Road Conditions in the North

Northland Age, Volume 5, Issue 12, 20 December 1935, Page 10

Road Conditions in the North

Touring conditions thr6ughout North Auckland are steadily on the improvement, states Mr. J. H. Skow, A.A. Northern Patrol, in his Christmas Road Report. Since last season many bad corners have been cut back, better road alignment provided, and altogether better road conditions prevail. If weather conditions behave, there is every reason to expect a record of visitors, who will either be staying at hotels or camping througout the North.

In several cases hotels have changed hands, and generally accommodation has improved ; also motor camps have in many cases additional improvements. Workmen and graders have been kept busy and most of the main highways are in fair order, giving better visibility. Even with the recent improvements, the Northern highways generally, do not permit the fast travelling motorists enjoy in the South, and with the present-day nighpowered cars, care should be exercised, more especially over the holiday period. Owing to reconstruction work being carried out extensively, motorists are requested to slow down on approaching workmen, and if wet, avoid splashing pedestrians, especially where there are no footpaths. Do not let luggage overhang past hub caps, and see that number plates are not obscured. At present the dust nuisance on unsealed surfaces is annoying, and the usual courtesy is requested in regard to this nuisance. There is a keen demand this year for camping spots off the beaten track, and fortunately the North is able to provide such places where shelter and water is found and safe bathing. Dealing with individual sections of Northern roads, Mr. Skow says : Whangarei - Parakao - Ivaikohe. Surface in fair order but care required between Parakao and Titoki where the road is narrow and windy. Waimatenui - Mangakahia Road. This road is in bad order, part beingstill unformed, and it is not advised for traffic. Kaikohe - Waimatenui - Donnelly’s Crossing. Road surface in fair order, providing some very fine views and broken country. Leaving Tutamoe the Mangatu road is metalled, and provides excellent view of Trounson Kauri Park. Dargaville - Kauri Forest - Opononi. Although Awakino valley route provides the best surface, the shorter route via Babylon is generally used and this surface is in fair order except for a small stretch, but is metalled and provides fair traveling. The route through Trounson Park is in fair order and generally preferred to the Oranga route. Leaving Kaihu, tho road surface from the Waipoua

j Kauri Forest is in good order and continues fair to Opononi. Opononi-Rawene-Kaikohe. Road surface is in fair order, thoug-h there are pot-holes near Kaikohe which are expected to be repaired at an early date. Motorists using the ferry at Rawene are advised to book ahead, which will mean often a saving of several hours delay. Taheke - Horeke - Rangiahua. This new route is carrying a fair amount of traffic and the surface is in fair order. Kaikohe - Okaihau (via TePua and via Ohaeawai). Both these routes provide good travelling, the more popular route being via Ohaeawai, this route being longer but the road surface generally better. Whangarei - Whakapara - Russell. —The road surface between Whangarei and Russell is at present in very fair order, and comfortable driving prevails; however, between Helena Bay and the bush many slips are down and careful driving is advised. Whangarei - Kawakawa - Ohaeawai. Road surface is in fair order. Graders are at work and before the holidays a further mprovement should be noticeable. Kawakawa-Opua.—This all-weather road surface is only fair, and owing to the narrow and windy road extra care is advised. The clay road connecting the Opua road at Oromahoe, and junctioning with the PakarakaPaihia road, is not advised. Paihia-Waimate North-Pakaraka.— Road surfaces are in good order. Bull’s Road - Waipapa - Kerikeri - Pakaraka. This road, known as Eulls’ road, is at present being reconstructed and before long will connect the Waipapa-Kerikeri and Pakaraka roads making a direct route for motorists visiting this area.

Ohaeawai - Waiare - Kaeo. This route North via Waiare is most popular owing to the better surface and from a scenic point of view.

Okaihau - Mangamuka - Kaitaia. Except for occasional pot-holes this road surface is in fair order. Reduced speed is advised between Rangiahua and Victoria Valley owing to the narrowness of highway. However, many corners are at present being cut back and the visibility has recently been considerably improved. Kohukohu - Broadwood - Herekino - Kaitaia. Leaving Kohfikohu, both roads via Te Karae or Motukaraka are in fair order, care being required in driving through the Herekino gorge. Kaeo - Mangonui - Fairburn - Kaitaia. Surface in fair order, but

extra care being required between Mangonui and Fairburn. The visibility on this section of the road is bad. Road surface narrow and reduced speed necessary. Mangonui - Taipa - Awanui. This road surface has improved, but is still rough and not generally appreciated, more especially between Taipa and Lake Ohia. Kaingaroa - Lake Ohia - Whatuwhiwhi. Leaving Lake Ohia via Doubtless Bay the road is rough, and the beach can only be used when the tide is suitable. A bridge is washed away near Whatuw’niwhi and is expected to be repaired at an early date. The clay road, or rather track, connecting the beach with Rangiputa road is in very bad order and not advised for motor traffic. 'However, the Rangiputa-Kaingaroa road is in fair order. Kaitaia - Ninety Mile Beach - Far North. The inland road as far as Ngataki is in very fair order, but further North, especially near Parenga, the road surface is very rough, and especially after rain should not be attempted. Motorists*’' travelling on the Ninety Mile Beach may leave Kaitaia via Ahipara or Waipapakauri, and recently improvements have been carried out on the sandy road which runs between Waipapalcauri and the beach. Motorists are strongly urged to take in a good supply of oil and benzine before going on to the beach. The beach surface is at present in good order, and if tide is suitable and the usual beach “safety first” rules are observed, comfortable motoring conditions should prevail. Before passing the Bluff, make sure that the tide is sufficiently far enough out and the bottom of Te Paki stream is hard, and travel slowly in low or second gear and no trouble should be experienced. The

road to the Te Paki station is potholey and this road, together with the Te Paki, Te Hapua and Spirits Bay roads should not be attempted unless fine weather prevails. The old Pandora-Te Paki road is completely washed away. The recommended route to the Far North is via Ninety Mile Beach, if travelling beyond Houhora, and reduce speed when the fresh water creeks are met on the Ninety Mile Beach, and do not leave car on wet sand.

Estimates of this season’s lambing indicate a substantial decline in numbers and a sharp drop in the percentage for the North Island, compared with those of recent years. This, however, is largely offset by the figures for the South Island, in which, on a slightly increased number of breeding ewes, there is a small increase in the number of lambs, although the percentage is fractionally lower. # * * * The first Christchurch wool sale of the season was held last Thursday and the demand generally exceeded the expectations of growers. The sale was keen with a substantial increase in prices on those ruling last year. The advance for super wools ranged 3d to 4d a pound or about 30 percent and for average fine wools from 2d to 3d a pound. There was a recovery on the rates ruling at the recent Napier sale.

“The farming industry is New Zealand’s basic industry and will continue to be so for years to come. There are millions invested in it. As I visualise my task, one of the big jobs is to keep on the land the men who are already there, but at the same time we must provide for new settlers. There are certain blocks which have been developed to a point, and in the near future something will be done to throw them open for settlement under the best possible conditions. This will entail finding the necessary finance for their operation and provision of stock.” Hon. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands.