NEW ROUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 16 July 1929, Page 6

NEW ROUTE

NELSON TO WEST COAST TIWP THROUGJM IVIARUIA FIRST OA/l JOUfINKY The first cars on the now NelsonCoast route via the Manna ran yesterday. Mr ('. R. Duke, of Nelson, was the first passenger to come through from Rccflon, and ho gave a "Mail" reporter a most interesting account of the journey. "Leaving Reefton at 10.20 a.m. yesterday morning after a business visit to Weslport and Greymquth," said Air Duke, "we had a good trip up to Rahn. saddle, with only one small slip, on which men arc working and which is not likely to give, much trouble. The road is narrow but has a good surface. As the saddle was approached wo got into fi feet to 10 feet of snow—-feu, miles of it, but frozen hard and it gave no trouble. There was no delay in reaching Marina river, which was just, foi'dable with the help of a waggon and team of horses. Newman's have made excellent arrangements here for a team under "the able management of Mr Williscroft. Passengers and baggage are taken over first, and then the car is towed through. MAGNIFICENT SCENERY "The scenery in this portion of the trip was niignifieont 'the hills were heavily clad in snow and bright sunshine. The river would have been unfordable on the previous day, but normally ought to give no trouble for cars to go under their own power. "There was a good road on down through the Marina Valley, and after lunch at Lesters (which lias been arranged by Newman's) the Maruia saddle was negotiated. This is very winding and tortuous, but easily passable, with small slips all cleared, ' We came down on to the. Matakitaki without difficulty .until the' main slip, ton' miles 'from Murchison, was reached, and here it was necessary to walk four miles as the terrace has slipped on to the road. This is rapidly being cleared and proparations are being made for a new road. Already a large gang of men are at work and 50 more were to start to-day.

"Our car was met here by Mi Jack Newman and five passengers", who had , walked over the slip, on route for Reefton. Only two of us were coming this way, one for the Owen, and wo got aboard for Murchison. During the week-end a heavy flood had brought' down much silt on' to the road above tho hew lake, but .a footbridge has been built and Newman's had pack horses for baggage. We walked partly on the. old road and partly over the new bridle track through the bush, and it was' not bad going. By the Matakitaki slip there is a scene of appalling desolation. With a broken house, a dead horse and broken farm carts, it looked like nothing so much as a portion of tho Somme battlefield. No photograph can give an adequate idea of the immensity of this slip. "Entering Alurchison, which looked desolate in the twilight on account of no lights, we were met by Dr. 'Potaka, 1 Mr Hugh Eraser, and many others and hospitably fed at the relief kitchen. "We arrived safely at Nelson, after a most interesting and varied trip. A pair of gum boots purchased in Greymouth were of inestimable valueMAIN IMPRESSIONS "The main impressions of the trip a'cre the wonderful work done by the Public. Works Department in getting the roads passable, and tho excellent organisation and enterprise of Newman Brothers in their efforts to maintain Coast communication. Had this trip not been arranged I should have had to come back via Greymouth and Chriatchurdh. The sceneiy and varied interests of the trip almost exceed the old route on account of being fsv the most part more open country, and given a week of decent weather there ought to be only one mile to walk instead of four, and in about a fortnight the road ■should be right through."