KARAMEA’S PLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1930, Page 7

KARAMEA’S PLIGHT

RESTORING THE ROADS. Sixteen months after the disastrous earthquake which caused such''destruction to roads in the portion of the South Island where it reached its maximum severity, the Ivaramea district, with its 1500 inhabitants, is still practically isolated from the rest of New Zealand.

The road uniting it with the Southern Buller has not yet been restored, and the small boat which trades between the town and Westport maintains only an irregular service. For about five miles between Mokihinui and Little- Wanganui the road was obliterated, and the portion of the former main highway between Little Wanganui and Karamea has been abandoned, the beach route from the first-named settlement to Kongahu, a distance of nearly six miles, being now in use. It is an almost straight road, with no bridges, and serves a fair number of settlers, whereas the old highway, which there is no intention of restoring, although providing access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Dominion, was of no value In the other respect. The Little Wanganui-Kongahu road has been metalled and is now in good order. Between Kongahu and Karamea the earthquake brought down a few slips, but none was very large or presented any great difficulty in removal, MOUNTAINOUS SECTION. From Mokihinui to Little Wanganui, through Corbyvale, the road is mountainous, For a distance of 21 miles it was seriously damaged, and for about a quarter of that length it was wiped out. Work on its restoration was commenced about the end of 1929, and the completion of the undertaking will occupy the Public - Works Department another year. As many as 400 men have been employed, and the number at present stands at over 150. In the debris hurled across the road by the earthquake is a great deal of rock, which must be blasted before it can be removed.

At either end the highway has been restored for a. short distance, and through Corbyvale it is usable, but the traveller must negotiate nine miles of it' on foot if he would reach Karamea. A settler with a truok at Corbyvale profits from the present situaion by giving transport to people whose destination is Karamea or Mokihinui over the lew miles of the mountain road open to traffic. A track has been opened over the complete length for Public Works services,- but it is unsafe for ordinary vehicles. Following the earthquake Karamea could not be reached from Mokihinui in less than two days; now the journey can be accomplished in half a day. A tramp of 17 miles has been reduced to nine.

In these picturesque surroundings five big works camps have been established, and the inhabitants of this badly devastated area look forward with hope and confidence to better days, perhaps in 1932. The debris brought down by the river permanently affected the channel in the harbour, the wharf wag unsettled, and the shipping connexion was disturbed,