AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1940, Page 4

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

GREYMOUTH BRANCH MEETS. The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Branch of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) was held last evening. In the absence of the President (Mr. P. C. Heaphy), through indisposition, the chair was taken by Dr. W. McKay. The following members were also present: Messrs W. F. Harley (secretary), P. Hambleton, F. N. Whitmore, J. Smith, E. McDonnell, T. Jacobs, and S. B. Quintrell. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Heaphy, G. R. Harker, H. : Renaud, and A. J. Fairmaid. Mr. W." R. Carey, of Christchurch, acknowledged with thanks a telegram of sympathy in the death of his son, on active service with* the R.A.F. The action of the secretary, in sending a letter of congratulation to Mr. J. Higgins, on his completion of 60 years’ service as Grey County Engineer, was endorsed, and it was decided, on the motion of Dr. McKay, seconded by Mr. Smith, that the Association record on its minutes an appreciation. of the valuable services rendered by Mr. Higgins to motorists and other users of the County roads.

Arising out of the minutes, the secretary said that some of the sharp bends had been taken off the Reefton Saddle, on both sides, and the road had been widened in parts, making it better for traffic, especially large vehicles. He understood that similar work was to be carried on towards Reefton, and, that it would be done before the improvement of any other highways on the West Coast was undertaken. Major work was to be done in connection with the Reefton Saddle at a later time, but meanwhile he understood that the idea was*to make a gentle grade over the top of the Saddle, by using bulldozers.

said that should not be a very difficult task.

The secretary pointed out that the repairs effected to the Teremakau bridge, between Kumara and Greenstone, were only of a temporary nature, and consideration would have to be given to securing a permanent structure.

Mr. McDonnell said that timber lorries were crossing the temporary bridge, and they were pretty weighty. With regard to the suggestion by Mr. Hambleton,, at a previous meeting, to the effect that, economy in metal could be effected by discontinuing the practice of requiring number-plates to be replaced each year, the secretary said that the matter had been discussed at the quarterly meeting of the South Island Motor Union, and representations were to be made to the Commissioner of Transport. One suggestion was that a distinctive sticker should be issued, bearing the number of the motor-vehicle. A resolution had also been carried, that it be suggested to the licensing authorities that motorists be asked to hand in their out-of-.date number-plates, for the sake of the metal contained in them. However, Mr. Harley expressed his opinion that the metal would not be worth £1 per ton. Dr. McKay said that the North Island Motor Union did not agree with the sticker suggestion. CRAIGIEBURN CREEK.

Writing with reference to the Craigieburn Creek bridge approaches and Broad Creek, on the east side of the Bealey, the Canterbury Association said that the foreman of the Public Works Department had advised that the concreting at the Craigieburn bridge was completed before August 22, but that it would take about 30 days to set, and it would be three weeks or a month from that date before the bridge could be used. On two occasions, equipment had been sent to Broad Creek, | for the purpose of shifting the course of the stream, but on both occasions the equipment was forwarded to other centres before the work was completed. On one occasion it was sent to Burnham Camp, and on the other to the Tuatapere bush-felling demonstration. The secretary said that the two bridges at Craigieburn, one at Harley’s Creek, and one at Thomas River, had been under, construction for' the past two years. They were now complete, but the approaches had not been started. They should have been gone on with long ago. To his knowledge, there had been fooling about with the Craigieburn approaches for the past 18 months. He had written, giving a good “stir up” about the matter, and the reply from the Canterbury Association was the result. With reference to the Otira highway, the secretary said that the Public Works Department had informed him that the work' on the highway between Ikamatua and Reefton would be completed, before anything further was done on the Otira road. Mr. McDonnell asked whether the one-way bridges on the Reefton road were to be eliminated in favour of two-way bridges, and Mr. Harley replied that he believed the work would be done eventually, although the Department was now short of money. He understood that the road at Mawheraiti was to be widened. As an outcome of the annual meeting held at‘Greymouth, reported the secretary, he had written to the Canterbury Association, asking for a grant of £lOO towards the erection of the Centennial memorial restroom and Plunket rooms at Greymouth. Mr. Harker was now visiting Christchurch,-and would discuss the matter with the Canterbury Association, on Thursday evening. The secretary said that a number of members of the Association were on active service, and such members would be placed on the honorary members’ list of the Greymouth branch, during their period of service. ROAD SIGNS DAMAGED. A number of new signs had been erected in South Westland, said Mr. Harley. They included two “oneway bridge” signs near Ferguson’s and one at Frosty Cheek, two “school” signs near Woodstock, two “slow” signs at Totara junction near Ross, and two direction signs at Totara Valley. Main south road signs had also been erected at Wataroa. Traffic Inspector Burdett had gone out with the speaker, and helped to erect the signs. About 20 had also been erected on the Coast Road, and more were required. Road signs would be all right if people left them alone, complained Mr. Harley, but some people were lacking in commonsense. Some of the signs had been shot to pieces, or otherwise damaged, thus imperilling people’s lives. A heavy penalty was provided, if the offenders could be caught. ‘

