THE HAAST PASS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1933, Page 8

THE HAAST PASS

iROAD CONSIDERED PRACTICABLE

BY OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

Interesting details of the route from Otago into Westland, via the Haast Pass, were given in a letter, received by the Otigo Motor Club- The writer expressed the opinion that mien a roan Avould not be very expensive. His letter read :

“I consider if any roading was 1° .be done to connect Otago- with Westland I would strongly recommend this route through the Haast Pass. As y°u are aware, ther, e . js a car road through to Makaroa, and for. a. distance of ■about seven or eight miles further towards the Haast Pass. There is also a .further distance of about six miles alfi fiat country before you come to the Eish river.

“T-o get a., road through the Haast Pass I consider would not be very expensive, and the formation of the Wesiland side is all fine shingle foi miles.

“Before the present track had been formed stock had been taken through the pass and down tl e south sicre oi the Haast river to the Burke. This landed them on the. fiat country, the distance by the present track being 15 miles. 1 think this would be the easier side of the river to make the road on. also saving bridges over the river, and making the route much shorter.'

“From the Burke river to the Clarke Bluff is. flat and open country, a distance of. four miles, the Clarke Bluff track being about two miles and most difficult to make a road. “From there on to. the Thomas Bluff i s all AM, with the exception of 'NTisenn’s Biu'T below the Clarke hut. Tin's bluff would mot be verv costly to make a road* through, as the formation is good. From the Bluff track to the Thomas Bluff is 15 m lcs. all 'fiat ground, the Thomas , Bluff be’og good for roading,. end also the podion iof flat down to the Big Bluff. There, "is also nothing difficult to contend wi h nn this bluff, as the' distance ’s onlv short, and -from there on to Cuon’s .A* the sea coast .i s ell flat country, j The distance from Thomas Bluff t 0 Cron’s homestead is 11 miles, and then it woiTtd he an easy matter to connect J jm with the tVe«t Coast road at Maitnhi, where motor traffic vsi t s regularly in the winter months,”