ROAD TO WEST COAST

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1930, Page 3

ROAD TO WEST COAST

TWO ROUTES DISCUSSED

BOTH SHOULD BE AVAILABLE.

CHRISTCHURCH, March 11

The question as to whether the

Otira. Gorge route to the West Coast or tbe suggested Lewis Pass roim should be given precedence by the Lanier bury Automobile As-ceiatio-was discussed by tbe Council of the Association last evening. Air F. D. Sirgont introduced tilt nmfctor. stating that lie had receive*' a letter from the Hokitika branch of the association. The branch intimated that tbe rtliur’s Pass route was the only route that would interest ' hem for many years. They requested that the Canterbury Association should give their assistance in keeping the road open, and also co-oper-e in getting a bridge put over the Waimakariri. ft was their opinion that the road should be open to motorists at all times.

Mr F. AV. Freeman, the president 'ff the* association, said he was sorry to see the matter brought up as rush business. Had lie known that it wa« coming up he would have had quite a lot to sav on it, as lie had put himself offside with the Hokitika branch owing to some "remarks he made at the Main Highways Board conference. There were huge engineering difficulties on the road. A bridge over the Waimakariri and a deviation of the river would be necessary. He was of opinion that both roads should' be in use, and, to his mind, there was money enough for both.

Mr B. Falck said it was a question of policy as to whether the association should decide in favour of a bridge. The question asked at the Main Highways Board conference' was whether the association was in favour of the Lewis Pass route or the Ofcira Gorge route, and it was a difficult question to answer.

Mr Freeman said it was not bis intention that the Otira Gorge route should fall into disuse. Us nature 1 claims prohibited that. AVhen the C.A.A. made an official tour of the AA r est Coast one of the questions asked was whether it should give its undivided support to the Lewis Saddle route. He was of opinion that the Otira Gorge route should b n keM. open as much as possible. It could be seen that the Main Highways Board was keen on the route from the fact that on tbe occasion of a recent washout on the road. Mr F. T/aneiVin. the District Public AVorks Engineer, had taken Mr Hawkes with him to inspect the work. A grant of £ISOO to construct a deviation of the road followed.

Mr Sargent said that ha would not press the matter of the bridge, as he realised the difficulties. Mr Freeman said that n« the association’s representative on the, Arthur’® Pass Scenic Reserve Board he could assure the council that it was the rolicv of the board that the reserve should be approachable by motorists •it all times. His remarks had been misunderstood. i Mr .T. R. Ranks said that the Hokitika. branch had been informed bv th« Roads Committee that the work was being watched on this side of the Waimakariri. and men had started on the work. Tt was not the intention of the association that the Otira (gorge RcM should fall into disuse. The committee had written to the branch assuring it of its support. The matter again came up later on in the meeting.

Mr R. Twyneham stated that the Greymouth branch had decided to give its support and have the Otira Gorge route kept open at all times, also that a deviation of the road should he made at a point close to where the railway crosses the Waimakariri, and that a road be made alongside the railway. From Greymouth southwards the support was for the Otira route.

Mr A. R. Robson said that he bad see-? the road from the railway and he could not see anv difficulty in running the road alongside the line. The hardest jofb would be to bridge the Waimakariri. Mr O. S. Morris stated that the great mistake had been to put the two routes in opposition to each other. They were two separate roads, serving two separate districts. Mr Twyneham said that the Arthur’s Pass Scenic Reserve Board was endeavouring to popularise tlie reserve for motorists, and was making arrangements for a large camping ground. Mr Twyneham then moved, and Mr Harley seconded, that the road by way of the Otira Gorge should he kept open at all times for tlie benefit of motorists. This was agreed to.