STATE OF ROAD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 148, 24 May 1934, Page 10

STATE OF ROAD

LONGBURN TO RONGOTEA. ADVOCACY OF SEALING. “I think that the time is drawing very near when we will have to undertake the tar-sealing of the LcngburnRongotea Road. It is costing too nuicli to maintain,” declared Cr P. G.< Mudon at the meeting of the Kairanga County Council, yesterday afternoon. The chairman (Cr D. Collis) said that figures had been taken out concerning the cost of tar-sealmg the road, and they were rather surprising. If the council desired strict economy it would be better to leave the matter where it was at present. The acting-engineer (Mr L. L. Pickering) said that the average maintenance cost of the road over the past six years had been £7O a mile. “The road gets into a very bad state in dry weather,” said Cr Mudon, “and the formation is very bad.” j Cr Voss and the chairman agreed. Cr Mildon: I am satisfied that our ratepayers would welcome an improvement. .. c The cost of three-coat tar-sealing of the si-mile stretch of road was stated by the engineer to be estimated at £13,000. On a £2 for £1 basis the county’s contribution would be £4SUU. The sinking fund was heavy on a loan of such a nature, and with interest would make 9 per cent., equivalent to £405 per annum. The present annual maintenance cost was £538. The Highways Board provided a subsidy of £3 for £1 towards this, leaving the county’s share at £135 per annum. Three-coat sealing over this road would cost about £2OOO per mile. Cr Mildon: This is a secondary highway. The engineer: Two or three coats will be wanted to comply with requirements. Cr Mildon: Something will have to be done eventually. The road has been very bad during the past 12 months. The engineer: The money runs away in the foundations and not in the sealing. Cr Mildon said the BunnythorpeKairanga Road had only one coat. The engineer: With formation, that is costing £I9OO a mile. The chairman: Is there any possible chance of doing part of the work and spreading the remainder over a year or two? Cr Mildon: We have got to make a start some time—the sooner the better. The chairman: We do not want to raise the rates. We had better defer the matter for twelve months. Shoulder work alone on the road would cost £4OO a mile, said the engineer. “I have one opinion only,” said Cr M. W. Voss. “There is no doubt that something ought to: be done if we can manage it.” The engineer: The highways estimates for this year have gone in. Cr Voss: We ought to keep the matter in view. “It is very doubtful at present whether the ratepayers would sanction a loan,” commented the chairman. “T suggest that the matter be left in abeyance and that the engineer be instructed to bind the road. Personally, I would like to see something done.” It was agreed to hold over the matter.