CORRESPONDENCE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 127, 1 June 1920, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

ROAD TO THE WEST COAST.

FlO TRB EDITOR j

Sir,—l would liko a little space in your paper to explain my views in regard to opening up a road from Blenheim to the West Coast, with a railway to follow. It would be one of the easiest routes in New Zealand to open up for the greatest good of any district. It would connect Nelson, the West Coast, and Canterbury, and at the same time it would open up scenery second to none in the world and give siocess to a most attractive tourist region, with fine trout-fishing and- other' forms of spoz-t. The first. stage is to Lakes Rotoiti and Lake Rotoroa, where we are going to get our electric light. Then you go down the-Buller to Murcbison, and on to the Manila hot springs, which will be brought into use for the benefit of Nelson and Marlborough, and tourists travelling that way. When the railway is completed we will get coal, timber, etc., and send our produce in return, and the traffic will assist the fast and favorite ferry service to Wellington. As regards bridging the two rivers, the Waira.ii and the Branch, I would suggest that the timber be got from the Tophouse bush, where there are thousands of acres of good birch, and also cedar timber, which would do for the sideg of the bridges. I know birch posts at Tophouse that, have been in the ground from 50 to 60 years, and arc quite sound to-day. The timber, or most of it, could be brought down at a third of the cost as compared with the cost of getting it from the Pelorus sawmills. The distance in the former case would be a third of what would have to be covered if the latter source of supply were resorted to, and the track would be all on the down grade. The distance from* the Pelorus sawmills to Branch .River, via Renwick, is about 75.miles, and there is a length of five miles on to the Wash, (on the Wairau River) while the distance from Blenheim to the Branch' River; is about 50 miles. The haulage, would be,on the up grade all the way. From Tophouse to the Wash is 10 or VI miles, and from Tophouse to Branch River 16 to 20 miles, down hil lall the way. I consider that the "Wash' would be the best site for a bridge across the Wairau; formed along the Branch side of the river the road would catch the afternoon sun, which is a great advantage on cold country. The whole of the route from Blenheim to where the road would join the main road is provided with good metal, which is easily got at most places. As to a bridge across the Branch River, it should be built up'the river where it is crossed by the telegraph lines. At this point the river is rock bound. I have been crossing here for 50 or 60 years, and I have never'seen than part alter. After crossing .the Traverse the road would have to be turned and made up from the present road turning to the left. • After crossing the new—and the only proper— place for a bridge, you would make to the right towards the Wairau River. The deviation is all level country. It would cost a lot of money to continue the construction of the present»bridge, and' I doubt whether the... work would stand, as the Branch River carries, large quantities of shingle, being one of the swiftest rivers in Maryborough. Moreover it has teen bringing down a lot of timber, with a lot to follow. It did not bring timber down till lately, as in past years -the bush was intact; but about ten years ago thousands of acres of busli were burn-' el at the head of the Branch, and trouble ensued. , The top place could be made to allow the timber to pass under the bridge, as it would be practicable to use concrete on the rock formation. If the present Branch bridge were constructed from bank to bank, a bis; expenditure would be involved, and there would always be a great clanger, should the Wairau come down in flood and the Branch ;ii half-flood (which often happens), of the Wairau blocking the timber coming down stream and the bridge carrying away; whereas a •bridge at the top site would be from 2-J- to 3 miles from where the Branch rims into, the Wairau.

JOHN McKENZIS