✨ Road Survey Report
row road, when the gradient is so steep
that a cart would run back of itself.
The Resolutions of the Provincial
Council ordering this survey, states
the object to be to ascertain whether
any temporary cart road can be con-
structed on any other part of the Hills
which may serve for the passage of
light traffic, pending the opening of the
Sumner Road,—and that careful esti-
mates ought to be prepared of the cost
of any such road.
After a long and careful examination
of the Hills, I have altogether failed in
discovering any line of road that I can
recommend as answering the above
object. All the lines practicable for
light cart traffic would require for their
construction as great an expenditure
of time, labour, and money as would
complete the Sumner road. I have
not thought it necessary to prepare
careful estimates of roads evidently not
answering the purpose proposed.
The accompanying plan of the Port
Hills, shows the general disposition of
the spurs, and the elevation of various
points is figured. The lines of road
which I have gone more particularly
over, up Mount Pleasant spur, and from
Mr. Lean’s to the Governor’s bay road
are indicated by strong black lines.
The Bridle Path summit is the
lowest (after Evan’s pass); the other
passes are from 100 to 300 feet higher.
To carry a line of road fit for
light carts requires at least 2½ miles
of ascent on the spurs on each side of
the pass. The greater portion of this
5 miles of road would be in heavy side
cutting, whichever spur you select,
and the cost must be proportionably
heavy.
The result of this survey points out
the necessity of repairing and improving
the present Bridle-path for direct com-
munication with Lyttelton.
Then when labour and capital can
be spared from the construction of the
necessary roads from the interior to
the shipping wharves, whence the pro-
duce can be sent by steamer to Port, a
cart road with the easiest ascent can be
completed to Lyttelton on the least
expensive line, which is by way of
Sumner.
W. B. Bray,
Avonhead, Dec. 18, 1856.
PRINTED BY J. WILLIE, AT THE
"STANDARD" OFFICE, CHRISTCHURCH.
Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1856, No 25
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Report on Port Hills Road Survey
(continued from previous page)
🏗️ Infrastructure & Public Works18 December 1856
Road survey, Port Hills, Canterbury, Bridle-path, Sumner Road
- W. B. Bray, Author of the road survey report
- Lean (Mr), Property owner mentioned in survey
- W. B. Bray