ROADS AND TRACKS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 24, 27 July 1929, Page 10

ROADS AND TRACKS

ACCESS IN EARTHQUAKE

AREAS

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

NELSON, 26th July. The Public Works Department is making good progress with tho work of providing access to isolated areas in the earthquake district. The District Engineer (Mr. L. May) speaking to a reporter to-day gave particulars of the work being done. Tho Murcbison-Glenliope road is now available for traffic weighing uot more than six tons (load and vohicle). Construction work is proceeding on the Murchison-Ecefton main bighway between the Six-Mile and Eight-Mile creeks. Arrangements were made to employ 50 refugees on this work, but as only one or two offered themselves the bulk of the labour had to be obtained elsewhere.

Stock tracks have been opened up over the Doughboy into tho Lower Jlarui and up the Mangles and Nuggety Valleys. A track has been made uj, the right bank of the Owen River, and the track on the other bank is in hand. The Gowan road track is completed and work has been begun on a six-foot" track to give access to MidMaruia, via Shenandoah.

The formation of a track from Murcliison through the Buller Gorge has been commenced, but the rate at which the work will proceed depends on how soon tho movement of the country ceases.

A request was made of the Minister of Public Works by Mr. H. B. Holland in tho House of Representatives yesterday i'or the Murchison-Lyoll road which was practically obliterated in the recent earthquake disturbances, and other main roadf similarly affected, to bo reconstructed and opened as soon as possible. It had been saia that tho road would not be restored for about twelve months, but he urged that the work should bo expedited, as access by road was part of the necessary means of transport and distribution