RAMBLING NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1929, Page 2

RAMBLING NOTES

EN ROUTE NORITE The boastal road, as the now roading link between Westport and Greymouth has come to be designated, will be the. popular means of transport when the road is finally finished. It is growing in popularity now, and that popularity will increase as the bridges required are erected, and the last rough section of road is brought into ordered surfacing. 01 the-three bridges urgently required, the Punaikaki is the most advanced, and with a special effort might he ready for the new year holiday traffic. Preparations are in hand to start- driving piles for the Porornri bridge, but it will he some months before this structure is ready for traffic. . The bridge over Fox’s river has still to be commenced, so that a considerable lapse of tjme must intervene till tlie bridges are fully available. The road section between Fox’s river and Charleston is largely in the making. It is in a very rough state at present, and a considerable time with a large outlay will he required to bring the rpad into a good motoring condition. Still there is considerable -traffic oyer the route already, and service cars now; run at intervals. The three rivers are negotiable according to the tides. There are good fords at present, and with ordinary* care- may he crovssed on a car’s awn power, If the streams are swollen, auxiliary help is necessary, while crossing when the tide js in is not advisable, The Punaikaki is the boundary between the Gl’py and Buller Counties, ,All of the roadfway in the Grey County is good, much of it’ excellent—equal to. Westland’s main south road, Between Punfiikahi and Pororari the road also is very fair, but in the section north of Fox’s river, the road is very rough to Charleston, and thence in to Westport good.

Excellent time, may be made notwithstanding the drawbacks referred to, and a journey now from Hokitika to Westport and return in a day of fourteen and fifteen hours is possible, and allows for fair standing time at Westport. The road opens new scenery to the traveller. Following the coast line to Fqx’s river, the seascape presents an even changing scene. The uush takes on new colours with fresh denizens of the forest. King ferns and nikaus grow plentifully, and present a pleasing variety. Tlie bush drives as we know them in South Westland do not recur, but the whole scene is changed, providing a pleasing variety. 4ho road mounts over the bulffs which jut into the sea, arid from the higher altitude new and changing views present themselves. The beach takes on various forms, rough and smooth, but sometimes very rocky, The smooth beaches appear a delight and will he great bathing camps. A fair amount of work is in hand along the route-, apart from the bridge constrhetion, Where high bidelirigs occur, slips have been numerous, and repair gangs are numerous, There is excellent material for rond surfacing over many miles, but the section most in need of completion, which winds over high country inland before returning to the sea coast at Charleston, is not so well favoured with suitable material Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and in due season the section will be brought into good order. Many farms are along the route, and dairying and sheep farming are the.vogue. Some fine flocks are to he seen in passing through. Barrytown is pleasantly situated, and the farms look flourishing. Well cultivated gardens were showing good crops. The seasons are gonial—it would appear. The potato fields are well advanced and look healthy. The groves of nikau palms give a general impression ol tropical growth over much of the distance.

In the way of unusual features, the road passes through a tunnel for some distance when approaching Fox’s river ford. At another point among the rocks maybe seen the last of an old time wreck driven on to a very inhospitable point, though close by is a smooth range of sea shore. The Brighton of the early days was at Fox’s river, where ships are said to have entered. Similarly at Charleston, boats traded there in the ’’rush” days before roads were thought of. The mooring rings are still to be seen in rocks to which the small craft were warped. At a little stream nearby in the Nile river, may be seen the decayed wharf where once the little steamer Nile loaded and unloaded he) freight. The river is a tiny stream into which only a tiny boat would fit.

Road-making machinery is, much in evidence along the route, which probably accounts for the rapid improvements to the road.' At the Grey end there is much heavy traffic with coal lorries from the co-operative mines, the product being ta,ken to Runanga, the rail head. Excellent material is also at hand for the maintenance of the road, and a good surface results; graders and rollers are to be found along the route, bringing the road into good shape. On the way north the monument to mark the scene of the murder near Runanga is passed. It is an ornamental column, with approach steps—but is in danger of being enveloped in the blackberry growth this season. Later in the day, when returning via Reefton, the Dobson memorial—not so ornate—near the township of Dobson, is also to be seen. This is in danger of being enveloped by gorse growth. Both memorials are in need of some timely cleaning. The blackberry, by the way. seems to cover

much valuable land up north. Burts look like one large blackberry hush—though adjacent land cared for presents green fields and well fed stock browsing about. A good general cleaning up seems to be required on all sides.

Westport though not finished with the earthquakes, has taken on a settled condition again, with business as usual. Excepting for the demolished Post Office, there is little' to mark the damage to' buildings. ..Those which did suffer are again in wellordered condition. On the high' hills in tlie hack country, the scars of huge slips are still to be seen, indicating what a large amount of country was disturbed. 'Pile Buller river despite the months which have passed, still runs discoloured from the vast quantity of yellow debris deposited in its upper reaches. The town permits motor cars to park in the centre of its main street, a practice which gives the -business part of the town a busier aspect. 111 the matter of cars the Ford appears to he* übiquitous. Thereby hangs a tale. When the electric light in one of the places of worship failed ,the distracted clergyman appealed to a motor mechanic to come to tlie rescue. He brought a Ford car into action, and the. service was ahie to proceed without inconvenience. The clergyman grateful for the result, wrote Henry Ford and told the story The great man replied simply expressing thanks for the information, and added laconically’, “That’s what the Ford’s supposed to do.” *

Up the Bailor river, right through the famous Gorge, where tlie dised--011 red waters of the Buller rather detract from the former pleasant view, thoro are several workmen’s camps dotted along the south, side, The railway works to link Westpqrt with Inangnhua Junction and so wjth the -South Island system, are proceeding on the north side of the river, There is much to do yet. Very difficult country to build round. An optimistic statement in Parliament the other day was to the effect the- line would 1,.>, finished in three years! Talking this estimate over someone said, but the next Government will stop tlie line 1 The retort was that the next Government would rush it to a finish meaning a Labour Government with the Member for the Buller at the head of it! Wait and see, as Mr Asquith said.