GREY AUTOMOBILE ASSN.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1931, Page 12

GREY AUTOMOBILE ASSN.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Automobile Association was held last evening. Dr W. McKay presided, and there were present: Messrs E. McDonnell, G. R. Harker, P. Hambleton, W. Sampson, P. Garde, J. Higgins, P. C. Heaphy, and the Hon. Secretary, Mr F. W. Harley. The Marlborough Automobile Association wrote detailing particulars of work and improvements carried out to roads in the Marlborough district by the Public Works Department. Three; letters were received from motorists, each of whom claimed to have had at the same time, narrow escapes from a collision with a train on the Teremakau Bridge. Mr C. W. Duffy was the writer of the first letter read, and he stated that just after going on to the bridge he had noticed a train coming on at the other end. He had had just time to get clear, and a car in front of him on the bridge had had even greater difficulty. The writer of the second letter, Mr D. Pollard said that he had also been on the bridge, and by speeding up, had managed to cross it just before the train. The third letter, and the most important, was from Mr George Ashby, who gave details of how he had had to back off the biidge at great speed, and had had a very narrow- escape. been absolutely no whrhi.rigZof-the. approach of the train, arid-lie had riot expected one, for it was twenty minutes later than its scheduled time. The train was drawn by a locomotive weighing about 65 tons, and was followed by a load of timber weighing about 650 tons, and if the rails had been in any way greasy he thought that it might have been a difficult matter for the train to pull up. His letter also mentioned that two other cars had been on the bridge at the same time, and had had lucky escapes. He thought that the matter of installing some warning device should be brought to the notice of the Railway Department, and the Member for the district. „ .i Mi- Harley read a letter from the Prime Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes, in regard to the matter, stating that it had been referred to the Railways Board, and a letter from Mr F. W. Furkett, of the Main Highways Board stating that it would receive consideration. Dr McKay said that the Secretary s letters on the subject had seemed to fill the bill, but that it was possible that a stronger protest might be made. It was ten years since the Automobile Association had first taken up the matter of having -warning signals installed, with the Government, the Railways Department, and the Highways Board, and the reply given to their representations had always been the same —that nothing could be done. The approach on the Southern end of the bridge consisted of a curve, and the visibility was only a few yards of permanent way. It had always been a puzzle to him why no accident had occurred there. He was a firm believer in the adage that prevention was better than cure.. He was sure that something in the way of a warning device could in these days of science and ingenuity be done, and it seemed absurd to state that it was impossible to erect a warning. The present state of affairs was lamentable. Mr Hambleton expressed the opinion that the letter sent by Mr Ashby should be forwarded to Wellington. The Chairman said that the letter had already been sent forward. Mr Harker said that the Highways Board always thrust the responsibility on to the Railways Board. Mr Higgins said that the Teremakau Bridge was in reality a solely railway bridge, the Railway Department offering motorists the privilege of using it, and it was on account of this that the local bodies had each to pay 2/per foot in length of the bridge per year. There was no doubt that the Highways Board should at least cooperate' with the Railways Department in having some warning device erected.

On the motion of Mr Heaphy it was decided that copies of the letters sent by Messrs Pollard and Duffy should also be forwarded to the Highways Board, and that the matter should also be referred to Mr J. O’Brien M.P.

Mr Garde mentioned that at night when the express was passing to Hokitika the gates were locked. Dr McKay explained that the gates were always locked in the evening by the Railway surfaceman living in the cottage opposite the entrance to the bridge. Mr Harker referred to the crossing at Tainui Street, stating that for trains approaching from the South side the warning bell rang far too early, when the train was as far down as Turamaha Street. There was a chance that with the bell ringing when the train was so far away some people might treat the signal with contempt, and attempt to go across when a train was approaching from the north side when the bell did not ring until the train was quite close to the crossing.

Mr Heaphy pointed out that it had been one of the Railway arguments when the crossing had been asked for, that people would, after being accustomed to it for some time, treat it with contempt.

Mr Harley said • that he was in favour of what Mr Harker had said, although it did not take long for a train travelling at twenty miles an hour to reach the crossing. Dr McKay said that the West Coast trains were not so notorious for speed that they should put on twenty m.p.h. when going through a town. On the motion of Mr Harker it was decided to take up the matter of the warning device at the crossing, with the Railway Department. Mr Hambleton referred to the danger that existed in running trains simultaneously on the two track.-:. There had, the, other day, been an accident through that very cause. The remedy simply consisted in the delaying of a shunting engine for a minute or so.

Mr Heaphy agreed that the practice was dangerous, for the sight of the train obscured that of the shunting engine on the other track. It was decided that the matter should be referred to the Railways Department. Referring to the works which it was hoped to have carried out over the Otira Road this year, Mr Harley said that he had been informed by the District Engineer, Mr T. A. Johnston, that the bridging of Peg-leg, McGrath's, and another creek near Otira would have to be held in abeyance for this year at least. Maintenance

work would, however, be carried out as usual on the road. Dr McKay said that he had trie.R while on a visit to Christchurch, to get in touch with Mr Langbein, regarding the bridging of the Waimalririri, but had been unable to meet him. While in Christchurch, he had attended the annual meeting of the Canterbury Automobile Association, and had spoken, asking their support of the Greymouth Association’s agitation for the erection of the Waimakxriri Bridge, and the building of the Kumara Junction-Flowery Creek road. During his term of office, continued D’McKay, Mr Harley had proved indefatigable in his efforts to have the constructio nof the bridge commenced and it was almost certain that when funds once more became- available., the bridge would be amongst the first of the important public works to be carried out. Dr McKay said that if any member could furnish suggestions as to th? improvement of the National Park, at Arthur’s Pass, the Park Board would be glad to hear it. Mr Harley said that the Main Road was in the winter time being used for ski-ing, which resulted in the ice being packed very hard, and remaining on the road longer than it should. Last year the ice had had to be ploughed up. He thought that ski-ing on the road should in the future be forbidden. Di‘ McKay said that the fault lay more with tobogganists than the skiers. Mr Heaphy: It might be argued that they ; are- recognised forms- of trans port. " ’ • No action was taken. Mr Harker asked if it would be possible for one of the sheds at the motorists’ camping ground at Victoria Park to be papered or painted. Mr Heaphy said that he understood that the caretaker of the ground had always managed to find satisfactory accommodation by using the booth?. Mr Harley said that some motorists had stated that the caretaker, Mr C. Watson, was one of the best in the Dominion. Dr McKay said that some motorists “dug themselves in” at the camping ground, using it as a temporary hostel, Mr Heaphy said that quite a few young motor-cyclists, out of work, took up their headquarters there. Mr McDonnell: And a few gold-seekers-black-sanders. A voice: Don’t mention them. Mr Heaphy said that he was sure that the matter could be left to the caretaker who would do his best "with what was available. In answer to a question from Mr Harley, Mr Higgins said that the Orangipuku Bridge appeared on this year’s estimates, but it was hard to say whether the necessary authority would be given for its construction. Dr McKay said that the construction of the bridge would enable motorists to use one of the prettiest scenic roads on the whole West Coast.