WAIMATE WEST COUNTY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 March 1925, Page 3

WAIMATE WEST COUNTY.

■ — f: ———— • LEADS THE DOMINION. ' ' ' TRAVELLERS’ APPRECIATION. Much deservedly favourable comment anent the excellent motoring conditions afforded by tlie fine roads and bridges ' which have been constructed m "thfeT Waimate West County has been passed, from time to time by tourists and local residents alike, the’former in a spirit of keen admiration and the latter m one of pride- in the results achieved. Visitors are wont to "be most eh-: fchusiastic in their praise of the good; conditions existing, an illustration being given in ah article contributed 'to the Dominion by a ’writer subsequent—fco a tour of 1000 miles of North Island, roads'. - 'Containing a series of enlightening comments concerning the standard of roads maintained in various countries, some being commended and others subjected to adverse criticism, the article cedes pride of place to those in Wai-' mate West County,'referred to as~ “the county that- leads the Dominion.”- , Enter alia, the. writer in calling, at-.' tention to the Taranaki area, of good roads states : : ■ \ “While on the subject of Taranaki tar and bitumen roads, special mention must be made of those in the Waimate West County. It is not wide of the mark to say that Waimate West’s sur* faced roads arc the most successful in .the Dominion. Beautifully smooth, they present ideal surfaces for traffic,, and they are among the cheapest in, the country, costing only £IOOO per mile to (ay down, and £65 per mile per annum to maintain. The work reflects the very highest credit on the county engineer, MV..' J. ’ A/ Hansen, and demonstrates that good roads need nofc' : involve the colossal expenditures per nnle to which some alleged experts rush as ihe onty alternatives to the macadam that they fail to maintain. It would be an excellent thing if the Highways. Board could arrange for Mr. Hansen to run a school of instruction to train county foremen in laying bituminous roads.” ‘ ; / Questioned liy a Star reporter concerning the figures given, Mr. Hansen said the construction costs would be ap--proximatelv correct, but pointed’out that as some lengths of the roads had been in fair'order prior to tar sealing,the work on the whole did not entailthe same amount’/of re-formation as was necessary in some countries today. The £65 maintenance cost quoted was, -however, in excess of actual ’ charges which on the tarred roads ivould average approximately a little over £4O per mile per annum? - -