BRIGHTON ROAD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 23

BRIGHTON ROAD.

. A largely-attended public meeting was held in the Brighton Schoolhouse on Saturday evening last ,to consider what steps should be taken to effect a much-needed im- '■ provement on the road between Green Island and the northern bank of the Kaikorai River. Mr T. W. Whitson occupied the chaiiv ; and apologies for non-attendance were made by Messr* Freeman, Allan, and Couston, ofthe Taieri County Council. The Chairman ' explained that farmers and others who made regular use of the road were strong in their condemnation of the difficulties ' which portions of it presented, entailing: * cruel work upon horses drawing loads of produce, and in parts being positively dan- ' gerous to passenger traffic. The increasing use_ made ' of the road by the growth of Brighton had brought its drawbacks info wider notice, and given rise to the move-- " ment of which the meeting was the out* > come. ! Mr Jno. Gray said that sevpral suggestions had been made for an alteration in the road, one being to make the deviation on the southern side of the river from Abbot's Creek bridge to the Kaikoraj „ bridge ; another to follow the bank oi the river from M'Lean's corner, at Abbots' . - ford, to the foot of Kirkland's Hill. Bui the proposal which recommended itselt ' most strongly, and which could be carried out at least expense, was to leave the present road at the boundary of Alexander's farm. /" near the homestead, and to make a new one across the flats to the bottom of Kirk- t ~ land's Hill, where it would rejoin the pre- "- sent road. The length of the new road would be about 125 chains, and, besides , ' avoiding the severe undulations of the present road, it would shorten the distance by about half a mile. Mr Gray moved tba following resolution : — " That this meeting,. ■ called for the purpose of considering tha question of the road between Green Island and Brighton, is of opinion that the time has now arrived when a new road should be constructed on the level ground along the edge of the swamp, leaving the present road near Mr Alexander's on the Green Island side, and joining it again at the foot of Kirkland's Hill, near the Kaikoiai bridge." Messrs Connor, Lobb, Howorth, Crump, Aslin. and others present spoke in suppo> t of the motion, which was carried unan:« mously. t '4 Other resolutions passed by the meeting, were as follow : — " That a petition be pre«J sented to the Taieri County Council aek'"7 ing it to have an. estimate made of the cost' \ of acquiring the necessary right of ways ; . ' and constructing the proposed road along,) / theaijove route, and if practicable and funds, available that they be asked to go on with "j it as soon as- possible." " That a committee ( * be -appointed to draw up the petition ro-i presenting the views- of this meeting to the. Taieri County Council, and take what.) ever further action may be Considered ad?, visable to have thJ3 matter accomplished^ " > the committed to consist of Messrs Grayi Crump, Lobb, Connor, Jones, and the chair* ' man, with power to add to their number.'" —