"IN A TERRIBLE STATE"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19699, 3 August 1938, Page 4

"IN A TERRIBLE STATE"

OTOKO HILL HIGHWAY SURFACE NOW CRACKING A SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN "The road over the Otoko Hill, on the Gisborne-Opotiki State highway, is in a terrible state and the surface is starting to crack along the edges and in numerous other places where the vehicles have been forced out to get past the slips," said a driver of a commercial vehicle this morning after making the journey through to Gisborne from Opotiki. There was a series of slips along the top of the Mil, but the worst of them was in Hutchinson's cutting, being over a chain long. The vibration of passing traffic was bringing down fresh debris continually and the surfacemen were doing good work to keep abreast with the additional work that was being made for them after each car or trade vehicle passed along the toe of the slip. The driver was of the opinion that the main trouble experienced by the roadmen was that they would no sooner get the mechanical shovel working than they would have to remove it again to allow some vehicle to pass. The work was being slowed down by the amount of traffic on the road. The highway was not to be recommended for night travelling. It was not so bad approaching the slip from the Gisborne side because of the down grade, but motorists travelling south had to dumb uphill past the toe of the slip. The Auckland mail arrived in Gisborne at 10.30 a.m. to-day, the truck having been delayed at the slip since 4 a.m. On account of the blockages on Otoko Hill and the doubtful condition of the highway after the gang leaves off work each day the first consignment of northern mail matter is leaving Gisborne each day at 3 p.m. There is no delay with the Auckland correspondence because the second consignment leaves Gisborne daily at 7 p.m. travelling south to Palmerston North and then by railway to Auckland. Condition of Highways There is little change in the condition of the other highways, the report of the relieving resident A.A. patrol, Mr. D. C. Cummings, being as follows: Gisborne-Opotiki, via Waioeka Valley.—Passable during day; closed at night. Gisborne-East Coast. —Southern seclion in poor condition; Tatapouri slip passable with difficulty; closed at night. Gisborne-Wairoa.—Both the Morere and Tiniroto routes are open; greasy in sections, especially on the Tiniroto route. Wairoa-Napier.—Open; section between Waikari and Napier in a bad state and not recommended for light cars or vehicles with little clearance; not recommended at night.