ROAD REPORTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18342, 27 March 1925, Page 6

ROAD REPORTS.

Reports on road conditions, descriptions of rontes, and un'os on attractive picnicking spots for motorists, arc published in thi.i column weekly. Arrangements have been made for tlie regular supply of up-to-date informal ion. Enquiries. suggestions. or road news will be welcomed.

The roads generally throughout the province are being affectod through (he long spell of dry weather. Fortunately, in tlic run south of Cliristelmreh there arc numbers of attractive route.-? which motorists may select when they want a pleasant trip. The Main South road as far as Lincoln is broken, am! very bad with pot-hole?, but beyond that the surface generally through Leeston and Kouthbridge districtss is in pretty good order. One of the pleasing features of the run through tliis part of the country to those interested in rural* "pursuits is the great amount of proiJiiHion evident on all sides. Stacks of. •wheat, oats, and pens are seen in great numbers, and the present time finds farmers busy digging potatoes and gathering onions, all of which is illusIrative of the wonderful productivity of the district.

Peninsula Roads.—Considering (lie lons dry spell of weather thai: h:is lasted now for a number of weeks, the Peninsula roads arc generally in very good condition. The Main Traffic road from Little. ]?iver to .Akaroii is distinctly good, with the exception of sundry patches between the Hill Toji and Barry's Bay, and again nearer Akaroa, ■where the loose metal is too much in evidence. The roads linking up with the Eastern Bays are likewise generally good, the upper portion of the one running down into Little Akaloa being the worst, and there, too, it is simply a matter of loose metal again. Ladbrooks. —Owing to the very dry weather, the roads arc getting into a very rough state, with pot-holes and loose shingle, more especially on the main roads. The motor traffic has been very heavy during the last few weeks on these roads, especially in respect of motor-lor-ries with heavy loads. Several of the hedges at bad corners need 1:o be cut, being dangerous in many cases, and requiring immediate attention if a serious accident is to be avoided. It would be to the advantage of motorists to go slowly at such corners, and not to forget to use the horn.

Waiau Bridge.—The Waiau bridge, near Parnassus, will be closed to traffic daily from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and from 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m., but will be open all night. Christchnrcli-Timaru.—'The road to Weedons is in good condition, and in fair order to>tlic Selwyn. , The ford is dry and firm, except for a, . short piece on the west side, which is rather loose. As far as Dunsandel the road is fair, and from a mile past that township to the Rakaia bridge, is rough and loose in places. 'From Kafcaia td Asliburton the road is good. Prom Ashburton to Eangitata bridge the best route is via the Hinds, instead of Maronan Toad. From Eangitata to Tirnaru the road is in good order. Clarence Eirer. —Regarding the condition of the Clarence river, motorists wishing to go north should first telephone the ferryman at the bridge. The Clarence River is at present v«ry low, and ears have to negotiate a second stream to reach the northern side.' The trae* is one which will test the best of springs, and care needs to be exercised. All other roads are in good condition. Main North Road. —The Main North road from the Ashley to the Kowai river is in good order. The other highways throughout the county are reported to be from fair to good, while Marshman's road from - Ashley school to Balcairn is in good condition. The Council's grader has been at work on some of the chief routes, and this should leave the roads in a settled condition. Hanmer Springs-Ciilverden.—'The grader lias been working on the road between Hanmer Springs -and Culverden for the past few weeks, and . men have been engaged filling up the pot-holes. Sefton-Balcairn, etc. —The main part of the road from Ashley through Sefton to Balcairn has been re-graded the spoil being brought to the centre, thus filling up the pot-liole.s that were beginning to make their appearance. The road from Sefton through the swamp to the north side of the Ashley Bridge on the Norti; road is in good condition. The ro:/d from Sefton to Ash worth's homestead on the North road is still good.

Ellesmere- Koads. —Tl;c numerous rimls between the city and the Ellesj.iere Couuty arc in varied condition. The surface of the lvic<a,'rtoii-Prebbleton-Lincoln highway is broken, and could do with some surface grave). Beyond Lincoln the roads are generally in very good order. The best route at the present time is via KafawelL Many of the Toads nearer the dit-y end would be very much improved by tiie use of the grader.