NEW COASTAL ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 259, 2 November 1931, Page 8

NEW COASTAL ROAD.

HICKS BAY TO OPOTIKI.

NEARING COMPLETION

BEAUTIFUL SCENIC ROUTE

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

OPOTIKI, Sunday.

The new East Coast Road from Hicks Bay to Opotiki is Hearing completion, and it is now possible for cars to make the journey-in dry weather j although many obstacles and sand stretches have to be surmounted. The road has been formed for about 10 miles beyond Hicks Bay, bringing it to within about two miles of Cape Runaway settlement. A deviation is now in hand, and with the completion of this the road will be: taken as far as McNiven's Saddle, from which there will be a satisfactory road down to the settlement.

j Good progress is being made also at [the Opotiki end, but the absence of bridges in some places is a serious drawback. When itlic two sections of road are linked up and bridged, much of the northern coast traffic may be : diverted from the present Motu route.. ' The coastal highway should prove an attraction to tourists who have no objection to narrow roads. The coastal scenery is simply beautiful, and there is wonderful native bush in abundance. Accommodation houses are to be found at nearly all the settlements, and there are many.ideal camping sites on the sea coast amongst the scarlet pohutukawas. Near the Motu Eiver bridge there are at the present time acres of yellow kowhais in bloom. These trees present a glorious sight, and continue blooming for many weeks. .

It is understood that a large number of men'from the abandoned East Coast railway works will be transferred by the Government to-work on the new road in the vicinity of Hicks Bay. This should result in the work b-f completion being considerably hastened, and at the same time' it is expected that the high standard of road-making by the Public Works Department will result in a, tine section^of.road being-naade.