CONDITION OF ROADS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 149, 21 December 1932, Page 7

CONDITION OF ROADS

NORTH ISLAND TOTIBSf

A GENERAL! REVIEW

Whue gravel surfaces may be expected!, to be; slightly below the standard o£ last year and restricted funds have curtailed development, roads generally, says thel Automobile Club's report, will be muelii the same as they were this time last year. The following detailed comments are! made on the roads from Wellington iv various directions:— • Wellington-Levin-Shannon to Palmerston North (95% miles).—Good condition, road \ now considerably widened between Shannon and Palmerston North. "" „' Levjn-Foxton to Palmerston North (12-, 24 miles).—Fair condition. There is now, a good bitumen, surface between Foxtoii' and Himitangi. Foxton-Bulls (24 miles).—As above, good; bitumen surface between Foxton and Himitangi. Himitangi to Sanson, gravel road, condition not bo satisfactory - Bulh-Taihape (62 miles).—Metal road is'i fair condition. Bulls-Wanoanni (27 miles).—Parti* i gravel, partly bitumen, in fair order Taihape-Ohakune (34 miles).—Fair: WaJourti-Tokaanii (45 miles):—Not metalled; fairly rough in places; chains required in wet weather. Due to the nature^ o£ the surface, this road ■ saves very little time as compared with the longer route via National Park. WANGANUI-RAETIHI. ,*Wzanß? lUx'* R2 rtihi (Parapara Gorge)'. (58* miles).—Good generally, with rough.' patches. Care necessary where, reconstruction in progress, about 34 miles from | Wanganui, where there is a short section:1 "one car" road. " \ Raetihi-National Park (23 miles).—Good Wanganui-Karioi, via Mangamahu (65 miles).—All metalled. Good order at present—no bad hills, and makes pleasant alternative to main trunk.Hunterville to Tangiwai (via f urakina) (39 miles).—No trouble should, be experi-. ehced in fine weather on this road,'wkicli is in good order. Chains required for clay sections if wet. ■■-■.. ■ Ohakune-Taumarunui (61 'miles).—Fair condition. - - ; Taumarunui-Te Kuiti (54% miles).—Fair condition to the junction with the' Wei- i lington-Auckland Slain Highway at the j 8 Mile: 8 Mile to Te Kuiti not so good. .' Te Kuiti-Hamirton (50 miles).'—Gravel! road which ravels after heavy traffic. Hamilton-Mercer to Pokeno (47% miles),! —Gravel road; fair condition. . . . i Hamilton-Raglan (30 miles).--MetauedJ : ! road in fair order. -,-■ ' ' .'. '! Te Awamutu-Kawhia ' (44 L miles).-, i Metalled; a very fine drive.. ' " '■'• ] . Pokeno-Thames (41% milesJ.-HSooil i metalled road across Hauraki: Plains. . i Pokeno-Aucktand (34 -miles).— Bombay! deviation now opened; speed, limit 30 miles per hour. Bombay .to ' Papakurai very rough; good concrete road Papakura* Auckland. . -•""..', Wanjanui-New Plymouth (102 miles).-*! Good surface. ■ ■■•■■■■'. I New Prymouth-Te Kuiti (111% miles}.—! Partly bitumen, partly gravel, fair con«j dition. . .;■•■■-. . : :..-, , < Stratford-Taumarunui (via: Tangarakai Gorge) (98% miles).—A-beautiful drive^ but not negotiable in wet weather. .Carry chains. Now metalled between Tatu and I Xaumarunui. - • ■. ' -'" ■ WeJllnoton-Mastorton to Napier (213J miles).—-Mostly bitumen; good, order ex-l cept Pahiatua-Eketahuna, care requiredil account loose metal: • i Featherston to Lake Ferry and Westernji Lake's Roads.—Good order. . . . ! Palmerston North-Woodville (17% miles),; All tar-sealed. - ' - ; Palmerston North to FeiFding (12 miles),' —Good condition, any route. : .' THE SAST COAST. . Napier-Wairoa (80%)" to Gisborne (66%y (via Morere).—All metalled. Tongoio Hill much, improved; vehicular ferry at Wairoa; Shaws Hill, just north of Morere* narrow and steep; sealed along top Wharei rata HilL Wairoa-Glsborne (via Tiniroto) (67| miles).—TJnmetalled section south of Tiniroto. Eest metalled. '.....- Napier-Taihape (99 miles).—Narrow and! hilly. In good order, but chains require^ after wet weather. Not recommended'es-i cept as an alternative, or for member^ who wish, to break new country, Savea very little time, if any, compared with! round-about route. Experienced drivers only. ..'•.-. • Walroa-Waikaremoana to Botorua (154 miles). —The surface of this road is nowj such that it can be negotiated in att weathers, but the road is subject to slipa and inquiries should always .be made aa to the condition from the Hawkes Bag Automobile Association at Napier, at onei end, and the Auckland .Automobile. Asso^ ciation at Botorua, at the. other endFor a distance of about 55 miles from Wai. karemoana northwards, travelling is verjs slow, as the road is narrow and; winding* The scenery over this section is tmexcel« led. Approaching Eotorua there is a pum» ice Burface on which better time can bi made. Napfer-Tanpo (96% miles).—Surface ii first-class order throughout. Taopo-National Park (70 mfles).—ln fain' order, but cuts up in wet weather, on account of heavy traffic. The section be? tween^ Tokaanu and National"Park -has1 been considerably widened and. improved, Taupo-Rotoma (56 miles) to WhakataM|| (57 nules).—Good surface; fair order; most* ly pumice. . ,: TOupo-Atiamnri to Hamilton (9S milest —Pumice road most of way. In fair ordeci Rotonia-Hamilton (via Tirau) (69 milesKi —In good order—speed limit 30 miles perf hour between Kotorua and Tapapa- (MamV aku Hills). Rotorua-Tauranga (57 mUes).—Fair order. Section between Te Puke-Tauranga now metalled. Presents no difficulty. Whakatane-Gisborne (via Waioeka Tali ley road) (134 miles).—Practically all trafi fie now travels via the new road through! the Waioeka Valley. It joins the old Gisborne-Motu road at Matairai and-avoids the famous Motu and Mere Mere Hills* The steepest grade on the new Waioekal Valley'road is about 1 Sn 15, and geners ally the surface throughout is in fair cons dition: i "'""'""..■ Gisborne-Hlcks Bay (119 miles).—ln fanj order. Ford just beyond Te Araroa majf hold up traffic after rain. ■' I Whakatane-Te Puke (44 miles) to TaW ranga (17 miles). —In fair order and rib{ longer gives trouble in wet weather. Good! camping at Mt. Maunganui, turn pff a^ mountain 9 miles from Tauranga Taiiranja-Waihi (42 miles).—Note ava3< able in all weathers. . ■ : "■■..■" Waihl-Pokeno (via Thames) (31 milesfiJ —In fair order. . ■ -vl