DANGEROUS CROSSING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 88, 11 March 1930, Page 6

DANGEROUS CROSSING.

ON RONGOTEA ROAD. IMPROVEMENTS TO BE EFFECTED. Steps arc to be taken to improve the visibility of the Rongotea Road railway crossing which has proved to be one of tire most dangerous in the district. The question came before the Kairanga County Council to-day. The district engineer of the Railway Department wrote as follows: ‘‘l find that there have been a number of complaints regarding the dangers that are alleged to still exist at the Rongotea Road level crossing. Several fatal accidents have taken glace here, altogether three people aving been killed since 1917, the last two losing their lives within a fortnight of each other, in January, 1928. Although the main belt of pine trees has been removed to a sufficient' distance on both the road and railway boundaries, 1 notice there is now a hedge of young macrocarpa trees and lupins enclosing a small area. It will be necessary to keep these trees trimmed when they, require it. It will be necessary, also, to have the barberry lredge on the north-eastern boundary of Rongotea Road trimmed to fence height, or, better still, grubbed out altogether if possible. I shall be pleased if you will arrange to have this work carried out.” ' The matter was referred to the engineer, it being explained that under the existing legislation the comity council had to serve notice on the occupiers of the land before the work could be done.

Cr. Anderson entered a protest against this work being “palmed off” on to the County Council. “Tire Railway Department,” lie continued, “have no right to put a line across our roads without making proper provision for traffic.”