PAEKAKARIKI HILL,

Otaki Mail, 14 March 1923, Page 3

PAEKAKARIKI HILL,

PROTECTIVE MEASURES URGED. During a discussion at Saturday's meeting of the -*orowhenua County Council, Cr. F. 3. Ryder expressed the opinion lhal ihe view from the Hill was responsible for many of the accidents there. People were so busy ad miring the" landscape that they lorgol the necessity for "safely -Jlrst." The Hun County Comcil wrote 'id-

vising that "the Wellington Automobile Club had offered to contribute ihe

urn of £IOO towards the fencing .it-

he Paekakariki Hill road, bin, as iie road is principally used by forigti traffic, the Council fee] that, ihe

-atepayers (Whareroa Ridirig), who would be called upon to find the balI ance of the money (approximately ! £400) would noi receive anything tike a return for the money, inasmuch as the road i». not used by them to That extent, and therefore, il some further help is not forthcoming, the scheme will probably have to he abandoned. It has been suggested that soma of Ihe local bodies to the north of us, whose ratepayers frequently use the road, might, be interested in ihe proposal, and perhaps would like lo offer a contribution, which, with others, might make the financing of the scheme practicable, this Council, of course, would in that case make a substantial j contribution." !

A subsequent letter mentioned that the matter was dealt with by ihe Hutt County Council before the recent fatal accident on the'hill. The Chairman said they all realised the great danger ot the Paekakariki Hill, and also that the road in ihe Ibm County passed through land that coidd not be rated very highly. But while they had had their difficulties, riorowheuu-a also had theirs. Possibly the latter were as highly rated as the Hutt, Me did not see how Horowhenun could make a contribution that would be of any use.

Cr. Harkness agreed with the Chairman and said the mailer was a national one, and not the responsibility of the local bodies. It Horowhenun was interested, so was every local body northward "to Taranaki. It should not he shouldered by ibis county or thp Hutt. Cr. Ryder said the cause of the accidents on the Hill was largely the altitude Of the road. People were looking out to sea, with the result thai they lost control of their cars. The other side of the Hill was much more dangerous, but there was not one accident there for ten on, this side. It was up to every Council north id Paekakariki to as-i.-i in the matter. A permanent fence was what was required on the lower side, as il would lessen the danger. If the local bodies gave £lO each they would be able to do it. Cr. Harkness moved that a reply be sent thai the Council was in sympathy witli ihe Hun County, but considered that the matter war; a national one, and should be handled from Hut point of view. Cr. McLenvey seconded (he motion. The Chairman asked whether they were justified in granting money [or work outside ihe county. The? had half a dozen such requests already. The motion was carried