MOTORING AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 22766, 17 December 1935, Page 8

MOTORING AFFAIRS

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION. MONTHLY MEETING. At the general committee meeting of the Automobile Association (Southland) last night Mr J. R. Haigh presided over Messrs D. J. Wesney, M. M. Macdonald, A. E. Wish, J. D. Gilmore, A. J. Campbell, G. Tapper, W. A. Stout. W. S. Ayson, W. R. J. Smythe, J. Pickard, A. E. Lea and Dr. Stanley Brown. Eighty new members were elected. The road officer reported that on Saturday, November 30, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. a total of 187 cars and 134 cycles passed over the Otatara bridge from Invercargill. On Sunday, December 1. 670 cars and 452 cycles used the bridge between the hours of 9.30 a.m. and 8.45 p.m. Members said the figures were very interesting. They clearly showed that a cycle track was urgently necessary. The district engineer of the Public Works Department, Dunedin, advised that although the Kingston-Queenstown Road would be partly opened for construction traffic shortly, it would not be available for ordinary traffic until the end of January. Even the gravelling would not be fully completed. The Southland County Council advised that the association’s suggestion regarding improvement work at the north-east corner of the junction at the south end of the half-chain road and the West Plains road was under consideration. The corner would be examined by the member for the riding and the engineer to ascertain what probable cost would be incurred by thq council in providing better visibility. The Town Clerk, Mr W. F. Sturman, wrote stating that the council had decided on a site for the motorists’ camping ground at Oreti Beach in a locality to be defined by the Superintendent of Reserves. The site would be allotted to the association free of charge for the first three years. The matter would then be reviewed. Mr Haigh said there appeared to be a misunderstanding over the matter. It was not the desire of the association to take up a reserve at Oreti Beach. Dr. Brown said that the association had suggested only io erect fireplaces if the council would set aside a camping area. The camp committee was of the opinion that a camping ground was not necessary. I The secretary read the letter he had ! written to the Town Clerk which stated I that the association would provide fireI places if the council would set aside I an area. i The letter was received. The Town Clerk of Mataura wrote thanking the association for its good work in endeavouring to have the railway crossing at Bridge street installed with proper warning devices. The council wished to point, out that the district engineer of the New Zealand Railways had overlooked the fact that there were express goods trains passing through from the south which did not stop at Mataura. This added considerably to the danger at the crossing, especially at night, as motorists approaching from the Bridge street side had no adequate warning. Speed Limit in Otautau. The engineer of the Wallace County Council, Mr J. G. C. Baker, wrote as follows: “Can your association do anything to assist to reduce the high speed of some motorists when passing through Otautau and environs? It is only a matter of time before a serious accident will occur.”

The president said that this was a matter for the enforcement of the regulations. It was a common thing in Otautau for motorists to pass through at high speeds. The association could not take any responsibility in the matter, but it could suggest to the Otautau Town Board that signs stating that the speed limit was 25 miles per hour be erected. It was decided to write to the board on the lines suggested by the president. Mr I. V. Wilson, Invercargill, inquired if the association would consider or bring under the notice of the Bluff authorities the necessity for the erection of direction posts to show the way after leaving the main road at Bluff to the entrance to the Glory Track at the Bluff end. There was a notice of a sort on the main road at Bluff and after ascending the hill there were numerous corners and tracks, but no further indication was given. He also thought the authorities controlling the bush should be informed of the vandalism taking place. One Sunday he found large branches torn from trees and young saplings uprooted. Mr Haigh suggested that a copy of the letter be sent to the association’s representative in Bluff, Mr Nichol, who could communicate with Mr Wilson. The suggestion was agreed to. Manapouri-Blackmount Road. The Highways Board’s representative on No. 18 District Highways Council wrote saying that the Main Highways Board proposed to tour the South Island during February, 1936, and that

the association would have the opportunity of meeting the board on Friday, February 7. The president stated that more sealed roads were wanted in Southland and this was what the association would have to discuss. Dr. Brown said that to get the benefit of the new road to Milford, a return route back to Invercargill was necessary, and to provide this it was necessary to press for the completion of the Manapouri-Blackmount highway via Redcliff. Mr Wesney stated that it was already intended to complete the BlackmountKey road. The other route would provide a most valuable connecting link. The president supported Dr. Brown’s suggestion, and it was suggested that the question of preparing the information to be placed before the Highways Board be referred to the emergency committee. It was finally decided to inform the board that the association would bring before it: (1) The sealing of highways; and (2) the completion of the Mana-pouri-Blackmount road. Before the meeting concluded, the chairman conveyed seasonal greetings to the members.