NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 16

NELSON NEWS

GOLDEN BAY ACCESS

A SHIPPING EVENT

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

NELSON, February 2.

For a number of years tb.2 improvement of the Takaka Hill road, the only road outlet from the Golden Bay district, has been the subject of deputations and many requests to the Government, and while at Takaka, in reply to another deputation, on the same matter, the Hon. J. Bitchener, Minister of Public Works, announced that the Main Highways Board had decided to spend £20,000 on the road in the near future. As an old county chairman himself, Mr. Bitchener said, the bringing into existence of the Main Highways Board was one of the finest things instituted in regard to the Dominion's roading problems. The councils could not have maintained the roads out of their old rates, and the formation of the board had come at a time when maintenance work was becoming too much for the counties. The Minister said he knew representations had, been made for improvements to the Takaka Hill road through Mr. K. J. Holyoake, M.P., and the Hon. Adam Hamilton when the latter visited Takaka last year. The Highways Board had decided to carry out. widening and general improvements to the hill road by the expenditure of £16,800, also to construct a deviation on the summit of the hiil at a cost-of £8000. The Unemployment Board would assist in providing the finance for the work, and the local bodies would not be asked to contribute. This decision showed that the board was not unmindful of the requirements of the district. (Applause.) It was intended to give the road a width of 20 feet. The deviation at the top of the hill would do away with some dangerous corners and steep inclines in the road, including the portion known as Hawk's Craig. Mr. A. H. Barnett, chairman of the Takaka County Council, said h: was sure the information announced by the Minister would give the people of Golden Bay great satisfaction. I^HE ROTORUA'S VISIT. The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Rotorua, which berthed at Nelson last evening, is the largest vessel ever to visit Nelson. The vessel has a gross tonnage of 12,112 tons, and a length of 535 feet. The Harbourmaster (Captain H. Collins) brought the vessel in with the greatest of ease, and there was a large crowd of interested' spectators along the waterfront and on the wharf. The Rotorua will discharge 1600 tons of cargo and load 16,000 carcasses of frozen mutton and a quantity of wool. SUCCESSFUL REGATTA. Nelson Harbour presented an animated scene on Anniversary Day when the Regatta Committee heH a most successful fixture. . The calm water suited the motor and speed boats, but there was only a gentle breeze for the sailers. It is some years since a regatta was held in Nelson, and the interest taken in the events augured well for the future success of the club. It is.intendea to revive the one-time popular custom of a regatta on February 1. The results -were as follows:— Sailing Boat Race, Open Handicap.— Scandal, handicap smin (Johnson), 1; Valkyrie, scr (Collins), 2; Tainui, 7min (B. Highet),3. Time, lhr 38min. Handicap Launch Race, for boats not exceeding 10 miles-per hour; 3 miles.— Viking, handicap 3min 35sec (Nalder and Biddle), 1; Awanui, 6min 39seo (G. A. Day), 2; Ivy, limit (Mcßride), 3. Times, 20min, 16sec, 17min 44sec, 24min 31sec. • Rowing Race.—Allen, Lamb, McKenzie, Holbrook, and Forster (cox), 1; G. P. Russell, Mayson, Harper, Tiller, and Graham (cox), 2: Won by one and a half lengths. . Swimming Race.—Frank (3min), 1; Marks (scr), 2; Greenem (30sec), 3Burt, (30sec), 4. Times, 19min 30sec 16min 45sec. Handicap Speedboat Race, for boats over 10 miles per hour, 3 miles.—Happy. Days, lmin (Fields), 1; Golden Wings, 3min 7sec (Lamb), 2; Huka, lmin 33sec (Greenslade), 3. Times, 12min 25sec, lOmin 39sec, 13 mm 20sec. Sailing Boat'Race.—Snipe (Baigent), 1; Spartan (Day), 2; Queen ■ Mab (Baird), 3; Rustler (Cook, Riwaka), 4. Times, lhr 19min 55sec, lhr 21min 15sec, lhr 22min 30sec. Rowing Race.—Jarvis, Russell, Harper, Chidley, and Graham (cox), 1Pushman, Gubb, Forster, Collier, and Forster (cox). Handicap Race, open to all launches, 6 miles.—Dalgety, Bmin 36sec (Calder Moteuka), 1; Lady Ann (Montgomery), 2; Iris, limit (Syder), 3. Times, 25min Bsec, 37min 23sec, 44min 23sec.