SOUTH ISLAND ROADS: THE EARTHQUAKE AREA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

SOUTH ISLAND ROADS: THE EARTHQUAKE AREA.

Tho recent disturbances in the West Coast of the South Island have caused those who have been proposing to tour this section of the Dominion during the coming summer some concern, and information has been very meagre concerning the various routes. The Auckland Automobile Association now assures motorists that the majority of the roads are in first class order. Although it is possible to travel south from Nelson to Westport, the detour route is not at all satisfactory and is not generally advised for touring purposes. At Murchison, 84 miles south of Nelson the main road to Westport and Reefton

is blocked, and a detour via Maruia and Hot Springs Junction (an extra 21 miles), is necessary. The detour route is, however, inadvisable for general private car traffic. In parts, and for long distances, ifc is a one way road; there aro some very acute bend 6, and being in a rather rainy district, there are numerous waterways which are difficult, and sometimes dangerou?. It would be very foolhardy for a stranger to the district to attempt the route without first securing very' definite local information. It will therefore be seen that it will be better during the coming- summer., pending the opening, of the Murchison-Lyell, road, possibly in

March, for motorists to ship their cars to Picton and then travel down tho East Coast via Kaikoura to Christchurch and thence via Otira to Kumara. After doing the Franz Josef Glacier, the same route must be taken back to Kumara and Greymouth.

Reference to the map will then indicate a new round-trip route. Leaving Greymouth travel straight through to Reefton and thence to Inangahua. The route then passes through tho Buller Gorge to Westport, and then south on the new coast road to Grevmouth. Between the Pos and Punakaiki Rivers is a section of road now under consideration, and at the three

rivers indicated provision has been made for fording these at low tide. Previously this route has not been negotiable for ordinary traffic. The coast road north of Westport is only negotiable as far as Seddonvillc. The map in conjunction with the " New Zealand Motorists' Guide, South Island, 1930 Edition," should provide ample information for those motorists contemplating a tour of th# South during the next few months. The Touring Department, of the Auckland Automobile Association is being kept advised as the routes change and this information will be available to members from time to time.