A MOUNTAIN ROAD.

Shannon News, 1 June 1926, Page 3

A MOUNTAIN ROAD.

TO CONNECT EKETAKUNA WITH

SHANNON. WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DISAPPROVES. “The request from. the Shannon Chamber of Commerce to- the Wellington Chamber urging the linking up and completion of a seven mile gap am the road between Shannon and Eketahuna over the Mangahao ranges has been considered, but, on the facts before them they have no recommendation to make. The cost in all probability would be out of all proportion to any saving in haulage, and there appears some doubt as to whether a large amount of traffic would be attracted •to the road, and an rinquiry has been addressed to the Shannon’ Chamber for further information upon these points. While fully appreciaative of the advantages of a shortened and alternative route between the Waararapa and lower Manawatu districts, it is very doubtful whether a large expenditure would as yet be jusifled, and it' appears a considerable amount wofuld be needed to connect the two roads.” The above was toe report, of the Highways and Transport Committee to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on the request for backing a proposal to continue the Mangaliao Ftoad over the mountains from: Shannon, to’ Eketahuna.

In referring to the project at last meeting of the Chamber, Mr Andrew Fletcher stated to at he had gone very carefully into the matter with the district engineer, and had come to the conclusion that the . proposal was not one of practical politics. During the time the dam for the hydro electric scheme was in course of construction it took six men constantly employed to maintain the road, which, was always slipping, and he had been assured that if such maintenance were droppel the road would revert to a state oif nature in six months. That bit of road led up to a height of 1300 ft., but it would mean going up to 3000 ft. to get over the mountains, and that in almost inaccessible country that was useless for settlement of any kind. Certainly ifor toe purposes of a week-end motor trip it- would be interesting scenically, but there ivere many places requiring roads more than this. It was all very well for the Shannon Expansion League and Chamber of Commerce to wish to boost their scenery, but it was nota fair charge against the consolidated revenue to go to toe expense of a road, which was likely to cost anything between £50,000 and £60,000. Mr G. Mitchell said he had been over the Mangaliao road several times during the course of the construction of the dam, but to continue it over the gap of seven miles of mountains {was impossible. The thing was ridiculous. Such a road would serve no useful purpose, save to give a few r. ople a trip over the mountains. Mr Fletcher stated that toe cost of haulage. to the dam only worked out at 3s per ton per mile, and on top Of that there was the cost of having to widen and maintain’ the road. It was best to advise the Shannon Chamber that they did not t think the road a feasible proposition. That answer was unanimously agreed to.