Houhora Road Gives Trouble

Northern Advocate, 26 January 1939, Page 2

Houhora Road Gives Trouble

I Traffic has been exceptionally heavy ion the Houhora Road during the 'holiday period, and visitors have had :a taste of days gone by in negotiating this section of road.

j The dry spell has loosened the sand ' and the heavy winds have bared the [road to the clay base, leaving patches of sharp-edged corrugations in the surface. In the cuttings the wind has piled the sand into huge drifts and to the unwary 'and inexperienced, these provide an unexpected lest in ability to handle a car.

i Sand-drift Difficulties. 1 On Sunday last, near the turn off to Houhora Heads, six vehicles had 'extreme difficulty in negotiating one ; drift and ultimately 'a track was 'formed over the side of the cutting. ■ A settler near by rendered good service by making the drift negotiable. After clearing away a good deal of the sand, he cut scrub and laid it as fascines, foi’ming a fairly firm surface for one wheel track.

The Far North is becoming more popular each year and if this road wore given more attention, the value of this extremity of the island as a scenic and holiday trip would be greatly enhanced. Settler’s Only Access,

Tn addition, this road is tho only access south J’or an increasingly large number of settlers. There are over 70 suppliers on this route to the Knitaia Dairy Company. The summer surface of the road is 'always loose sand, while in winter, owing to the crumbling nature of the soil, the road is often rendered impassable by numjerous washouts. I Settlers are of opinion that failing I the metalling of the whole length, the unmetalled portions should be j cleared of loose sand, cuttings widjened to prevent drifts piling up, and tho loose sections, which 'are sand in summer and slush in winter, built up with fascines. The road should always have constant attention to maintain a reasonable surface and the final solution lies in metalling.