Mr. Whitmore said that the whole of the centre of the sign at the Ara G tika bridge had been shot away. The sign at Lady Lake had been turned around, and was now pointing in the wrong direction. The shortage of ammunition at present should make the signs last a little longer, commented Mr. Smith. Mr. McDonnell referred to the lack of visibility near the quarry, when approaching Greymouth. The gorse should be cut down, and some of the rock at the side of the road should be removed.

Dr. McKay said that there were two cuts in the surface of the road on the Greymouth side of McQueen’s house. There was a drop of six to nine inches. It was simply an invitation to every driver to swing to his right, to avoid them, or risk a broken spring. Mr. Smith said that there was also a dip in the road on Mawhera ,Quay, between the railway buildings and the riverside station. Some pipe-lay-ing or other work had been done, and the cut had not been filled in properly. The secretary remarked that the Borough Councils usually allowed such cuts to settle down.

Conspicuous yellow signs, giving notice that the speed-limit was 15 miles per hour, had been erected by the Railways Department outside the Greymouth station, said Mr. Harley. The road there was under the control of the Department. Mr. Whitmore said that not many drivers noticed them, and he had not done so. Drivers were kept busy watching the traffic. If the signs were written on the roadway, they would be much more likely to be seen.

The secretary said that signs on the roadway would'have to be repainted every week, owing to the adverse effect of the weather. Mr. Quintrell said that there were lamps near the station, but they were not always lit. It wa,s a very dark -spot. Mr. Harley said he had been given to understand by the Department that the lamps would be lit when trains were due. “What about shunting times?” asked Mr. McDonnell. The secretary said he presumed that the lamps would also be lit when shunting was in progress. There was a big lamp near the riverside station, however, which was supposed to illuminate the crossing, but it was not lit at 7.30 o’clock on a recent evening. He understood that a light was to be installed outside the main station, which would be lit when passengers were going to and from trains!

Mr. Quintrell pointed out that people used the station at other times, to make inquiries and book seats. If the Railways Department light was not to* be on all the time, the Borough Council might do something to improve the present conditions. He moved that inquiries be made by the president and secretary from the Railways Department and the Borough Council. The motion was carried. COBDEN CROSSING. The secretary referred to a recent case which arose as a result of a collision between a train and a car at the Cobden bridge crossing. The Magistrate had commented that the crossing was dangerous, and that some warning device was required.

The Association had taken this matter up strongly with the -Railways Department for years past. He (Mr. Harley) understood that about three years ago something was to be done, but so far nothing had eventuated. He wondered whether they should not write to the Department again, and ask them to erect warning wigwags at the crossing. Mr. McNair, of the Railways Department, had told him that the system could be linked up satisfactorily, in ''spite ~bf the number. of different lines.. Mr. Whitmore expressed the opinion that the only satisfactory solution was to have a crossing-keeper on duty.. Dr. McKay outlined the many difficulties facing motorists using the crossing; owing to the fact that trains approached it from two directions,

and there also a lot of road traffic. In fact, he said, a motorist really needed an eye in his shoulderblade. Mr. McDonnell referred to the difficulty experienced by motorists who parked at the side of the rbad outside Rugby Park.. There were deep gutters which constituted a danger, while cars often became, stuck in the wet earth at the sides of the road. It might be possible to have some gravel placed on it Dr. McKay said that fully half the. width of the road was useless foi* parking, purposes. It was decided that the. secretary should make inquiries, with a view to having an improvement effected. Dr. McKay said that No Name Road (Old Marsden-Kumara Road) was a terrible trap for cars. Per-

haps some notices could be erected, informing people that the road was dangerous. He advised motorists not to use the road, as it was, an awful morass. No Name Flat was a quagmire, and an absolute sea of mud. It was one of the finest bush drives on the West Coast, but in its present condition the road was not traversable.—The matter of having notices erected was referred to the secretary. Dr. McKay also said that the Old Marsden ! Road, between Boddytown and. Marsden, was an excellent scenic drive, but the turn-outs were overgrown with grass. It would not cost much to improve them and place some gravel on them.—The secretary said that he would interview the Grey County Engineer on the subject.