NEW LEWIS PASS HIGHWAY

Southland Times, Issue 23345, 1 November 1937, Page 6

NEW LEWIS PASS HIGHWAY

Canterbury Linked With West Coast OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, October 31. Between 1500 and 2000 people assembled at the head of the Lewis Pass on Saturday for the official opening of the new Lewis Pass highway linking Canterbury and the West Coast. The ceremony was performed by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) on the actual boundary between Cantaerbury and the Coast at a height of 2836 feet above sea level. The day was brilliantly fine and revealed the scenic beauties of the new route at their best. The new route makes the distance from Christchurch to the northern West Coast much shorter than by the old Otira route. The road still requires the completion of four small bridges on the Canterbury side but the deviations to avoid these are short and passable by all vehicles. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) and the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) were also present as was the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, the member of Parliament for the district. Mr E. Coop, president of the Canterbury Progress League was in charge of the proceedings. The meeting of east and west was symbolized by Mr E. P. H. Burbury, of Glynn Wye, who has been one of the most active advocates of the formation of the road, shaking hands across the boundary ribbon with Mr P. J. McLean, chairman of the Grey Harbour Board. Mr Semple said he was pleased to see so much interest in the opening of the road. He personally congratulated Mr F. Langbein, the district Public Works engineer, and Mr J. B. Jackson, engineer in charge of the job. The men on the job had worked diligently. There had been no spitoon philosophers or scroungers on the job. The counties would be pleased to hear that to ensure the proper maintenance it was intended on the completion the remaining work to declare the route a main highway, said Mr Semple. Thus the entire road would be. controlled and cared for by the Main IJighways Board. About £200,000 had been spent on the road and the Government was not going to spend that amount and then allow the highw’ay to go back into disrepair. It would complete the road at both ends and keep it up to a proner standard. “Later on we will talk about paving the road but not just yet. We will get the humps, bumps and turns off first concluded Mr Semple. Mr Forbes congratulated Mr Semple, whose energy he said he admired. Mr Semple then cut the ribbon and received a presentation from the Frogress League and the Inangahua County Mr Burbury entertained 500 guests at a luncheon in a marquee at the head of the pass. ' ' -