TAIHAPE NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 October 1950, Page 3

TAIHAPE NEWS

IMPROVEMENTS TO SPOONER'S HILL

“The road just north of the Taihape borough boundary, generally known as ‘Spooner’s Hill,’ is a bad, dangerous road and very narrow, but we have been given to understand that the Main Highways Board has the question of improvements to this piece of road in hand,” remarked Mr K. H. Mellsop, speaking on behalf ol the Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of the board s visit to Taihape on Thursday morning. Mr T. C. Kincaid, a member of the Wanganui Automobile Association, described “Spooner’s Hill” as probably the worst stretch of road between Wellington and Auckland, and added that the A.A. would like to see something done to improve this road. In replying, Mr Trevor Smith, chairman of the Main Highways Board, said the board did not like Spooner’s Hill and realised that something must be done to improve this road, but it would be a big, costly and risky job. If the weather was unfavourable while the work was in progress there might be a complete blockage of traffic. It would probably cost £40,000 to £50,000 to put the road in order. Once a start was made the work would have to go ahead as there was no alternative route. It was the worst stretch of road between Wellington and Auckland. The Mayor; What about a tunnelling scheme?

Mr Smith: It cannot be done. We intend to tackle the job o£ improving this road, but not by tunnelling. The only way to do it is to bring a lot of plant to Taihape and get the job done quickly. If it rains, traffic will be blocked.

Mr Mellsop: There is an alternative route through Ngawaka which could be used while improvements to Spooner’s Hill are in progress. Members of the board were apparently unaware of the alternative route and one party was shown over it as they left Taihape on their journey north. It was made plain by the Main Highways Board that improvements to Spooner’s Hill are to be carried out, but no indication was given as to when the work was likely to be started. TAIHAPE-NAPIER ROAD

Stressing the need for improvements to the Taihape-Napier road, Mr K. H. Mellsop, representing the. Taihape Chamber of Commerce, said that motorists should be encouraged to use it. There was likely to be an increase in trade between Taihape and Hawke's Bay if the road were improved. It would also provide an alternative route to Hawke's Bay in the event of war and would be of military value. There had been some suggestion that ff was not board’s concern, and it was up to the county to put the road in order, but (he speaker disagreed and asked that the road be declared a main or State highway.

The chairman of the Main Highways Board, Mr Trevor Smith, said the board knew all about the TaihapeNapier highway. They had been told that it was badly needed to carry beer across. He could not imagine a great trade link up between Taihape and Hastings. Supposing that 30 miles of the road needed attention it would probably cost £2500 a mile to reconstruct the road, while the cost or maintenance would probably amount to £lBO a mile. Neither county could afford this huge expenditure. “We are in a quandary over this road and do not attach a great deal of importance to the military aspect of the road at present. If things change and the road is required tor military purposes then that is another matter and the job would be done. As things are at present, though we would like to see another link with Hawke’s Bay it would be an uneconomic proposition owing to the huge expenditure that would be involved. Besides, there are more pressing problems,” remarked the speaker. Mr G. H. Belton agreed with the views expressed by the chairman and added that while the board’s funds were less, the costs were greater. Imporvements to the Taihape-Napier road may promote trade and business, but nothing could be done at present owing to more urgent problems, but he hoped that the time would eventually come when the board could do something to improve the road, but the time was not just yet. PERSONAL.

Mrs Hassell, of Bristol, England, is visiting her sister, Mrs J. Simpson, Goldfinch Street. Thirty-five years have passed since the sisters met. Mrs Bilbrough was a Hunterville visitor to Taihape on Wednesday.