A.A.A.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 August 1930, Page 16

A.A.A.

TOURING MANAGER REPORTS.

OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS.

VARIETY OP TOPICS

Following are various reports and suggestions made by the touring manager of the Auckland Automobile Association, Mr. R. E. Champtaloup :— In the course of time and probably before very long, it will be necessary to widen the main No. 1 highway which runs through the township of Warkworth. This will probably necessitate taking a, good deal of land and paying large sums in compensation, in addition to the construction of an t up-to-date two-way car bridge ,and provision for pedestrians in the middle of the township. I would suggest the council recommends to the Highways Board the consideration of a by-pass road obviating this expensive work by the Highwaye Board and possibly providing a much straighter and eafer route; : Bus Hand Signals. • I have noticed that a .number of the buses have adopted the mechanical hand signal for indicating their intention to turn to the right. I beg to recommend that a letter be sent to the various bus companies asking that due care be paid in the fitting of this apparatus, as I find that in numerous caees the signals are fitted so high on the bus that they are not in the ordinary, line of a driver's vision. On two occasions recently* I have failed to observe the signal until almost an top of the bus, and in one case the hand was actually illuminated, but owing to it being so high, I did not notice it until the bue actually started to turn. Access to Whangarei. We have been under the impression that this year's programme of highway construction in the North would provide an all-weather route through the Dome Valley, between Warkworth and Wellsford. It was not thought that this road could be metalled with permanent material for the coming winterj but we understood that possibly a surface similar to that oh thePuhoi-Wark-worth route might be provided. I suggest that representation be made to the Main Highways Board : to use every endeavour to have this work completed; If this were-carried out it would:then leave only the-gap between Topuni and Kaiwaka , to provide an all-weather, route between Auckland and Kaitaia. <:,'■::' .

In view of the financial:position:ityie not ..likely that\- the LHighwaya; Board will .be: in a position to' carry out -the reconstruction; : of, what.-.•. will be 'a! new. road; between Topuni, and Kaiwaka during the coming year, and; as an. alternative, I : suggest that, we

approach the board to provide finance to lay down a coating of metal between j ■Te • Arai and Mangawai,-.where there •ie ' now; only a short, distance unsurfaced. In the daily papers of August 6 the Hon. A. J. Murdoch, Minister of Agri- ; culture and Mines, is credited with I having stated that he'was; satiefied that next r year there would, be an. all-metal road between Whangarei and Auckland. As reports of this sort are sometimes distorted, and in view of the very great ' interest with 5 which a metal communica- ■■ tion ie awaited by onbtoriets in the North, I suggest that the association writes to the Hbn; A;" J. Murdoch, asking if the statement is correct- and from' I what source it ie anticipated that, the necessaryVfUnds will be made r available. \ ; Camping Ground, Taupb-Tokaanu. .In view of the restrictions'witlrregarcl to .camping, I suggest that the Government be approached to; obtain a ; suitable site from the. natives and ■gazette it as a*: permanent campj somewhere i oil the shores of Xake:Taup6i between * .:'. Ttfiupo and Tqkaanu. When next in the district I confer" with representatives and select the most suitable > site, which would then be submitted - ; to the; Government".if ijt; was'prepare'd •to take any action. . Lake Waikaremoana Roaa. I ;■.*. A certain amount of excellent work : has been carried, out on this.:road, but • the Under-Secretary' of Publics-Works has notified that further expenditur v ej l wiir:; not be possible for the coming Veeaepn/ Four timber milk:are to,';operatefat)Te-1 Whaiti during the coming'? ' !it is estimated that , the timber will pay a mately £12 per * Toad. I "Suggest Vthat >.the.'-council .■ ;•''approaches" the Public': WorksvDepartment and .the county cbuncile'^withxa ! view to haying the; woret of vtheCoirners ' cut • back and visibility?improved ;hei qre: : nexfc : Chrietmae,; thet vance the money pending rr£ceipt : ;jofj the ', royalties from : the;?timber " companies. The improvement of 'this ; secti6h|,pf: the road is'inoei urgent in ;yiew|pf> tionally heavy : pected during next summer.:' r '; ;. . •;' take WailourwiibaM. \ • In answer to my inquiry,. the. Undersecretary of :the public; Worke Department has-replied that it'iisiiot: proposed I toependany^furtHerj-monieyon.theLake ,! :V. On «my recent ( l inepectipn-ii ca,me\tor the ■ cphclusion that i more -adeq'uate?prbyisi6n ? should jbe made jj for'maintaining the, road.,;-There; were j' }quite' a- number-of .small elips, ■-and .it* " seems ltoi' of maintenance required if .ttex-jroadv'is •', to satiisfactprjly .the require- j| ments of traflic during wthe coming/isum- ! ■ mer. ' ' ;'~ • -' \ /■ ■ : : ■/ ' [ There '■■'■ are several portions between • Aniwaniwa and Hopuruahine where.; the provision of a little extra metal' would save a great deal of trouble. Sbine : of j these portions of the road are: shaded by trees and do' not obtain much siin. There: is, handy to Aniwaniwa, a road ■ being formed which will gives I access to only brie settler and on which I think/the; construction ie On a Tather extravagant basis. I suggest that the council approachee the Public Works Department with a view to slightly -reV, ducing the expenditure on some of the less important roads in the district and diverting a small portion of this money ■to. the main Waikaremqana road. It i seems a pity that/ after the expenditure * that has been made, satisfactory results I ■ be jeopardised for the want of a little . further expenditure. ; ' '"Mi