ARTERIAL ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 7 February 1927, Page 14

ARTERIAL ROAD

GEEYMOUTH TO WESTPORT

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—On , behalf of the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce, I would respectfally ask your assistance in giving publicity to a matter that is of the utmost importance to the West Coast, and the Dominion at large, as it concerns the completion of one of the main arterial roads, of the South Island, and would bring the West Coast in closer touch with the Empire City, as well as affording touring parties or visitors to these Dominions an opportunity of continuing their journey from Nelson or Blenheim on to Greymouth, or if they wished extend their journey to the Glacier, without having to traverse the same ground twice It would also bring Westport within three hours travelling from ■ Greymouth as against sis: hours at the present time, which from: a commercial and economic standpoint should appeal to the commercial community, as the completion of this road would enable business persons to arrive m Westport from the express train from Christchurch three hours after its arrival in' Greymouth, as against as at present either stopping in Greymouth or Keefton overnight, and continuing their journey the next day, and repeating the same performance on their return trip' The benefit to;the, public is apparent, as is also the speedier delivery of mails etc The Greymouth Chamber of Commerce and local bodies on the West Coast have been urging the necessity of the completion of this road for some time; and it might not be out of place to state a few facts in' connection.therewith.

This road has been constructed at intervals for the past fifty years or upwards, originally as a pack track, when it was essential for the-gold miners in the early days to get thoir food supplies, as the whole of the coastal line has been worked by the gold miner, and the road woiuUhave been formed to completion, but the chief.-obstacle was a very steep rock siding known as the Ten aiile Bluff, about that distance-north of Greymouth. This difficulty was overcome some few years ago and a good road formed by the present Government, linking up -with good portions until at present it is constructed to a few miles past what is known as Punakaikai.' ■-.-■

This locality and the surrounding beaches have become very popular resort for West- Coast residents, several of ■whom have built •week-end houses there and the locality is frequented by visitors trom all parts of the Dominion, as the route comprises some of the most beautiful sea and landscape scenery in the Dominion, and at Punakaikai there are some ■wonderful rock formations. For some time past -work has been completely discontinued, and, as a main arterial road the proposition has become useless, the only value being that it affords access to sightseers, and settlers en route, some of Whom have been waiting for upwards of forty years for the completion of the road to give them proper access to their farms, and in some cases the settlers have had ?° ,Biy® UE their holdings owing to their isolation, although even at the present time - the Government are cutting up blocks" for settlement. The total distance by coastal road from Greymouth to Westport is-sixty miles, and the whole of the formation has been made with the exception of one mile fifty chains, and this is the most difficult portion of the road to be completed, .as it is rock siding, but it is_not so difficult as the Ten Mile Bluff before-mentioned, as there is an absence ot nairpm bends, experienced at the Greymouth end. There is about a total of nve miles to be metalled, but this would not be an expensive matter, as there is ample material available adjacent to the formation. There are three bridges to construct, the first over Pox's Kiver at ™c Westport end, estimated at a cost of £7500, Porarari River Bridge £2000, and Punakaikai River Bridge £1500; these latter can only be called streams. The estimateto cover balance of formation and: metalling -would possibly run into £8500 and at a total cost of £20,000 the wholework should be complete, and it would mean the linking up by road' connection v- l wo coa^nK seaports of the Dominion, which should be of infinite value to the coal industry. ' I; personally visited Westport as presidentof the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce .to go thoroughly into the matter of time^and distances and see the whole route for myself. ,1 proceeded from Greymouth to Inangahua.Junction by rail, leavirfg Greymouth at 7.20 a.m., thence by motor to Westport, arriving in Westport at 1.20 p.m., exactly six hours, without any stoppages of any kind. .1 attended' a special public meeting at Westport, convened by the Westport District Progress League, and presided over by the Mayor, to urge on this work. The meeting was well attended by representative men of the district^ including the member, Mr. Eolland, and it was unanimously resolved to urge upon the Government to proceed with the completion of the work without further_ delay, the meeting being most, enthusiastic, and it was decided to give the;-matter as much publicity as possible owing Ho' its' national importance. >':.:■ I'left Westport at 1 p.m. the next day, and proceeded to the end of the formed road at Brighton by car, proceeding 'on horseback toward the Greymouth end. I was met at Punakaikai by motor-car and arrived at Greymouth at 4.50 p.m., thus making the journey in three hours fifty minutes, including stoppages, and could have reduced this time by half an hour if it' had been necessary. The" difference in. distance being forty miles less than via Inangahua Junction, but when it is taken into account that any person from Wellington or Nelson that has business to transact at Westport, and wishes to proceed to Greymouth or. link up with the Christchurch • express there, he would require 'to return via the' Buller Gorge, which is 27% miles from Westport, to again join the main road, the; same applies to tourists wishing to viewVthe Buller Gorge, but by the completion of this road they could proceed right on without returning the same road this would really mean the saving of 67% miles. , I have gone somewhat into details so that the pjiblic of New Zealand will understand the position, as from an economic and commercial standpoint the work is one of urgency. As a Dominion asset in the way of scenery I do "not think that the route, could be excelled in any part of the world. Words cannot' describe the grandeur and magnificence of the bush, nikau palms, land and seascape. There are also magnificent caves at 3?ox's River, which compare favourably with the famous Waitomo, but as yet they are unexplored, and would appreciate comments in this connection from any of your readers that may hare done this trig, as several ;tramping parties have walked through during the holidays. .My reason in ad: dressing you at the present time, is that public meetings have been held at Greymouth /recently and resolutions passed to the various Ministers, copies of which I attach for_ your information, urging upon them the immediate necessity of going on with this national work. At the moment there is not a man employed. The matter has been represented to the various Ministers of the Crown, and in August, 1926, the Hon. the Premier stated in the House that he hoped the work would be completed in 1927. However, nothing is being done, and the summer months are passing on, and we would ask your readers and their representatives in Parliament to interest themselves in speeding up this national work,' as there is nothing to prevent same, beipg completed before next summer. ■

We -have addressed Jvour- Chamber of Commerce on the subject, and trust with united effort on the part of the public that, the Government will push on this work' without further delay to completion, as, owing to the unemployment prevalent, it should suggest itself as a proposition of national importance in the'place of relief works.-*! am, etc.,

JOSEPH M'LBAN, President, Greymoutli Chamber ol Commerce.

4th February.