ROAD REPORTS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18626, 26 February 1926, Page 11

ROAD REPORTS.

Reliable information concerning the state of roads in the Province will ba supplied in this column weekly, the source of it being Mr J. S. Havykes, secretary of the C.A.A., members of "The Press" staff, and "Press'' country correSDondenta.

West Coast Eoad.—Latest advices concerning the West Coast road are to the effect that it is impassable at the Crnigieburn Cutting, and that there is a number of washouts along the Bealey river. It is post sible, howev«r, to get from Christchurch to Lake Linden and to Castle Hill

Astburton Forks.—The arterial road leading from Ashburton up through the Ashburton Forks district is now in good order as far as Springbum. The branch to Alford Forest is rough but not difficult.

Wairewg, County—Owing to the drying nor'-westerly winds, the roads arc in a bad state. ' Any portions that have been metalled have had the blinding blown off and all the stones are exposed. One or two places, especially on the road near the threo bridges between Kaituua and Motukarara, aro particularly bad. In tho Waircwa County the crown of tho road in many places is much too high, and renders motoring on such roads unpleasant if not dangerous.

Hakaia Gorge to Mount Somers. —About two miles of the. back road aro being re-formed on account of damage by flood, and motorists are advised to turn at Mount Hutt, and take the route via Methven.

La-dbrboks.—Tho roads in the Ladbrooks ' and Broadficld districts, owing to tho very heavy motor traffic during tho holidays, aro at present in need of attention, pot-holes and loose shingle being the principal trouble. A visit to tho different roads- by tho grader would have the desired effect. Since attention was drawn in this column to the dangerous corners through overgrown hedges, several hedges have been cut down, but there aro still a few that require attention, more especially in Broadficld.

Waipara-Choviot Road.—Tho Main Coast road, between the Waipara and Hurunui rivers, is in very fair order for motoring at present. Some of the stretches where potholes abounded until recently have been patched.

Kaikoura—All tho county roads aro in good order for motorists, both on coast and inland routes. Travelling north from Kaikoura, motorists should keep well to tho left when passing Half Moon Bay, as there has been considerable erosion hero by tho sea, and tho road ia undermined. Another point to bo remembered is that motorists should turn to the left at MeLood'a corner, about one and a half miles from Lycll Creek bridge, as Middle Creek bridge has not yet been repaired. ..The guide-books advise motorists to keep to the beach, and often cars pull up at tho old wharf instead of turning to tho right at Lyell Creek bridge when travelling south, or at Post Office cutting if passing through Kaikoura.

The Main Road, Little Rivor-Christ-churcli, is better than it was some ■weeks ago, but is still potty in some places. A good deal of grading has been done near Kaituna, ■which has improved the surface wonderfully. No improvement has vet been made to the overerowned portions of tho road. These badly need attention.

TJiG Little River-AKaroa road is fair. Methven.—Since the rains, the roads in tho Methven district, which had commenced to break up during the dry spell, aro now in first-class order, and, with one or two exceptions, will compare favourably with those of any other district. From Methven to Rakaia tho n River road is tho ono mostly favoured, as, although it i 3 a' bit longer, it is always in first-class condition. From Methven to Eakaia via tho Chcrtsey road, turning on to the railway at Lyndhurst, tho road is good, with tho exception of about two miles between Methven and the Lyndhurst road. 'From Mitcham to Eakaia the ■road has been rc-graded, and is now in good order, and tho road to Ash-

burton is much improved, but many I motorists still use what is known i as the Polo road, which is usually in splendid condition. In fact, an the roads in Methvcn and surrounding districts at present aro a plcasuro to travel over. Handv to Mcthven arc a number of picnic resorts little known except to residents. Were thev advertised a little more, there is no doubt that many motorists would visit them, making Methvcn their starting-point. Within seven miles of Mcthven there are McLennan's Bush and Pudding Hill Dam. Attheiormer the Asbburton County Council Has provided a brick cookhouse wli€ J picnickers can boil the billy si™ have lunch in ideal smTOum m-is. Whilo the billv boils the bush can be explored, and the more acuvo members of a party cai'.X'linib i«e bills, from uhicli a wonderlul vieu of the plains can be bad. Rakaia Gorge, which is rather better known, is only ten miles from Mcthven, and is well worth a visit. Further afield is Maefai'lane s Bush and Sharpliu's Waterfall, places which are becoming more popular each year, and which can be very easily reached from Methvcn.

These aro only a few of many interesting spots within easy reach of Mcthven, where good accommodation for week-enders is available, For those who like more strenuous exercise there is Mount Hutt, 7180 feet high, which can lie climbed in a day, and which well repays the visitor for his trouble.

When arranging trade and other picnics, committees should give consideration to Methvcn.. Other places have been visited pretty, frequently and must be getting by now too familiar to most people. So far, none of these picnics has been held at Methvcn, where there is plenty of accommodation in tho splendid" Domain right in tho township. There are tennis courts, croquet and bowlin» greens, and a iirst-elass cricket ground.

ELECTRIC GEAR DRIVE,

HELPING LADY DRIVERS. Have automotive engineers of the U.S.A. uticonsciousjy aroused the ire of the Indies? asks a recent American motoring journal. Have they neglected them as they have taxi chauffeurs lor the, benefit of bus and perhaps truck drivers ? Such a situation may be said to bo developing because automotive engineers have been giving since 19U-1 serious technical study to an electric drive which assails the gear shift typo of delivering the power of the engine to drive wheels. Flexibility, ease of starting, no jerking, no grinding or grating of gears are. "claimed for the electric drive, but thus far it has only been successfully developed for buses 'and possibly for delivery trucks where tho latter are employed in frequent stop delivery service.

During the past week the Northern Californian section of tho Society of Automotive Engineers had as its principal speaker, Mr J. C. Thirhvall, of the General Electric prominent member of the metropolitan section of the society. He told how automotive engineers first placed eke--trie drives in Fifth avenue ! buses (moaning New York) in 190-1, because the Fifth Avenue Bus Company wanted to do away with jerky Jerky starting, in the company's opinion, was as bard on its equipment as.it was on its passengers. The cost sheet joined hands with the customers, and so of course the company got bnsy. To-day Philadelphia, Albany, Atlanta, Kansas City, Detroit, and Maimi, as well as other Eastern and Southern cities nro adopting the electric drivo in a substantial way to eliminate jerks and save money on frequent stop service.

The West, according to Mr Thirlwall, lias not grasped tlie value of the electric drive as thoroughly as has the East, but lias accepted it in a small way, and he believes will give it a constantly growing welcome.- Questioned as to the application of the electric drive to trucks, he stated that it was being tried nut on two or three delivcrv rigs by the Wan a maker stores, and judgment was being withheld until experience proved or disproved its value in that service.

It may he repeated that time alone may answer as to whether the electric drive will eliminate the ladies' gear shift worries.- For the time being: bus and truck drivers would seem to have the brightest outlook fo far as attracting the attention of scientific engineers is concerned.