MAIN HIGHWAYS.

EIGHTEEN ROAD DISTRICTS

GROUPS DETERMINED BY BOARD.

Tho principal business transacted at the third meeting of the Main Highways Board, held at Wellington last week, was the grouping of tho various counties throughout the Dominion into highway districts. Pinal consideration was given by the Board to the fixing of the boundaries of those groups in which agreement had not been reached previously. In all caßes in which there was any disagreement amongst constituent counties in regard to the suggested grouping the objections and representations of the local bodies concerned were carefully considered, It was decided to divide New Zealand into eighteen highway districts, as follows: No 1, Highway District, consisting of the countios of Manganui, Hokianga, Bay of Islands, Whangaroa, Hobson, Whangaroi, Otamatea, Rodney, Waitemata, and Eden. No. 2 Highway District, consisting of tho counties of Mauukau, Franklin, Waikato, Raglan, Waipa, Coromandel, | Thames, Hauraki, Ohinemuri, Piako, and Matamata. .No. 3 Highway District, consisting of the counties of Tauranga, Rotorua, Whakatano, Opotiki, and Taupo. No. 4 Highway District, consisting of the counties of Waiapu, Uawa, Waikohu, and Cook. No. 5 Highway District, consisting of the counties ofg Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Patangata, Dannevirke, Weber, and Woodville. No. 6 Highway District, consisting of tho counties of Waitomo, Taumarunui, Ohura, Kaitieke, Kawhia, and Otorohanga. No. 7 Highway District consisting or the counties of Clifton, Wlangamomona, Taranaki, Liglowood, Egmdnt, Stratford, Waimate West, Eltham, and Hawera. No. S Highway District, consisting of the counties of Patea, Waitotara, Waimarino, Wanganui, and Bangitikel. No. 9 Highway District, consisting of "the counties of Kiwitea, Poharigina, Oroua, Kairanga, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Hutt, and Makara. No. 10 Highway District, consisting, of the, counties of Pahiatua, Akvtio, Eketahuna, Mauriceville, Castlepoint, Masterton, -Wairarapa South, and Featherston. ~-, .. ... No. 11 Highway District, consisting; of the counties of Collbgwood, Takaka, Waimea, Sounds, Marlborough, and Murchison. '■.';« No. 12 Highway District, consisting i of the counties of Duller, Inarigahua, Grey, and Westland. . ... No. 13 Highway District, consisting of the counties of Awatere, Kaikoura, Amuri, Cheviot, and Waipaxa. ~ . No. 14 Highwav District, consisting of the counties of Tawera, Oxford, Ashley, Kowai, Rangiora, Eyre, Waimairi, Heathcote, Paparua, Halswell, Mount Herbert, Akaroa,. Wairewa, Springs,; Ellefimero, Malvern, and Selwyh. < ; :, No. 15 Highwav District. consisting;; of the counties of Ashburtorij Geraldine,'Mackenzie, LeVelsf Wainwte, and Waitaki. , : ' . . No. 16 Highway District, consisting of the counties or Maniatoto, Vincent, Lake, Waihemo, and Waikouaiti. No. 17 Highway District, consisting of the counties of Peninsula, TaierJ, Tuapeka, Bruce, and Clutha. No. 18 Highway District, consisting of the counties of Southland, Wallace, and Fiord. 1 ' . I

The Main Highways, Abt provides that' in regard to each highway district-,the, Boafd shall appoint a District Highway: Council, to consist of: (a) An engineer,, being an officer of the Public Works Department: (b) one person;to bo ap-. pointed on the recommendation of each county council whose district is. whollly - or partly within the highway district. In those districts' where agreement; as to grouping was'reached at tbe time of the previous meeting of the Board councils were asked to forward;names. etc., of gentlemen selected to. represent; them on"the district highway, councils. A number of these nominations have been received, but there are still a good many to come in. The counties comprising those groups in which finality, was readied only at the last meeting of the Board are now being invited to;subi mit their nominations. In order to expedite the setting ap of the ■ district highway councils, the Board, by resolution, empowered the chairman, on receipt of nominations from the respective counties, to mako the necessary apixrintriients. . Hides of procedure for tli© guidance 6f district councils were adopted. It was decided to issue instructions to the highway council of each districfc that the first business to be attended to is the forwarding of their recommendations under section 11 (<i) of the Main Highways Act, as to which roads in their respective districts should be declared main highways, together with the fiounciVa reasons for their recommendations. The instructions are that district councils should be guided in such recommendations by oonsidera- < tions—-<a) As to whether tho roads may | be regarded as arterial, in that they , carry appreciable volumes of through as well aa local.traffic; (b) aa to whether the roads connect largo centres of population within the highway district j (c) as to whether tho roads carry appreciable traffic to and from sea porta or railway centres within the highway district. For the purpose of such classification it is advisable that estimates or tallies of . traffic should bo made for all roads enumerated. Tallies already taken by the' Publio Works Department are available to all district highway councils on application. It was also decided to have maps prepared of each< highway district and to supply copies to the respective district highway councils. Representations were made by tho Board to the Government relative to crediting the highways fund with duty paid in respect of tyres imported as part of a motor vehicle. The Govern, ment's reply indicated that an allocation could not be made .this year, as if 6uch were done it would be necessary to adjust" revenue accounte, but that the matter would! bo favourably considered at the conclusion of the pre. sent financial year.