ROAD TRAFFIC NORMAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 3

ROAD TRAFFIC NORMAL

KING COUNTRY AREA. HARD-WORKLNG PATROLS. The resumption or normal traffic on all routes through the King Country was announced to-day by the Automobile Association, whose patrols, since the development of the floods and washouts, have spent long hours under trying conditions, providing headquarters with up-to-date information as to the traffic condition of the roads in the affected areas. Reports received to-day indicate that it is still neeeseary for traffic to Taumaruniii to use the old route to the left of the river, eonth of Ongarue, as it may be two months before this section of the main highway is clear and ready for traffic. ]STo advice has been received of routes being negotiated to the Ohura-Maticre area, where both roads are still blocked. The bridge at Matiere is reported to be down. The T<? Kuiti-New Plymouth highway is now clear of water, near Piopio. On the East Coast the Gisborne Roa:l via the Waioeka Valley-is still blocked, but the route via the Motu Hills is again open. Efficient Patrols. The abnormal conditions resulting from the floods and blockages of main traffic routes again found no Haw in the patrol organisation of the Automobile Association. As soon as word was received on Tuesday night of the isolation of Chateau Tongariro the officials at Hamilton were advised to eet in motion the patrols within handy reach. Three patrols were available, and on Wednesday morning, when it was ascertained that other areas were seriously affected, the uniformed men were ordered to Tβ Kuiti, where a voluntary patrol organisation is established. Investigations were made on the is ew Plymouth route between Te Kuiti and Pio Pio, and while the voluntary patrol remained to assist traffic, the permanent patrol left to find a route from le Kuiti to Taumarunui. The main highways were discovered to be negotiable as far as the slips on the road. Resuming yesterday morning, the officer found that the old route to the left of the river had not suffered, and as soon as the flood waters subsided a passage was made ami at 2 p.m. Taumarunui was reached. About the. same time the Public Works Department had sufficiently cleared the slip between Manuimi and Pinaka permit of motor traffic, and the patrol was able to advise headquarters that the main route to Olmkune was clear. With the negotiation of each stage, either by getting through a blocked portion or travelling round it, the patrol advised headquarters, and the information was transferred to the information agents for dissemination. Warning and detour signs were erected where necessary. , Attention was next devoted to the Ohura-Matiero area, in connection with which unsatisfactory reports had been received. . The headquarters of the association played its part by maintaining day and nicrht attendance for the reception of messages, so that the latest information could bo flashed throughout the country immediately after its receipt.