THE HAGLEY PARK ROADS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3488, 16 June 1879, Page 3

THE HAGLEY PARK ROADS.

iThe roadß surrounding Hadley park are npw ieing handed over to the Riccarton Road Board, having hitherto been maintained .by. the .Government. The road along the northern side'of the -park, from tho Carlton corner 'to theJFendaltown road, is in very good order, there being coinparatively little traffic along, it. "The two other roads, however, from the " Hospital to tho , Plough Inn, and from the Hospital to thb railway gates at Addington",, are very bad, and will need a considerable, amount of attention before they will- bear comparison with thc other roadwayß in the Riccarton district. On the road from the Hospital to the Plough Inn, tho Road Board might-effect marked changes for the better by establishing, a proclaimed footpath along the louth-west sido, and by lengthening the culvert bridgo Over the gully, a spot which at present may fairly be characterised as a dangerous trap for vehicles. Somo very .great improvements have recently been effected along tho Fendalton road, by widening those portions whore owners of land have been willing tot cede a strip to the Road Board. The ordinarywidth of the roadway is only 33ft, aridthis has in many parts become considerably fe-* duced by the encroachments of live fences and by drainage requirements, the cost of keeping the road in decent repair being at the saine time increased. The Riccarton Road-Board haß-offered to widen any of the narrow roads in the distriot whenever land is given forthe purpose, and what may be tho new* brder of things is admirably illustrated by' the portions of tho Fendaltown road under notice. Just aftor passing ,the Ilam road, a length of about a mile and. three quarteis has been made 17ft wider, and a metalled footpath left along the South side. A further length of 12 chains is undor contract, arid the work is now proceeding.. Be-." tween these two lengths, however, there is unfortunately a piece of land belonging to an ; absentee, and there appears to be soraedifliculty in the way of ceding a strip to the Road Board. It is to be hoped, however, that a way maybe found, to secure a uniform roadway at 50ft.' Another great improvement is being' effected along this" portion of the road, by filling up tho ditch along the South side, and by removing an awkward-lcoking ridgo of earth from the North side. At tho same tira*?,- tho cutting along the north side is being thoroughly cleansed and deepened, and permanent entrance ways into the different " properties ""arebeing constructed. The cutting will now form an important line of suburban drainage, and --will provide an outlet for, storm water for a oonsidorahlo tract of land lying between tho Fendaltown road and tho river. A most desirable work would bo the-widen-ing of that portion of the~ Fendaltown road betwoen Ham road and Hagley park, as it is much overhung by trees, and has so many turnings as to make it an awkward route after dark.