was contained in the business before the conference of South Island progress leagues at Westport recently.