SOUTH ISLAND ROUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

SOUTH ISLAND ROUTE.

GREYMOUTH TO WESTPORT. SOME LATEST DETAILS. The following interesting description of 4he new coastal route between Greymouth snd Westport has been forwarded by the publishers of tho South Island Road Guide, to tho Auckland Automobile Association. This coastal road passes several ideal camping grounds closo to tho sea and affords a pleasant alternate route. Motorists may motor from Christchurch to Eeeftpn, thence through the Buller Gorge to Westport and then continue down tho coast to Greymouth returning to Christchurch or proceeding south to the glacjers. This routo was illustrated in the ' map published in last week's Motor World.

" Tho progress being made with the construction, of the Greymouth to Westport Coastal Road is such that its early completion can be expected. The section from Greymouth to the Pororari River is being finished by the Grey County Council, from the Pororari River io the Fox River by the Public Works .Department, and fj;om the Fox River to .Westport/, by the Buller County Council. During the past year substantial votes made by tho Main Highways Board have been spent by tho three bodies a.id an appreciable amount of widening, grading and improved visibility has been effected. Tho road, is being used regularly by two motor services and a number of private motorists, but the time occupied on the trip between Greymouth and West,port is wholly dependent on the condition of the three rivers not yet bridged, the Punakjjiiki, Pororari and Fox, all of which can be safely negotiated at low water in normal times.

" The ,work of erecting the traffic bridge over the Punakaiki River is being expeditiously carried out under the supervision of the Public Works Department, and, with the progress that is being made, the contractor hopes to have the bridge completed early in December. The preliminary work in connection with the erection of the bridge over the Pororari River is -already in hand by the Public "Works Department. This bridge should be completed in February next, leaving only the Fox River to be forded.

Alteration Carried Out. " From,, Rapahoe onward, a good deal of alteration of the road has been carried out and the road made of sufficient width to permit two motor vehicles to pass with comfort. In places' where this work would be costly owing to steep cuttings, " turn-outs" at short distances have been made. The middle section, which is in charge of tho Public Works staff, is perhaps the most difficult to widen owing to the height of the cuttings, the amount of rock -to be dealt with, and the sheer drop to the «ea, there being generally on this section, very little length of beach. To render the road safe and afford strangers a greater degree of confidence, the Public Works Department irf erecting concrete walls well above the road level along the most precipitous portions of the road. It is also intended to erect fences along other portions which are narrow and cannot be widened except at great expense. The road has a splendid surface, usually seabeach gravel. "On the section between Rapahoe (Seven-mile) and Punakaiki, the Grey County grader and road roller is doing good work consolidating the surface of the road.' Besides the road surface, there are other considerations which render the trip by the coastal road desirable, the foremost of these being its scenic beauty. The road on one side is abovo tiles' sea most of the way, and on the other is skirted by beautiful bush and rugged hills. At Punakaiki a visit to the Pancake rocks—so called on account of the strata resembling pancakes placed one on the top of tho other—and the Blowholes is well worth while. Both are unique. At Mabel Bay, between the Pororari and the Fox Rivers, there is magnificent scenery, with nice stretches of beach. /f[ At Woodpecker Bay, a large flat is available as a parking and picnicing spot; with fine fishing and crayfishing. , " The road passes through country not •devoid of settlement, and farms are met .with at intervals. Some, from their general apeparance, suggest the time occupied in the making, ( and stand as silent witnesses of the pioneering instinct of'those who took up holdings and made their homes jthero long before it was possible to reach the locality by any other way than by bridle track with provisions packed by horses. Dwellings of the modern type are being built by settlers, and in addition t snug spots/1 have been chosen, by towni dwellers for week-end and holiday cotttages."

WESTERN SPRINGS STADIUM. r /( ]- ■ : .• The Western Springs Stadium, which fa to be officially opened to-night, has fceen a very animated spot for the last few days. Local competitors have been attending the track each night, while a number of spectators have taken a lively interest in the daily practices.