COASTAL ROUTE TO RIVERTON

Southland Times, Issue 23307, 17 September 1937, Page 6

COASTAL ROUTE TO RIVERTON

RIVER CROSSED BY BRIDGE SURVEYED ROAD ALMOST IN LINE The discovery of a bridge over the Waimatuku river was mentioned by Mr John Miller at last night’s meeting of the executive of the Southland Progress League during a report of an inspection made by him and by Dr J. A. Pottinger with a possible view to a revival of the old coast road to Riverton. Mr Miller said that he and Dr Pottinger had inspected the locality and had found that there was a bridge across the Waimatuku already. He did not see that there was any necessity to erect another bridge there. The present bridge was almost in line with a surveyed road. The only attention required consisted of certain repairs where the ground the bridge rested on was being undermined by the river. Mr A. S. McNaught (chairman of the Southland County Council) said he did not know this particular bridge, but he agreed that the county should see to it. Mr T. J. Boyce: When you cross that bridge you come to an unformed road. The Mayor said he was not familiar with the road although he had been all round the county. There was a fair amount of settlement there and the road would bring the people a good many miles nearer Invercargill. Dr Pottinger did not know before that the bridge was there. In answer to a question Mr Boyce said that the road was from a mile to one and a-half miles from the sandhills. The bridge route finished eventually at Wrights Bush. Mr H. F. Drewe: It cuts out the original idea of going back to the beach. The Mayor said that the surveyed road was there already and only needed to be gravelled. . Mr Drewe remarked that the main point was whether the settlers were provided with a road for their requirements. On the motion of Mr Boyce it was decided to ask Mr H. C. Gimblett to bring before the next meeting a report prepared by Mr B. C. Basstian some years ago.