NEW SCENIC TRIP FOR MOTORISTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19119, 11 July 1930, Page 6

NEW SCENIC TRIP FOR MOTORISTS.

SUMMIT ROAD NOW LEADS TO GEBBIE’S PASS.

A magnificent motor trip, opening up wonderful views of Lyttelton Harbour, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps, will now be available on fine days consequent upon the completion of the section of the Port Hills-Aka roa Summit Road, between Cooper’s Knob and Gebbie’s Pass.

As the road is not yet metalled, however, motorists are advised not to use it except in fine weather. The work has been carried out by the Government for the relief of unemployment and of the total cost of approximately £IB,OOO on its formation, fully 90 per cent was paid for labour.

The cost of metalling the road is estimated at £SOOO, and so far no arrangements have been made for carrying out this work. The Public Works Department takes the view that as the work was undertaken as an unemployment relief job the local bodies should contribute towards the cost of metalling. A Clay Surface.

With the completion of the formation of the road, it will now be possible in dry weather for motorists to travel from Dyer’s Pass, past Kennedy’s Btish and Cooper’s Knob, to Gebbie’s Pass. From Gebbie’s Pass it will be possible to proceed down the south side of the hills to Motukarara, or down the north side to Teddington, on roads already formed. Very little of the road has been metalled but there is excellent stone .available on the section leading down, from Cooper’s Knob. It was on this section that two men were killed a few months ago during blasting operations. In dry weather, however, the clay surface of the road will be sufficiently hard to provide a good motoring surface and the trip should prove a very popular one during the summer months. The steepest grade is the descent from Cooper’s Knob, a fairly long stretch with a grade of one in eleven, which is practically the same as that of Hackthorne Road. Magnificent Scenery. Between Dyer’s Pass and Kennedy’s Bush wonderful views of Lyttelton Harbour are obtained, but on the next few miles the harbour cannot be seen, although the scenery is magnificent. After passing Cooper’s Knob the harbour again comes into sight, though the view of the plains and the mountains is shut off. The work on the road has been in progress for the past three years and has provided employment for a fairly large number of men. From Gebbie’s Pass there is a track to Kaituna Pass, a distance of four and a quarter miles, and it is expected that it will be the next section on which a road is constructed.