The Bush Advocate. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 THE MANAWATU GORGE ROAD

Bush Advocate, Volume XII, Issue 1753, 28 September 1899, Page 2

The Bush Advocate. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 THE MANAWATU GORGE ROAD

« TnE condition of this road, which ii a link in the chain of tho main road extending from tbe Manawatu to Napier, is such as to be pronounced almost a ' disgrace to those bodies which are supposed to look after its maintenance. TV road is greatly used by cattle drivers, tourists, bicycle riders, and wheeled traffic, but in consequence of the mauy slips which come down from the Gorge, and no attempt boing made to clear away the debris, it is almost impassable. True, tho railway runs along the same line, and it way be argued that tho road is not now such a virtual necessity as it was before the iron horse waa introduced, but besausethe journey can be done by train is thaj any reason why people should be prevented from travelling by road? Main roads wore made for tbe convonionco of the public, and they should be kept in a passable condition. Tho supervision of the Gorge road is supposed to be in charge of thaPahiatui County Council and tha Manchester Road Board, but apparently it is left to take care of itself. The portion of road under, control of the Pahiatua County Council bears evidence of lome slight attempt baing made to make it passable ; but that part which ia looked after by the Manchester Road Board is in a most dilapidated condition, slips being met with, and these almost impassable, •very few hundrad yavds. Now we ara quite aware that public bodies do not care about spending more money than they can possibly help, and they are to be commended for taking care that expenditure ia confined to necessary existing and new works ; but tha Manawatu road is differently circumstanced from other roads, and in all fairness should get a portion of the money collected on it expended on maintenance. Thero are two tollsone at each end— and surely it is not to be supposed that the money thus collected i« only intended to swell the revenue of the Pahiatua County Council and the Manchester Road Board. We should imagine that the intention of levying the tolls was to provide money to keep the Manawatu Gorge road >. repair. However, it is very evident that any expenditure is of the moat meagre description or the road would not be in tho shameful condition that it is. There is no doubt that drastic measures are nooessai-y to remedy the present shameful sta te of affairs, and see that tho Manawatu Gorgeroad is kept in a fit state for traffic. Tho Pahiutua County Council and the Manchester Road Board must be compelled to keep the road in repair, and if they still demur at doing so, then the attention of tho Government should ba called to the lax way they are discharging their duty in regard to tbis road. Wo do not think tbere is any dosiro to take the control of the road out of the hands of those two bodies whioh have the oversight ; but if they will persist in doing littlo or nothing towards its maintenance, and use the revenue collected from ' it :>n other works, then it would be a matter for the Government to consider ■ the advisability of taking over the ] supervision of the road. By such action tho money colleoted at the tolls , would be expended in a legitimate manner in maintaining the road on i winch it was raised. By such u course 1 of procedure the Maaavvatu Gorge . t

road would soon b- i.u! in decent repair, and this ii;h,...v h^onie as popular a resort w.fh tourists b« it was oetoio it wus allowed to rail into its present impassable condition.