NEW PLYMOUTH ROUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18342, 7 March 1923, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW PLYMOUTH ROUTE.

CONNECTION WITH TE KUITI.

The road of the Upper King Country which has national importance is that between Te Kuiti and New Plymouth. The distance is 100 miles and although most of the way the road is metalled the sections over Mount Messenger and over the long and eteep Taumatamaire Hill have proved absolute barriers against through traffic except of the adventurous kind. Twelve years ago the Public Works Department made a start with the metalling of the road over Mount Messenger but not until some 18 months ago was any real progress made. Since then however great expedition has been shown and the work has been completed on the slopes and preparations are being made to deal with the stretch to Mokau which however has not the same importance as the work on the mountain. It is however work that is vital to regular tiaffic at all seasons from Auckland to Taranaki arid its progress will be watched with interest.

Another gap still remains however. This is the Taumatamaire Hill where the road rises 1000 feet in seven miles. It presented such difficulties that a deviation was decided upon and substantial progress has been made. The new route follows the course of the Awakino river from Mahoenui to Awakino and it is practically flat. The last of the formation work will be completed by tho end of this month and about half the distance —some 15 miles has been metalled. It is expected that next summer the new road will be ready for traffic. The completion of the work will naturally be the start of considerable motor traffic. Already a tri-weekly motor service is running between Te Kuiti and New Plymouth. The outstanding importance of the work in the Awakino and Mokau districts is realised when it is known that its completion will make possible a journey from Te Kuiti to Wellington on a road that is metal all the way. If some three miles of the main road between Otorohanga and Kihikihi were metalled, Hamilton and Wellington would bo connected by metal, but not Auckland and Wellington. The Rangiriri Hills, will remain the last barrier and unless considerable energy is there displayed touring motorists who have passed through the gorges of the Mokav. country without the slightest concern will never bo certain of reaching Auckland from Hamilton without delay and discomfort.