The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1932. IMPORTANT FOR SOUTH WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1932. IMPORTANT FOR SOUTH WESTLAND.

Tub bridging of the Fox and Cook rivers un the far south route leading to Bruce Bay territory, is a most important matter for the southern- district. At present an excellent motor road to Weheka exists, and traffic has -developed greatly in consequence. But where the rough river beds are met, a halt ha-s to be called with motors. At this time of the year, owing to the melting snows, few of the larger livers south are fordable with horse- drawn vehicles, and pack horses have to be used. This applies to mail matter a,s well as ordinary j goods. The settlers south are therej fore under a great disability and proI grass i s retarded in consequence. | Their plight has been recognised to ■ the extent of the authorities deciding Jon a road deviation to afford motor 1 access. Much of the long length of the road has been constructed. It i s an extremely beautiful bush road, I capable of rivalling Ferngrove near Fergusons, but traffic is not- possible yet, because the bridging of the Fox and Cooks rivers i.s essential. This lias been -recognised, and a Parliamentary vote .has been, provided for the Fox structure. This led to the bridge site doing surveyed and plans for the bridge lire pared, but there the mutter rests, The authority is required to proceed with the construction of the bridge. The turn bridges are- to cost a considerable sum, but they are the wanted links to enable the new road to he used and provide tlie boon they will be, before, the pioneer settlers are nerved, who ha.ve waited so long for the promised access. It- may be assumed that in these times of money shortage, there is an inkling as to the cause of the hold-up, but money is being found for other work which in the- aggregate must be costing a large . sum of money. Seeing that Mr I Coates. who a.s Minister of Public j Works, stopped the railway extension south, is again in the executive position, it is his task now to fulfil the promise then made, and give the I settlers a first class road in Hen of | the railway. By concentration on the | Fox bridge for the financial year .soon j to open, it should he possible to find | sufficient money to go on with the . preliminary work, which will call for considerable manual labour in constructing the concrete piers and abutments to 1 which the bridge has to be attached. The improved access to be provided bv the building of the bridges referred to will be- a great boon to a widespread settlement. Tt is not possible to progress when the pack horse is the chief means of transport. and -seeing that tjhe situation lias been recognised, when a long length of road was constructed, that task should be completed by finishing the- connection nvit-li the requisite bridges. Most parts of Westland are now served with arterial roads and bridges, and could afford to spare demands for other works. till the arterial road into South Westland is forged another stage or two to tap the Bruce Bay district. If some sacrifice were made in this way, the further ] south region would receive a great < impetus and those settlers who have - spent their lives opening up remote country, would feel there was some reward in -sight for their diligence, i ,while the tourist wouldr'cive new and ; ; beautiful terrilorv opened up for his j , i evasion. 1