EXTENDING SCENIC ROUTE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19336, 28 May 1937, Page 2

EXTENDING SCENIC ROUTE

OPOTIKI TO WHAKATANE MINISTER’S ASSURANCE SURVEY AUTHORISED (Herald Special Reporter.) TE rUIA, this day. A survey lias been authorised of a road to follow, the sea coast between Opotiki and Whnkntane for. the purpose of eliminating the Waimana Gorge. Tho Minister of Public Works, the TTon. R. Semple, made a statement to this effect when speaking in Ruatoria yesterday, when he said that this, a continuation of the road between Gisborne and Opotiki via the Coast, would make one of the finest scenic sea coast routes in the North Island. He repeated a statement made in an interview with the Herald earlier in the morning that the main bridges between Te Araroa and Opotiki would be completed within 12 months, by which time the road would be improved over 90 per cent to a state when it would be practically an allweather route. The smaller bridges did constitute a. problem, and would be done during the following year. Poor Access for Settlers

He. said that this was the last, lap of a tour he had been making of backblock settlement, and he was somewhat amazed tnat in some parts of the Dominion settlers had poor access and some no access at all. "We are going to speed up rolling," Mr. Semple declared. “Wo are only on the threshold of doing big things. The job of looking after the roads of New Zealand and finding the money without heaping an insufferable burden on the nation is a pretty big hurdle to tackle." He added that. the. construction ot the new Opotiki-Whiikatane road would be expensive, but it would make one of the finest scenic sen. coast drives in tho North Island.

Speaking at Te Puia in the evening, Air. Semple said that; when the coastal route was an all-weather one, hundreds of people would travel that way.

"I do not like those rivers," he said, "for when you get in them you do not know whether you are coming or going.” The now road between Opotiki and Whakatano would reduce the distance from 37 miles to 21 miles, but apart, altogether from the matter of.distance it would make an attractive drive. It would cost money, arid he would have to tickle the Treasury for It.