On Manawatu's Roads.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 1288, 14 September 1910, Page 2

On Manawatu's Roads.

TxjP question of roadinaking occupied a considerable portion of the morning sitting of the Manawatu. County Council meeting yesterday, introduced by a letter offering a road-roller and steam engine to the Council. There tras some difference of'opinion as lo

whether a stone-breaker was necessary before a steam roller was purchased.. Cr. R. B. ■Mclvenzie strongly supported getting a stone-breaker first, and argued that greater economy would result from the breaking of the stone at the pit before conveying it to the locality used. Against this it was urged that, owing to the use of three metal-pits, it woukT be more expensive to utilise a machine than to break the metal by hand after it is put on the roads. Inquiries in other districts where stone-breakers were used did not favour Cr. McKenzies views—so far, at any rate, as a large district was concerned. The advantage of a steam-roller, however, was pointed out as a necessity if really good roads were required, and the. want of some better methods of road construction was recognised. Tt.was stated that sufficient labour was notemployed iv breaking the metal after it was laid down, the waste through this being very great. Passing allusion was made to the disgraceful state of part of the jßangitikei Line (under the jurisdiction of the Ivairnnga County Council), owing to river metal being put down without any clay to bind it. There can lie no question but that too little attention is given to the construction of the roads in the first place, for if a thorough jo!) was made of the work the eternal patching would not be necessitated and expense would be saved as well as a considerable amount of inconvenience to travellers prevented.