ISLAND ROUND TRIP

Evening Star, Issue 21993, 1 April 1935, Page 12

ISLAND ROUND TRIP

GREAT SOUTH ROAD SCHEME CONNECTING OTAGO AND WESTLAND FULL DETAILS OF ESTIMATES In the undeveloped parts of southern Westland the South Island has a great heritage. The country to be opened up is the people’s own estate—the large area of Crown lands. But between the present terminus of the highways at Weheka, near the Fox Glacier, and at Makarora, in Otago, there is a distance of 137 miles without roads. Th<s completion of this gap would provide a round tour of the South Island, the connecting link between Otago and Westland being over the Haast Pass, the lowest pass over the Southern Alps. The agitation for the construction of tlie road has been proceeding for many years, and a stimulus has been imparted by the circular just issued by the Westland County, headed * The Great South Road Extension.’In -a statement the District Public Works engineer at Greymouth estimates that the connecting road would cost £582,250, making due allowance for ■ the ; bridging of the numerous streams and larger rivers, the cost of bush felling and clearing, heavy rainfall, and the isolated nature of a large part of the work. He has been over the whole route and he has no hesitation in saying that a satisfactory road location, to obviate natural difficulties could be fairly readily obtained, and that, except oh a few sections, the gradient would be easy. Unless the road was well constructed in the first instance, flood damage in relation to culverts. bridges, and general surfacing would bo very high. ROUTE OUTLINED. On the Westland side the Main South road is open for motor traffic to Weheka (near the Fox Glacier), 107 miles south of Hokitika. The whole of this length of 107 miles is now a main highway. The distance from Weheka to Sie Haast, allowing for deviations from the present pack track, would be approximately ninety miles. The total distance therefore between the present termini of the road near Makarora (Otago) and Wheka is 137 miles. Immediately south of Weheka an 18ft road has been completed on a deviation for a distance of eight miles to the Oinetamatea stream south of the Cook River. The estimate to complete the bridges and metalling of this section is £33,000. From the Oinetamatea stream there is a narrow formed and metalled road to the Mahitahi, twenty-three miles distant. On this length the Karangarua River is unbridged, and also a number of smaller streams. A fairly extensive deviation of the road at the Karangarua has been surveyed to a selected bridge site near the foothills. From the Mahitahi to the Moeraki (or'Blue) River, a distance of nineteen miles, the formation is through easy undulating country—in fact, for a total distance of fifty miles from Weheka to the Moeraki River the road would run through practically flat country.

On the Otago side, the Hawea-Maka-rora road is formed and metalled to a point seven and a-half miles on the 'Haast Pass side of Makarora. The unformed length from this point to the Haast Pass is ten miles, and from the pass to the Main South road hear the mouth of the Haast River thirty-seven miles, being seventy-eight miles from Hawea and 112 miles from Cromwell. The elevation of the Haast Pass is 1,847 feet. An approximate estimate by the district engineer for the construction of the unformed length between Makarora and the Haast is £IBB,OOO, with 16ft formation and including bridging. There are no large rivers to be bridged on this section.

In his estimate of £4,250 a mile for 137 miles the engineer states; “This would allow for 18ft formation over at least half the distance through level and easy undulating country, and for a reduced width on the billy and more difficult rock sections.

In an explanatory note the clerk of the Westland County Council says that the work on the Westland side might be considered in the light of a three-years’ programme. “If put through, the results would be no less remarkable than in the case of the upper portion of the southern district, which has shown greater progress as stable conditions were provided for traffic,” he writes.

SOME POINTS

Points stressed are:— »

1. The provision of access to the Bruce Bay area brings a large extent of generally flat lands and river beds into greater usefulness. The road length will add to the scenic attractions of South Westland by providing a drive through a length of forest-bordered highway difficult to match in any part of New Zealand.

