PAEKAKARIK! HILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1959, 1 April 1919, Page 3

PAEKAKARIK! HILL.

GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF ARTERIAL ROADS. MIL W. 11. FIELD’S SUGGESTIONS. The following correspondence has passed between Mr W. H. Field, M.lVfor Otaki, and the Minister for Public Works: — Wellington, March 21, 1919. The Hon. the Minister of Public Works. Dear Sir. —Some weeks back I introduced a deputation to you from (he Hull County Council, seeking Government assistance to render the Paekakariki Hill road safer for traffic, particularly for motor vehicles. On that occasion I pointed out to you how absurd it was that this narrow, sleep and dangerous road should he portion of the main highway from (he capital city to Palmerston North, Wanganui and Ta-

ranaki, when nature had provided a much easier route from Paremata (o Paekakariki by way of Plimmer--1 on, Pukenui ami the sea coast. I understand the Paekakariki hill road al its highest point reaches an elevation of something like 900 foot above sea level, Avhcrcas by Avay of Pukerna the highest point would he under 300 feet, ami the distance saved would be about four miles. The traffic over Ihe lull is increasing daily, ami accidents, some of (hem fatal, have been frequent. Even experienced drivers of motor

vehicles find this road a strain of their nerves. Accidents will certainly increase in number until the road is widened and graded in places, and a fence or concrete curbing erected, and (his should be done without delay. But this road, which is dangerous on both sides of the hill, cannot, except at enormous expense, be rendered (it for the traffic it now carries, lo say nothing of the needs of the future. The time has most certainly arrived, particularly in view of (he danger to life and limb, when the question of a better route should receive attention at the hands of the Government, and my object in writing is to ask that early steps shall be taken to provide a new road, either the one I have mentioned by way of Pukerua, or a better one if available, sm as lo avoid the hill and its dangers. For the purpose of rendering the progressive township and district of Pliinmerton accessible, a Ira flic, bridge should be built near the present I’aremala railway bridge across (he northern arm of the I’orirna Harbour. Some years ago the Hull County Council and I asked that the Government should assist in this work, and a well-known settler, since deceased, offered to contribute £SOO towards the cost. The Government of the day could not see their way to assist at that time, the offer was withdrawn, and tilings have remained in their present undeveloped state ever since. 1 believe, too, (hat just at the beginning of the war a deputation waited on you lo urge the con si ruction of this traffic bridge, and a road from it to Plimmerton, and you then expressed yourself as favourable to the project, and stated that while nothing could be, done during the war period, you would like to hear more

of it when the w;ir was over. Sinee ■> then both traffic and settlement have inerensed eons idem bly at Plimmerton and elsewhere along the, ManaAvatu Line, and (he question of improved access with the city has be |

come a pressing one. Beween Plimmerton and Pukerua there is no engineering difficulty,

and part of the road near Pukerna has already been constructed. After leaving Pnkerua the sea coast would have to be folloAved for a distance of two miles or more. It is true that, the steep hills rise almost direct from the beach, but ample room for a roadAvay could be found by constructing a concrete wall, for which there is solid rock formation. Unfortunately, the natural protection of part of this coast line, namely the large loose boulders Avhieh broke the force of Aveslerly seas, were years ago removed at great expense, notwithstanding my protest, for the construction of the sea Avail along the Mult Hoad. I need hard,]y point out (hat this is not a local matter by any means, but affects practically the Avholc of that portion of the North Island lying betAveen Wanganui and New Plymouth. Indeed, it is a work of great national importance. The development of the AlanaAvatn line is retarded by its present unsatisfactory and dangerous road access (o nnd from the city, and (he poor railway service Avhieh it’has had to endure for years. It seems hopeless to expect* any improvement of the last named service in the near future, and this fact furnishes further reason for considering the improvement of access bv road.

A suggestion has been made that a fitting memorial to New Zealand's heroic dead would be the consliiu-t (ion and construction of national highways from one end of (he country to the other, and surely there should be no more fitting monument, The Honourable Mr Herbsman,. of

the United States, when speaking at Levin recently, dealt with the development of conditions connected with transportation problems, and made special reference to.railways and highways. He said good roads were of special interest to New Zealand, just as they were in America, and that the greatest blessing that ever came to America was the motor car, for it made good roads a necessity. He described the great trans-continental arterial road from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 4,000 miles long, on which it was possible to average, including'’ stoppages,

thirty miles per hour by motor car from coast to coast. In the Uunitcd States there are, I believe, seven of these great roads traversing the country from end to end, and every State in the Union has planned its roads to link up with these great national highways.

We in this little country cannot hope to compete witht the United States in this respect, but we can. profitably take a lesson from that great country in establishing State national highways, and now that the Avar is over the time has come to gi\’e attention to this splendid project. The question of cost is. a minor one compared with the enormous benefits which would folloAV, and money 7 could not well be better expended. One of such .national highways,, could be the road I have been discussing, to connect the Empire City witli the cities, towns and farming districts to the north, and I trust the Government Avill lose no time in adopting the national memorial proposal as I understand has already been done in France, and make a beginning by taking in hand the essential road which forms the subject mailer of (his letter. —Yours faithfully, (Signed) W. IT. FIELD. Wellington, March 27, 1919.

The Hon. the Minister of Public Works,

Deal' Sir. —Since writing you on the 21st insianl, I have taken the (wo enclosed clippings, one from “Tiie Levin Chronicle/' and the other .from “The Manawaln Tieraid,” on the subject of the proposed national highway tneinoriar to commemorate onr soldiers who Toll in the war. The.se clippings happen to lie from (wo newspapers in my own district. Doubtless many newspapers in the Dominion have dealt with the subject, and yon have probably already given it some consideration. The more thought ] give to it, the more am I satisfied that we could not keep the memories of oar dead heroes greener in the minds of the, people than by adopting this form of monument.

The clipping from “The Manawatn Herald” is from the pen of Mr Frederick Lincoln Smith, in “The New York Evening Post,” and contains many valuable suggestions which should he considered if, ns I hope, the Government decide to adopt: the scheme. In addition lo (he atonal road line, adjoining spaces •should he acquired in suitable’spots for the purpose of beautitieation by planling native trees .and shrubs, and here stone monuments should ho erected upon which lo engrave the names of soldiers ,in the district who have sacrificed (heir lives for (he cause of (he Empire and humanity. I lie highways, bridges and grounds could be named after distinguished Few Zealand soldiers, I have long been in favour of the nationalisation of (lie main arterial roads of the country, and have many times advocated, inside Parliament and out, their acquisition by (lie Government. The time is now, w my opinion, ripe for the State to lake over these roads and to convert and develop some of (hem into national memorial highways.— Yours Faithfully, (Signed) W. H. FIELD.