NO THOROUGHFARE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16549, 13 May 1914, Page 12

NO THOROUGHFARE.

THE CLOSED TRACK TO SUMMIT ROAD. MAYOR OF SUMNER REPLIES. Yesterday the Mayor of Sumner (Mr G- W. Smithson) informed a “Lyttelton Times ” reporter that the statements in regard to access to the Summit Road were not coiTect. Ho instructed the town clerk of Sumner to turn up the minutes of the proceedings that were connected with tho affair, and they had put a different aspect altogether on the question. 1 “Oh July 16, 1.912,” Mr Smithson said, “Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., wrote to j the Council drawing attention to the j fact that there was no road connection between Upper Clifton and tho Summit road, and lie stated that Messrs Bow- 1 ron and Smith who were the owners | of the land, were prepared to give a j strip of land for tho purpose, provided it was fenced where required, and dedi- I cated as a public road, all the costs of the survey to be borne by the Sumner Council. The Council considered the matter, and referred it back to Mr Ell, pointing out the difficulty of taking e ver a new road without it having been previously formed. Less than tu o months afterward's, and before any reply was received from Mr Ell, Messrs Taylor, Cole and Co. wrote to tho Council stating that the land had been sold by them on behalf of Messrs Bowron and Smith to Mr Dethier, and that they withdraw any offer that had been mado ' to the Council. That was what happened, and the Council was left without any alternative.” THE BOROUGH’S LOSS. “ The explanation mado by the Mayor' of Sumner is not consoling to ;he people who have been reaching tho Summit from Clifton,” said a resident >f Sumner last evening. “ Apparently ffie borough was offered a road reserve for the cost of surveys and fences, and it raised objections on tlio ground that the. road was not formed. Wliilo this foolish point was being considered the land changed hands and the opportunity was lost. Of course the people who wanted to make the borough a gift could not be expected to spend money on forming the road. Formation was not wanted, anyway. “ The closing of this track is a serious deprivation to more people than the borough authorities seem to imagine. I hope that the Mayor will see what can be done now towards providing the access that has been lost. Sumner’s business interests are involved, for the Summit Road attracts more people every year and should direct a great many holidaymakers into tho township.” 10 THE EDITOR. Sir, —I was delighted to see this ! matter taken up m to-day’s issue of the “Lyttelton Times,” for we of Clifton and Sumner are now practically cut off from the hills altogether, unless we have hours to spare, and this, to those who love their hills and the view from them, really is a most frightful deprivation. Could not the present owner* of the now closed tracks be induced to put up a stile or two over his fences, and to limit tli» “Bu*-

to rabbiters and persons accompanied by dogs? That would keen his gates still shut, and his sheep still safe, and would it not give him pleasure to feel that in this way he was daily affording pleasuro to his .feljowmen, instead of as now, taking it away from them?—l am, etc.. B. E. BAUGHAN. Clifton, Simmer, May 11.