“GATEWAY TO SCENIC ATTRACTIONS”

Southland Times, Issue 23537, 17 June 1938, Page 11

“GATEWAY TO SCENIC ATTRACTIONS”

manapouri-blackmount ROAD The desirability of completing the Manapouri-Blackmount road was emphasized at a meeting last evening of the executive of the Southland Progress League. “An important gateway to Southland’s scenic attractions, was a description applied to the joad. It was decided to approach the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) on the question, urging the early completion of the matter. There were present at the meeting: Messrs John Miller (chairman), C. Campbell, D. J. Wesney, C. S. Longuet, M. Mitchel, W. G. Tait, A. H. Hamilton, A. Russell, H. C. Gimblett, J. Pickard, Fraser, H. F. Drewe, W. Grieve, Dr D. Jennings and Dr J. A. Pottinger. The Bluff Harbour Board wrote urging the league to ensure that every effort was made to have the Mana-pouri-Blackmount road “pushed forward.” It was the opinion of the board, the letter stated, that this road would prove a most important gateway to Southland’s scenic attractions. Mr D. J. Wesney said that the Public Works Department had made, a survey of the route, and a deputation should meet the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) and urge that the formation work should be carried on. He suggested that it be recommended to the Minister that when work was held up at the Homer tunnel during the winter, the men should be transferred to formation work on the road in question. It should be emphasized, he said, that the Black-mount-Manapouri route was one of the most important requiring completion in the South Island.

It was decided to approve Mr Wesney’s proposals that the following bodies be asked to send representatives for the deputation to meet the Minister: —Bluff Harbour Board, ■ Invercargill City Council, Wallace County Council, Otautau Town Board, the Otautau, Riverton, Orepuki and Waiau Progressive Leagues, the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce and the Automobile Association (Southland). The following annual subscriptions from various associated bodies were received:—Southland County Council, £25; Winton Borough Council £5 5/-; Wyndham Town Board, £5 5/—; Bluff Borough Council, £5; Riverton Borough Council, £5.