FROM MURCHISON SOUTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 1 July 1939, Page 12

FROM MURCHISON SOUTH

TO THE LEWIS PASS THE ROAD DESCRIBED The Lewis Pass route to Christchurch is increasing in popularity with Nelson motorists, but is. as yet, not really well known and there exists a certain amount of doubt as to the advisability of taking this road, especially in winter. In view of this, here are given “first hand" notes.concerning the run, or at least that section (50 miles “south from Murchison.” Nelson to Murchison is well known to the average Nelson motorist, so observations will be confined to the roads beyond that point. The present “main road" from Murchison to the Lewis Pass is that up the Matakitaki river, over the Maruia Saddle and up into the Maruia river valley. Less than half a mile out of Murchison on the West Coast road is a large set of “A.A.” signs on a corner. Pausing to study this the motorist reads, amongst other information, that Christchurch via the Lewis Pass is 183 miles, the top of the Lewis Pass is 63 miles. Maruia Springs is 60 miles and Springs

[Junction is 50 miles. To the right is the main road to the Buller Valley and the West Coast. The Lewis Pass can be reached by this road via Inangahua Junction, Rcefton, and the Inangahua Valley and over the Rahu Saddle to Springs Junction. This route is some 30 miles longer than the “direct" run j over the Maruia Saddle. So, avoiding this road to the right we proceed straight on up the' Matakitaki valley, past the -“Six Mile." where. away across the valley can be seen the scars left by the 1929 earthquake, now being rapidly healed by the hand of Nature. Soon we pass on to narrower roads, skirting at times high above the river, and then into bush, which flanks the road for many miles. Eighteen miles out from Murchison is the Horse Terrace bridge over the Upper Matakitaki river. It is well worth while to pause here and admire the view afforded both up and dowm stream. Looking up the river we see the Matakitaki as it swings round'from its gorge on the left and running to the bridge narrow's into the confines of a rocky channel more than 150 feet below' the deck of the bridge. Leaving the bridge the route carries away to the right and soon the Glenroy river bridge is crossed and the climb away from the Matakitaki and up the Maruia Saddle begins. No attempt will be made to hide the fact that the Maruia Saddle road is narrow and winding, and. in places, steep. The surface is, however, almost

invariably good and all that is called , for is low speed and careful driving, j The climb is four and a-half miles and in this distance we rise a little over 900 feet', the altitude at the top being a little under 2000 feet. The run down the other side is short though steep and twisty in places, but soon ; we run out on to the level going at Frog Flat. Here it is that the Shenandoah road comes in on the right. More will be written of this route later. Easier running, but with some steep and nar- ; row pinches, follows. Conditions soon improve and as we approach Station Creek we sec that the , new bridge is almost completed. The : approach banks of some 8000 yards of ; metal will be completed in about six weeks. In the meantime we use the i old wooden structure which certainly : looks as if it w'ere due for replacement i by some more modern job. « We are now 38£ miles out from Mur- ; chison and from here on there is muen [ evidence of reconstruction work. Many > narrow sections and sharp corners i have been eliminated already and the road is beginning to lose that “back- ; block” appearance. ' At 48 miles out we cross the new > Williscroft bridge over the Upper » Maruia and straight and level stretches soon complete the run of 50 miles from « Murchison. $ Springs Junction is the point at which , the road from Murchison joins the t through road from Canterbury to Reefton and the West Coast. Here again A.A. signs indicate the route. To the right runs the Rahu Saddle and Reefton road and eastwards to the left is the route to the Maruia Springs, the Lewis Pass and Canterbury.

A MAGNIFICENT SECTION OF ROAD The ten-mile section from Springs Junction to the Maruia Springs Hostel and the foot of the Lewis Pass is, in all respects, a magnificent road. Most oi the run is through birch forest, where no unnecessary felling of trees has taken place and the result is a modern highway amidst unspoiled forest. Here both the artificial and the natural are seen at their best. The road is a masterpiece of construction and is a credit to the Public Works Department men responsible. It is wide and almost level, while the curves are easy and the surface is perfect. Possibly the conditions up at 2000 feet above sea level have something to do with the surface. Bridges on the route are modern concrete structures over mountain streams which rush down into the Maruia river. Panels in approach wings of the bridges an painted white and this gives a smart appearance and makes for better visi bilitv at night. In all, it is a most pleas ing ten miles. TELEPHONE CONTACT WITH NELSON After a welcome afternoon tea in the warmth of the big dining room at the Hostel we take the opportunity, for the first time, of speaking to Nelson over the newly erected line to the Springs. UP TO THE SUMMIT OF THE PASS The much-talked-of Lewis Pass presents no difficulty to the motorist. Leaving the Hostel we begin the ascent at once and after no more than three miles of an easy, steady grade with no bad curves we find ourselves at the top. It is just as easy as that and the arrival at the Nelson-Canterbury boundary comes as something of a surprise and one is tempted to say “Where is this Lewis Pass we hear so much about?” But here we are, 1000 feet above the beginning of the climb at the Hostel. An inspiring drive it is with snow clad peaks all around us, while away below on our left we catch glimpses of the Maruia river. The A.A. notice at the summit tells us that we are 2840 feet above sea level and it certainly feels like it; there is a keenness in the air which is not experienced at lower levels. In spite of our height the summit of the pass is dwarfed in comparison with the towering peaks around us. EASY RUNNING INTO CANTERBURY The run down from the Pass and on to the Waiau river and Hanmer is “dead easy.” A descent of seven miles on a very easy grade and wide sweeping curves is all that comprises the Canterbury side of the Lewis Pass. From here on the road holds nothing to worry any average motorist. From this description it is seen that the only “slow section” on the run from Nelson to Christchurch “Via Lewis” is the 50 miles from Murchison to the Springs Junction. A general guide as to the nature of this section is summed up in the advice given by the A.A. Nelson; “Allow yourself three hours for the 50 miles and you will not be disappointed.”