GOVERNOR’S BAY HIGHWAY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27664, 21 May 1955, Page 2

GOVERNOR’S BAY HIGHWAY

RECOMMENDATION ON SEALING COUNCIL CONSIDERS WATER SCHEME When a deputation of Governor’s Bay residents waited on the Mount Herbert County Council at Purau yesterday to ask that early consideration be given to the sealing of the main highway through Governor’s Bay, its members were told that the council had, earlier, decided to recommend to the Ministry of Works that the work should start from tire Governor’s Bay end. The deputation comprised Messrs W. F. Tracy, T. Bell, R. T. Chibnail, H. L. Thiele and Mrs John Davidson. Its speakers also asked the council to consider providing a water supply for Governor’s Bay, and a grant towards a community centre. Mr Tracy said there was no need to emphasise to the council the problems caused in Governor’s Bay by the dust raised from the highway. Residents were almost unanimous that the highway should be sealed from the end of the present sealing through to AUandale.

Mr Traqy read letters from the Governor’s Bay Sunday School, an orchardist, the Governor’s Bay School Committee and the vestry of St. Cuthbert’s Church, complaining about the state of the highway, and emphasising the danger to children. Mrs Davidson said it was impossible to keep homes on the unsealed highway clean because of he heavy traffic at week-ends especially, and during the week. “At week-ends, the cars come through in batches of up to 15 at a time, and apart from the dust, this constitutes a terrible danger to children. With the clouds of dust, tne question arises: Can the children see the traffic, or can the traffic see the children?” she said. Mr Bell urged the council to do something about the road “before it is too late.”

The chairman (Mr V. B. Jaggar) told the deputation that the council had already decided to recommend to the Ministry of Works that the next stage of the reconstruction and sealing programme should start from Governor’s Bay. Discussing provision of a water supply for the bay, Mr Chibnall asked the council for an engineering survey. Mr Thiele asked the council to support the move for the establishment of a community centre. The residents, he said, looked to the council for a lead.

After the deputation had withdrawn it was decided, on the motion of Cr. W. G. Witte, to ask the Lyttelton Borough Council whether it could supply water for Governor’s Bay, and it was agreed that if the reply was favourable, the engineer (Mr E. G. S. Powell) should be asked to investigate this and alternative schemes. Referring to the request for help for the community centre, Cr. D. Cresswell said that the council should make a subsidy available to the residents.

Cr. W. S. Coop opposed this, saying that the council should consider making a grant when it saw that residents were prepared to help themselves. It was decided that the council make a preliminary grant of £so’ towards the project.