MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19317, 23 May 1928, Page 8

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

NO SUBSIDY FOR TRAM TRACKS. BOARD'S CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, May 22. _ The monthly meeting of the Main Highways Board was held at Wellington on May 17th and 18th, Mr Fj • Furkert presiding. Following on its policy to com pie e unmetalled sections of main highway, the Board dealt with two cases which are of considerable, interest tg motorists. These were the Gisborne-Opotiki. via Motu, main highway and tne main highway from Bulls, via laihape, to Ohakune. It is hoped that the decisions arrived at by the Board ensure that the unmetalled gap, about six miles on the former and a similar length between Karioi and Waiouru on the latter will be metalled during the next construction season. With a view to giving a metalled connexion from Auckland northwards to Whangarei within the next tew years the Board has drawn up a programme of construction for nest season which will involve the expenditure ot a considerable sum. It is hoped during the coming summer to provide an _ a» weather route from Auckland to \\ aiwera. Local authorities adjacent to tne larger centres of population are taking advantage of the preferential subsidies being offered by the Board out the proceeds of the petrol tax toward the cost of paving roads carrying dense traffic The' following roads radiating from Palmerston North, Christchurch, and Dunedin were dealt with during the meeting. Christchurch-Akaroa— one mile m Paparua county. Dunedin-Invercargill—l6 miles m Taieri county. . . , Palmerston - Sanson-Himitangi-Ash-hurst, via Palmerston—6£ miles m Kairanga county. Christchurch-Dunedm —8 miles m Paparua county. It is hoped to have construction work commenced on all the above lengths at an early date. The reconstruction of the portion of the Dune-din-Invercargill main highway immediately south of Dunedin is the nrst work in the Dunedin district, on which the responsible County Council has cooperated with the Board and agree to find a fair share of the cost. A report indicating that the present Bulls bridge over the Rangitikei river on the main highway between Wellington and Wanganui requires either extensive repairs or renewal, was before the Board. The local authorities who are at present contributing towards the cost of maintenance of this bridge are taking traffic tallies at tne bridge site so that the question of the allocation of the cost can be dealt An application from the Christchurch Tramway Board for a subsidy on its expenditure on maintenance or such portions of the roadway as are covered by the tram tracks on main highways, * which are carrying heavy motor traffic, received consideration. It was decided to advise the Tramway Board that there is no authority under the Main Highways Act to make . a subsidy available on expenditure incurred by the Trawmay Board on maintenance. The Main Highways Board's subsidy is limited to the amount expended by tiie controlling authority on the roadway only.