MOTOR TRAFFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 255, 21 October 1908, Page 4

MOTOR TRAFFIC.

To the Editor.

Sir, —In your Monday's paper appears a local in which the statement is made that a motor-car covered the distance from the Mountain House to New Vlymo nth (19 1-3 miles) in 65 minutes, and this, too, in the dark. This may look all very well from the standpoint of the driver as showing his skill, but there l is another and very important side to the question that I wish to draw your attention to. Now, anyone who knows the road will at once see -that 65 minutes in broad daylight is an excessive speed, as the sharp turns, hidden as they are by the bush oi the distance from the house to the gate, make a liigli speed a positive danger to any conveyance coming in the opposite direction, and the six miles from there to Egmont Village, being so narrow, renders a high speed most undesirable. This is taking it from a daylight standpoint, but in. the dark the lack of thought and consideration for horsemen and vehicles who may be using the road is altogether beyond my comprehension. If the road was a straight one, the same width all the way as it is to Kgmont Village, with daylight to do it in, the position would not be quite so bad, but, knowing the road as I do, the s peed ruii is one that will not be tolerated. In saying' tills I speak advisedly, as, anxious as 1 am to help in. opening up this holiday resort, and willing enough to see every facility for reaching it in comfort, such reports of reckless driving are not going to improve the position; and my reason for thus writing is that the question of motor tralfic has been already before the Board, and is sure to come up again, at the annual meeting to be held shortly. The matter cropped up as a result of objections already raised to motor traffic by those using horse vehicles to reach the Dawson's Falls house, and 1 know that this kind of breakneck speed will merely result in very drastic regulations being framed to keep in check drivers who evidently think the whole road is their, and, according to your local, act accordingly.—l am, etc., W. A. C'OIjLIS, Chairman North Egmont Committee.