PRECEDENCE POLICY

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1929, Page 5

PRECEDENCE POLICY

ROADING REQUIREMENTS.

Two months ago when the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce considered a request from the Inangahua County Council for support of the proposal to urge upon the Government the advisability of making a road from the Coast to Canterbury via the Lewis Saddle, Mr T. E. Coates raised the point that a definite order of relative importance of road requirements in the Grey district should be defined. * Consequently Messrs F. A. Kitchingham and Coates were deputed to confer with Mr J. Higgins, County Engineer, and to report upon what they considered were, the roads most requiring attention. At the meeting of the Chamber yesterday, Mr Kitchingham stated that Mr Higgins had responded in his usual thorough manner and had supplied the following as being the roads, in sequence of urgency, most requiring completion : — (1) Haupiri. Junction to Haupiri. — This road has been constructed for two and a-quarter miles from the junction towards Haupiri Lake. The length requiring construction from the end of the two and a-quarter miles mentioned to the crossing of Haupiri River at the Lake is four and a-half miles, and the estimated cost £9467. The extension-

of this road to Kopara Flat will be necessary when the above-named sec-

tion of four and a-half miles is done. The distance is five and a-half miles, and a rough estimate of the cost exclusive of bridges would be £lO,OOO. (2) Grey Valley-Taramakau Road. — There is a gap of only two miles to complete this road, the gap being between Bell Hill and the road from Kotuku to Rotomanu. The survey and plans have been done and an estimate made. The estimate for the road is £4930 with a ford at Deep Creek, and for a bridge and approaches across Deep Creek at Bell Hill £1535 —total £6465.

(3) Greenstone via Lake Brunner to Inchbonnie.—The gap in this road is 2£ miles in length arond the shore of Lake Brunner. Survey was made and plans prepared in 1911. Two miles were constructed between then and 1913, and nothing has been done since. The first mile on the Greenstone end

is rough rock country, the remainder about the average; No detailed estimates were made, but a rough calculation for the first mile would be £4OOO,

and £3OOO for the other miles. A bridge across Orangipuki River -would cost about £l5OO. Total amount to complete the road would be £8,500. (4) Big River to Rough River.—The gap between Moore’s Creek and Craigieburn is 72 chains, and between C'raigieburn and Rough River about 2-g miles. Plans are ready for the first piece, but the second has not been surveyed. Bridges would be required across Big River, Moore’s Creek. (Jraigieburn and Rough Rivers. The first 72 chains would cost about £l5OO and the 21, miles about £3OOO. Bridges across Big River. Moore’s Creek, and Craigieburn would cost fully £6OOO.

(5) Grey Valley-Maruia Road. —Between the junction of tho Robinson River with the Upper Grey River and the crossing of the Blue Grey River there is about eight miles of country without even a gravelled horse track. The only track is a narrow passage

through the bush along which the traffic flounders through mud and roots, at a pace of two and a-half to three miles an hour. From the crossing of the Blue Grey to the first crossing of the Brown Grey about a mile of road is wanted. The traffic now fallows the river bed.

(6) Brunner-BlackbaU Road. —It is understood that the formation is all done, but two or three miles require metalling. As the Greymouth-Westport coastal road was virtually done with, said Mr Kitchingham, the idea was that the

Chamber should decide what was the relative importance of the roads mentioned in the report. He maintained that, although there was no doubt about the importance of the Haupiri Junction to Haupiri Road, it would be of little use unless the Grey Valley to Taraniakau Road was made at the same time. Men were working on the Haupiri-Haupiri Junction Road, but the main thing was to see that the grants were made continuous for both roads. In regard to the Kapitea Road, although it was in Westland County, it. too ,should be pushed on. One reason in. support of that contetion was provision of access to the Kapitea sawmill, which would facilitate getting medical aid to any victims of accidents.

Mr J. M. Bunt, commenting on the report, expressed the opinion that the Kumara-Awatuna road should also be completed ,a.s a lot of money had already been spent upon it and, if it was made it would be advantageous to travellers to Hokitika.

Mr Kitchinghain stressed the point that the completion of the Haupvri and the Grey Valley-Taramakau roads via Bell Hill, would open up a Jot of country that could be subdivided and was suitable for dairying. When moving that tlie two roads in question be submitted to the Government as being of most importance, and in addition to endorsement of ths statements relative to the opening iw of good country for dairying, Mr Kitching ham stated that it would help to relieve unemployment. It was a disgrace that the subdivision and settlement of land, which was excellent country for dairying, should be held, up because there was no road access to it. The motion to concentrate upon the two roads mentioned was the best way, as it was most likely to result in something being done. Although completion of the ' two miles necessary to make a route to I lokitika via Kapitea, Awapuni and Kumara Junction, would not open up farming country, Mr J. M. Bunt urged that it would be of great value as it would reduce the distance by five miles. The road,was formed as far as the Kapitea sawmill, and, when moving that attention be drawn to that road he added to the motion special reference to the necessity of metalling the part to the mill. The motion was carried.