A NEW ROAD.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 8, 20 January 1932, Page 5

A NEW ROAD.

One thing that wants attending to immediately is the ford through a stream just before turning off to the right to the new lime works. In wet weather there is rather much water for comfort, and a small car could not navigate it. The Worst Part. The road, after passing the new lime works at Miranda, and later a solitary benzine pump, proceeds along the shell bank. This shell road is the worst part of the route, for continuous streams of traffic have worn deep, winding ruts in, the hard shell, and pasengers may feel that the car will roll over at the bends. The worst of these have already been filled in, however.

FROM THAMES TO AUCKLAND. VIA MIRANDA AND NEW BRIGHTON. Those who have to motor from Thames to Auckland and would wish to avoid the monotony of the main highway, via Pokeno, with ils traffic, dust, pot-holes, loose metal and steep hills, may now take a new route, which has -none of these disadvantages, bur offers splendid coastal, bush and rural scenery. This new route is via Miranda, Glevedon, and Papakura, and is a few miles shorter, though it is possible that, by proceeding through Whitford and Panmure, the distance may be still shortened. Motorists branch off to the rigid at Waitakaruru.

The time taken on the journey will be longer, for the road is not yet built up to main highway standard, and, being rather winding in parts, a fast pace is not recommended until one has learned by experience what to expect around the next bend.

The new sections of the road are being made for motor traffic, and parts of the old road traversed are being widened. In a short time the route will undoubtedly be made safe for fast through traffic, for it is bound to become a very popular drive.

From Waitakaruru to Miranda the smface is metalled, but the first section is somewhat rough, and there are three bad culverts which will cause a bump unless taken carefully. A few .chains before the hotsprings creek is reached the newly-metalled road is met. This road has been considerably widened, and the new metal has been blinded with shell, but not sufficiently to form a smooth surface over the coarse metal. For the last few chains in the Waikato County the road has been widened, but the surface has been shelled and is smooth..

The newly-opened road is met just beyond the recreation ground at New Brighton, and cut across the point to Whakatiwai, now flourishing an array of benzine pumps. The road is metalled with beach shingle, and the going is heavy for a few miles. The next point of interest, is a big ship—the Guy C. Goss — high arid dry on the beach, at Wharekawa. It is used as a stone-crush-ing plant, and presents a strange appearance.

Shortly alter passing this the coast is reached, and the road has been made along the sea-cliffs in a manner similar to the Thames-Tapu road. The formation is wide, but, as yet, unme tailed.

After passing Colonel Adams' beautiful home the road leaves the coast for a while, and passes over some low hills. Ah old metalled road has been considerably straightened and the grade improved, but as yet the deviations have not been metalled. Several sheep runs are passed, and the country becomes more closely settled as the Orere district is reached. From now on the road surface is very good, but the road winds about as it follows up a valley, where there are many clumps <tf native bush and some good farms. After passing a big sawmill and crossing a hill by a long, winding but well-graded road, the route skirts Kawakawa Bay. .iffording a good view of Ponui Tsland. the lighthouse, and McCallum Bros.' dredge. The red metal road then passes through the old-established Whakatere district and on into Clevedon.