ROAD CONDITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 1, 3 January 1933, Page 14

ROAD CONDITIONS.

REPORTS FROM A.A.A. MOTOR CAMPS ROUND AUCKLAND. Punctures'..have been very, prevalent on the Cambridge-Tirau Road during the pasfr'holidays. An A.A.A. patrol who has been operating this territory reports a large number of cars with flat tyres, and the patrol vehicle itself five times had punctured tyres owing to nails or tacks. The unmetalled portion of the deviation between Pokeno and Mercer was graded just prior to the holidays, and during the fine weather has been much' appreciated by motorists. The deviation passes round the eastern • side of the hill above thp ■ Manga.tawhiri Stream, and obviates the use of • the narrow winding road which is so often rendered dangerous by the very liberal coating of loose metal which it receives in the guise of maintenance.

Adverse comment has been passed on the condition of the Hamilton-Te Awamutu section of the No. 1 highway, motoroists from southern districts expressing surprise that residents were satisfied with such out-of-date surfaces. The road from Rotorua to Hawke's Bay, via the Urerewa Country and Lake Waikarernoana, has been explored by a large number of motor campers during the last fortnight, and many of- those who are unfamiliar with back country conditions had rather trying experisncds on the unmetalled portions of the ro<#.d round the lake, but, on the other hapfcl, drivers familiar with clay .conditions returned after having enjoyed a wonderful" holiday.

The short length of narrow road on the Russell highway between Helena Bay and Mokau seems to prove a trap for the unwary. A large number of drivers do not appreciate the need for extra caution when travelling on the old primitive conditions which prevail on these two or three miles of road. Providing ordinary care is exercised there should be no difficulty, as the road is no narrower than dozens of other roads throughout the country. The Auckland motor camp has been patronised by a large number of motorists during the holiday season. The camp at Henderson and the seaside camps on the northern side of the harbour have also proved popular. North Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula and the Bay of Plenty, including The Mount and Opotiki, on the East Coast, have probably been the most popular motor camping resorts during the Christmas holiday season. The patrols of the Auckland Automobile Association have reported a phenomenally large number of cars carrying camping gear, and there seems to have been a tendency for motorists to make their headquarters in one place and enjoy the holidays without the large amount of daily travelling which has characterised motor camping in the past.