A BAD ROAD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 251, 22 October 1915, Page 7

A BAD ROAD.

PARNASSUS TO KAFKOURA

TOO MUCH LOOSE METAL

Tiir traveller on the north lint? nowadays bears many tilings about -tlie Public Works Department that arc not by any means flattering (remarks tin* Lyttelton Times). Stories sire '.roing :>boutof men who have been •earning JJOs a clay on piecework connected with the construction of the TCxukoura coast road, which is going to cost irnni £10,000 to £20,000. ; Whether these rumors are true or not ' cannoi. be said very definitely. ft is conceded that tho* road, when.it ie; finished, will bo a magnificent road for motoring, but just* now it takes an fxi>ori'>!'ecd driver to negotiate it, jtnd ihcrc ]':-; some discontent at Hie rate oS progress. One i;. t!.' <>F the roast road, bewecn (if.-'..11 *''ay and Harris's, is deslfribed as ;i\vi"ul. It has been frsshly metaiied riih washed beach shingle six inches ''Uvn, and drivers have no chance (>! l;<'t:ping one wheel on the Mdc of the cud. the Public Works Bopui tnv.-tit having constructed a fund of s!;'f!;<e to scrape the surplus metal anr.i'<'wis:> on' the vmi]. so that there is i?:'1:tl v. cry where. Motnrists are sai<l to !>;• laking the inland road in prefereii';^ to the coast road, which is .suffering in popularity during tlie

present operations. From Nome sto tlie Conway is newly metalled also^ and some comment is caused by the fact that two Public Works rollers are lying Idle instead ot being put on to finish the road. Between the Conway and Hawkswood, the men are , lowering the grade of a cutting, and, an o'd road with a grade of one in five and a bad approach has to; be u«ed. Evidently this is a long job, at the present rate of progress, and as tho public are just beginning .to tiavel more freely the- inconvenience is great. -