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Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1929, Page 4

The report of the recent meeting of the Highways Council indicates that the district is receiving a fair measure of support from tfie present administration. ■ In addition to the ordinary votes for maintenance both for the highways and secondary highways in the County, a number of new works are being provided for in regard to construction and improvement operations. In regard to the latter, a. good deal more is proposed in respect to the widening of the arterial roads, also in fencing- bad places, and giving greater security .for traffic. One notable feature of the estimates is the listing of all unbridged streams and water-courses on toe main south highways to be bridged or culverted. This means that within twelve months or so. all crossings will be covered. The main bridges still left undone, are at present in hand, and the money is assured to complete them, which indicates that by next Easter at the latest all the major creeks will be bridged. Now the minor streams are to be taken in hand. There are several small crossings en route to the glacier regions which menace traffic at times, but before another year passes, these, too, will lose their terror, and be covered with bridgeways or culvert crossings. This all means a great deal to the comfort and pleasure of travelling. It will be helpful to settlement, in that improved road access adds to the valuq

of the land. It will be helpful in regard to touring traffic, for it will mean that practically the last serious obstacle to motoring with pleasure is removed, and the best of cars may venture south without owners being fearful of extraordinary damage when negotiating stream crossings. It will be well to advertise abroad the fact that these great improvements are going forward for the necessity of crossing streams has been a bug-bear always. More especially in the caso of a contretemps, pictures of a motor car in difficulty usually appears in the illustrated press, and great harm is done. The old pioneering conditions of the past are now vanishing and the town and city dweller who has enjoyed the best of roads on the East Coast, will have Ihe same privilege on this part of the West Coast. For that reason the improvements require to be noised abroad, and meantime it is fitting to acknowledge the good work done by the Highways Council -in this matter.