DANGEROUS CORNER AT KOPUTAROA.

Shannon News, 16 April 1926, Page 3

DANGEROUS CORNER AT KOPUTAROA.

COUNTY TO TAKE STEPS. - The Levin Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd., wrote to the Horowhenua County Council at its meeting on Saturday stating that at a recent meeting of directors a resolution was passed, in reference to the dangerous bend in the road at the Koputaroa store, reading as follows: "That this meeting recommends the.-,County Council to remove some of t-lie spoil on'the corner opposite the store at Koputaroa, and, if necessary, purchase additional land to make this corner safe for motor traffic." The Directors stated they would appreciate any action taken by the Council to make this corner safe for motor traffic. Mr E. D. Bell, chairman of a Koputaroa residents' meeting, advised he had been instructed to write the Council, and again point out that something should be done to minimise the danger at the corner in front of the writer's store. As the cutting leading up to the .hill'from the store is very narrow, the meeting suggested that the County Council should take steps to procure a piece of land from the Native owners, for the purpose of widening the cutting. Within the last three weeks, two fatal accidents had been averted only through the presence of mind of the drivers of the respective vehicles. This corner has been discussed by the Council at previous meetings, and the writer understood that improvements were authorised. /He would like to urge, on behalf of residents, and all users of the road, that the Council treat this as'an urgent matter. The Chairman (Mr Monk) said the first thing he knew of this matter, was at a meeling at Koputaroa some little time ago, when it) had been mentioned by Mr Bell. That -was. the only recollection he had of the subject being brought before the Council. The speaker suggested the question should be referred to the incoming Council, for their favourable consideration when framing the "esti. mates.

Cr. Ryder said he would also like to point out the existence of a grave error at a similar corner at Otaki, near the Otaki Dairy Co.'s factory. •■ A small portion of land had been taken by the Council, which had been found insufficient, and twice the amount of legal expense was involved in-order, to procure additional land, when an extra expense of something like £5 in the initial instance, would have covered the whole portion. Cr. Broadibelt remarked that the matter of improving the Koputaroa cutting had been brought before the Council some months prior to the meeting at Koputaroa. He also had. some recollection of the Engineer having been instructed.to take a certain amount off the store side of the bank, and so widening the cutting. That had not been done. Unfortunately, there had recently, been two very close shaves to accidents there. Perhaps' one hundred per cent of-the accidents that occurred were the fault of the drivers, who did not observe the rules of the road. It was going to cost the Levin Dairy Company £SO for repairs to one of its big lorries which had to be run into the bank, to save an approaching lorry travelling on the wrong side of. the road. If the lorry driver had failed to be in good control of his lorry, the other vehicle would have been smashed to atoms. If, say, six feet were taken off the post office corner slope at Koputaroa and up the hill, it would give drivers a better view of oncoming cars, and those standing in front of the post office. That would fill the bill. Probably, if the rules; ol: the road were observed, there would be no need for an accident anywhere, in New Zealand. Cr. Harkness said this was a burnin <* question, and he had a recollection of the matter. He would like to ask the Engineer if anything could be done at once. * Cr. Catley: ll' you widen the road to two chains, the; cars will still stick to the corner. The Engineer said he thought so, if ■there was provision on the estimates. He could put men on at once if the work was authorised. -Finally Cr. Broadbelt moved that the Kngineer be instructed to at once take not less than six feet off the right hand bank of the approach ol the cutting beyond the store at Koputaroa, and to shift the culvert over the necessary distance. This was carried. Cr. Barber said the most necessary thing was vision—perhaps more important than widening the road.