PAEKAKARIKI HILL.

Shannon News, 13 March 1923, Page 3

PAEKAKARIKI HILL.

PROTECTIVE MEASURES URGED. During a discussion at Saturday's meeting of the .mrowhenua -County Council, Cr. F. J. Ryder expressed,the opinion that Hi© view from the Hill was responsible for many of the accidents there. People were so busy ad miring the landscape, that they forgot the necessity for “safety first.” The Hutt County Council wrote advising that “the Wellington Automobile Club had offered to contribute the sum of £IOO towards the fencing, of the, Paekukariki Hill road, but, as the road is’ principally used by foreign traffic, the Council feel that the ratepayers ' (Whareroa Riding)., who would be.called upon to find the balance of the ' inoney (approximately £400) would not receive anything like a return for the inoney, inasmuch as the road is not used by them to that extent, and therefore, if some further hefp is not forthcoming, the scheme will probably have to be abandoned. It has been suggested that some of the local bodies to the north of us, whose ratepayers frequently use the road, might be interested in the proposal, and perhaps would like to 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 contribution.” *

A subsequent letter mentioned that the matter was dealt with by the Hutt County Council before the recent fatal accident on ’ the hill. .

The Chairman said they all realised the great danger of the Paekakariki Hill, and also that the road m the Hutt County passed through land that could not be rated Very highly. But while they had had their difficulties, Horowhenua also had theirs. Possibly the latter were as -highly rated as ,the Hutt. He did not see how Horowhenua could make ja, contribution that would be of any use. Cr. Harkness agreed with the Chairman and said the matter was a national one, and not the responsibility of the local bodies. If Horowhenua was interested, so was every local body northward to Taranaki. It should not be shouldered by this county or the 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 that 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 of Paekakariki to assist in the matter. A permanent fence was what was required on the lower side, as it 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 that the Council was in sympathy with the Hutt County, but considered that the matter was a national one, and should be handled from that point of view. Cr. McLeavey seconded the motion.

The Chairman asked whether they were'justified in granting money for work outside the county. They Jiad half a dozen such requests already. The motion was carried.