KORERE-TOPHOUSE ROAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 6 August 1931, Page 6

KORERE-TOPHOUSE ROAD

■ IN A BAD CONDITION QUESTION OF TAKING OVER At the monthly meeting of the Waimea County Council to-day, the District Engineer, Public Works Department advised that the improvement work on the Korere-Tophouse road, carried out by the Government, had been handed over to the Council for maintenance. The County Engineer in his report commented adversely on the condition of the road. The following letter from Mr J. G. Ingram was read: — “During the past week I had occasion to travel to Tophouse by motor car, via Korere, and the road from Brough’s Creek to the fingerpost near Tophouse beggars description. In numerous places the road is a quagmire, where it is well nigh impossible to negotiate a car with any degree of safety. The Plump petrol truck was bogged when returning empty from Tophouse and the driver had to procure horses to pull it out, and another car met with a similar experience and broke a rear axle. During the years that I have been using this road I have never known it to be in such a shocking condition. ' Trusting this matter will receive the attention which it merits.”

The chairman said the Government had spent over £20,000 on the road, but if another £3OOO had been expended a really good road would have been made. Councillor Higgins said the Council appreciated what had been done, but to leave the road in its present state would be deplorable. Gravel was so scarce in the district that it would be beyond the Council to gravel it. The Council should make every endeavour to induce tlie Government to complete the work. As the Department was likely to regrade the Hope Saddle, it appeared that the Department must have funds available; and it would have been far better to have, completed the Tophouse road than to commence others. # The Engineer said a, splendid job had been made, but for the next six-months it would be impossible almost for vehicular traffic to travel over the road, i ■ It was resolved that the matter-.be left in the hands of the chairman* the Engineer and the member for the riding. - i'- • ■ j ‘ ' - ' i'