A RUINED ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1926, Page 6

A RUINED ROAD

INDIGNATION MEETING AT TAITA.

The state of what ii officially known as the main eaat arterial road, more commonly called the main road, particularly that portion of it between the northern boundary of the Lower Hutt borough and the Taita Gorge, wai severely criticised and condemned by a largely attended meeting held in the Taita Hall on Monday night. Mr. F. S. Hewer occupied the chair. Mr- 11.I 1. H. Cooper detailed the steps that nad been taken to bring the matter before the Hutt County Council, and reported the result of an interview which a deputation had last Friday with the finance Committee of that body. Mr. Foley also dealt v/ith certain aspects of the situation responsible for the non-com-pletion of the bitumen track, and moved the following resolution, which was carried unanimously:— "That this meeting of ratepayers of Epuni Riding of the County of Hutt, and ot motorists using the main east arterial road, enters an emphatic protest to the Hutt County Council ai to the dangerous state of that road from Park avenue to the Taita Gorge, and requests the council to call upon the responsible body to fulfil its obligations by completing the bitumen on this section of that road;, or, in the alternative, to put it in a reasonable and safe condition before the winter." Mr. M'Arthur pointed out that the length of bad road between Park avenue and the Taita Church was only a mile and three-quarters in length, but it was very rapidly going from bad to worse, and that a day or two after the grader had been put over it the metal was scattered as much as over. He moved:— - "That this meeting protests to the Minister of Public Works and Railways against the non-completion of the work on this small section of road (IK miles), which would extend the bitumen track as far as the Public Works and Railway Departments will allow it to be carried, and being convinced that this section could be finished before the oncoming winter, invites the Minister of Public Works and Railways to personally inspect the road, feeling sure that as a result of such inspection he will agree with our protest and accede to our request." The matter of the closing of the Ngahauranga Gorge and the resultant increase of traffic by the main east arterial road was pointed out by Mr. V. Pemberton, who moved:— "That this meeting views the matter as one of pressing and particular urgency from the fact that this road, will, become the only main-arterial road, carrying the whole of the traffic of the North Island to and from Wellington during the time the Ngahauranga Gorge is dosed, though at the present, time it cannot with safety carry its ordinary daily traffic." After discussion the motion was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. A deputation was Bet up with instructions to seek the co-operation of the Hutt County Council and tne Wellington Automobile Association to place the resolutions before the' Minister of Public Works and Railways. mmtmmm