2. The road would afford facilities for dairying extending south. The nearest dairy factory is at Wataroa (about 45 miles), but that is not too remote for the transport of cream from Bruce Bay for butter making. Cream supplies are transported by road in the upper part of the district a greater length than would be involved in the locality referred to, and the extra supply would be a great help to the Wataroa settlers in the manufacture more economically of their regular supplies. 3. In the Bruce Bay area, that is, from the Cook River (south bank) to the Mahitahi River, there is an occupied area of about 160,000 acres (including several large runs). The capital valuation of the occupied land for local rating purposes Is about £50,000,. The population of the area has increased substantially since the last census. The local settlers generally represent families, sprung from the original pioneer settlers, and the families are increasing in number. A large sawmilling venture is being undertaken, and this is increasing the population of the district. The population will be an increasing quantity as soon as the access is assured, in keeping with the experience north. Suitable runs could be cut up, and ensure closer settlement and greater production, while _ the industrial population being established will be consumers of local Ptoduce, and inquire supply stores established for their general needs. The milling industry will require better access for urgent supplies, as regular shipping will not alwavs be available. At this time of the srear5 r ear .there is a daily motor service from Hokitika to Weheka, which m itself indicates the volume of traffic, and supplies can be obtained quickly as far as Weheka, but pack horse or horse and dray transport then begins and is slow and often delayed by floods. Recently telephone communication south of Weheka was interrupted and remained so for four days—due to two telephone poles being ■washed out of the Cook River, and the flood continuing prevented restoration. The horse mailman is held up at times for days by floods, which mean not only delay, hut danger to the umvary who attempt to ford the flooded streams.

The bridges are essential to remove these positive dangers and drawbacks. FURTHER SOUTH. There is below Bruce Bay area still a great extent of territory in Westland County. Immediately south 1 of Maintain are some 200 square miles of country of which little is known. The horse track to serve the far south in the Haast-Jackson Bay area passes inland over the Thomas Range, and between the elevated track and the sea coast there is the great extent of country referred to. If the access to Bruce Bay area is established it will be an incentive to investigate the possibilities of the great area referred to, which is known to be more or less mineralised, and which should not be lost sight of. AN INFORMATIVE MAP. In a recent flight over the area the clerk was inspired with the possibilities of this little-known part of South Westland. Shortly after the flight there was inspected a topographical map prepared some years ago by the late Charles Douglas, explorer, dealing with the southern district. This is a very valuable record of territory which has never had a thorough investigation. The map shows locations of coal and other minerals, including alluvial and quartz gold. Two considerable areas are mentioned specially by Mr Douglas as worthy of further examination. There are several hot springs located in the area, which includes also Lakes Paringa and Moeraki, two fine reservoirs if required for power or other purposes. The map and its very interesting contents should be better known, and copies in part or in whole should be available for purchase by would-he investigators. MINERAL INVESTIGATION. The mining prospects have been brought to the attention of the Unemployment Board by the Westland Mining Executive, which during its two years of existence has done a great amount of practical work in assisting and directing prospecting work in tbe upper portion of Westland. A small party of men has been suggested to include an experienced miner and a good bushman, a packer and a geological student to accompany the party and recover specimens for further report and examination at a laboratory. It is hoped to arrange for some aerial photographs of this large area so little known to the present generation, as an incentive to arouse interest in the locality.

THE FAR SOUTH. In the Far South area, Haast-Jackson Bay, there are about 210,000 acres of occupied lands (including runs), and the capital value of the rated lands is about £33.000. As the main, highway forges south, this great area will appreciate in value and interest, and absorb more and more population. As most aia aware, there is h vast store of timberlands from Cook River south to,the extreme end of Westland County and m course of time the needs of the dominion and overseas will levy on the soutlterit’ district. Great industrial development is inevitable, and the better tbe access the quicker will come the general improvement of the southern, district. In the main, it is a vast Crown estate, chiefly leasehold or Crown lands, with'but a minimum of freehold in relation, to the whole. In the circumstances the forging of permanent access south if improving the value of the Crown estate and adding to the national wealth. The district .is one offering great scope for employment as the road is pushed south, and must play no . small part in the future of the country as a whole. HAAST-OTAGO LINK. It is from the Haast region that the road girdling the South Island will* branch inland to cross the Haast Pass,* and join up with the Makaroa road in Otago. This section could be proceeded with independently of the Westland section proper, and would be a useful connecting link between Otago, and Southern Westland. The pass is an easy grade, and not seriously blocked at any time with snow.

. The Otago Expansion League has in times past been interested in this work. Linked with the round route, the con* nection is of the highest importance oni a road which will become of world-wid*-interest when its wonderful scenic fea*' ture's become known, and travellers and tourists will be drawn from all parts cf the globe to enjoy so marvellous * motor trip.