A DIFFICULT CONTRACT.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17227, 18 August 1921, Page 3

A DIFFICULT CONTRACT.

BABRYTOWN BOAD.

(SPECIAI 10 "THB MESS.") GREYMOUTHi August 17,

One of the most important and most difficult; contracts undertaken on the West Coast has been the road to connect Barrytown with Greymouth. Until this road is completed the only means of access for settlers in tflie growing farming district of Barrytown is /the dangerous route by the beach round the Ten Mile Bluff, negotiable only at lon tide. The inadequacy of the beach route has long been recognised, and many narrow escapes from accidents have been recordea. It is unfortunate that the forces of Nature appear to bo working against the contractors, making the task dangerous and arduous. The latest tnidhap has occurred at Baty's Hill. On two occasions previously slips have taken portion of the alreadyformed road intb '.he sea. Some idea of the difficulties may be gained when it is stated that the road is being cut out of an almost perpendicular cliff face. Below the road is a sheer drop of 200 feet to the sea. while above towers 1000 feet of rock. In order to cany out drilling operations prior to blasting away the rock, the workmen were slung along the cliff face by ropes. Recently, at Baty's Hill, the workmen had just enough time to get themselves out of the danger fcone when 600 tons of rook crashed down on the' iiewlyformed road. Some thousands of. tons of rock hare now been swept down and blocked the road; also the beach which is used as a road. The telegraph wires were all carried away and communication entirely cut off. Some boulders which dropped to the beach are the size of an ordinary house, and gelignite will be necessary to remove them. The road has been formed.to Barrytown, but these slips necessitate much extra work. A .washout also occurred at Gorge Creek, and considerable filling-in will have to be done there.