The Advocate. [Established 1888.] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1908. ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 65, 15 September 1908, Page 4

The Advocate. [Established 1888.]

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1908. ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

[PUBMSHBD^DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. CIRCULATES IN Dannevirke Mangatoro Pokokomuku Ngapaeruni '•'■ "Mangatae r Weber Ti Tree Point Waione Wimbledon Herbertville Akitio Horoeka Oringi Kiritaki Maharahara Woodville Umutaoroa Matamaif Piripiri Makotuku Onnondville Norsewood Takapau Whetwkura Ashley-Clinton Otanga Kumeroa

The problem of road coustniction, and the maintenance of the roads %yhen completed, is one of the most serious that local bodies have to face. Even when gravel pits are available in. handy positions, the cost is considerable, and the surfaces have to be re-laid at regular intervals. Supposing the very best metal is used, and steps are taken to make the roadway after the style that Macadam himself would have liked, it is only a question when the wear and tear on the surface compels a renewal. The sums of money that are continually being spent in the dominion for this purpose must ■ annually amount to a very large total, with the prospect that nothing has yet been evolved which will avoid the expense in future. This applies to districts where, as we remarked, metal is fairly handy. The case is infinitely worse in those districts where gravel is unprocurable, such for instance, as a part of the Weber Road, where the local body has had to resort to the substitute of burnt papa for their roads. In this connection, it is interesting to note that the Eltham County Council has just embarked on an^experiment that will be watched with very great interest. That body has entered into an arrangement whereby a certain firm will put down concrete blocks on one of its roads for some thirty chains at a cost of £10 per chain. If the experiment is not satisfactory, the County Council is to be responsible for the sum of £5 only per chain. Writing without any professional knowledge on the subject, we should say that, if properly carried out, the venture is one that promises success. If the right proportions are used in making the concrete, the road should be almost an everlasting one, while it would have the further great advantage of being almost entirely free from dust and mud, which alone is a valuable consideration. Although the initial expense may be greater than, for an ordinary metalled

road, the. transaction, should, result in a gain to thejpcaj body, on account of there being, no wear and tear, and the cost r, of maintenance should be reduced to . a .minimum. Taken altogether, the Elth am scheme lias a very great deal in its favour, and we hope that the Council will largely profit by its enterprise.