PAHIATUA TRACK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 242, 10 September 1935, Page 7

PAHIATUA TRACK

COST OF MAINTENANCE. AS DETOUR ROUTE. The recent blockage in the Manawatu Gorge as a result of slips oil that route had the effect of diverting a considerable amount of heavy traffic over the Pahiatua Track —a B class road. The detour had the natural effect of forcing upon the Kairanga County Councd increased maintenance costs where the Pahiatua Track route was concerned, and the controlling authority made overtures to the Main Highways Board for a contribution towards the cost.

At to-day’s meeting of the County Council, a letter was received from the Public Works Department advising that, as the Manawatu Gorge section was normally maintained without contributions from local authorities, the Highways Board had agreed to grant free money for: (1) The maintenance of approved detours while they are being used by traffic diverted from the Gorge when the same is blocked; (2) the restoration of the detours to their former condition. “The board, however,” the letter added, ‘‘will require to be satisfied that the .expenditure to be debited to its account is reasonable. The board therefore will provide reasonable free money for the detour maintenance cost incurred on the portion of the Palmerston North-Palnatiia road in the Kairanga County, while the Manawatu Gorge was blocked to traffic.” In connection with the same matter the Pahiatua County Council wrote soliciting the co-operation of the council in the matter of definite representations being made to the Main Highways Board to have the hill portion of the Pahiatua Track taken over by the board and maintained by it. Further, that the roads from the Pahiatua railway station to Mr Vile’s (Pahiatua Track) and the valley and Ballance Gorge Roads be declared highways by the Main Highways Board. The chairman (Or. D. Collis) remarked that the council had itself made overtures to have the route declared a main highway and the council could well support the Pahiatua County Council. . . In supporting the chairman in his contention, Cr. W. G. Shannon stated that it was impossible meantime to determine the amount of damage to the load which had resulted. The engineer (Mr L. C. Pickering) explained that probably the future would disclose defects and it was decided to support the Pahiatua County Council in any steps it might take, Cr. Collis being deputed to represent the Kairanga Council at any conference that might be called..