MAIN ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 10 (Supplement)

MAIN ROADS.

The comparatively fine spell now following the month or more of rain is working 8, transformation on the earth roads of the Waikato main roads. Quick-drying in all seasons, they a.ro rapidly responding to the sunshine and wind, and already toward the pumice country in tho Upper Waikato, even those that cut up worst have now settled down again and graders are out rounding them up. Tho Minister for Public Worts'has declined the request by the Matamata County Council that it be given the work of completing the Mangaiti deviation, on the Ati'amuri route from the Waikato into the thermal district. The Minister gives as his reason that his department having commenced the work, it cannot now be. transferred to the counciL The latter body at its meeting last week decided to reply urging that the work be completed at once, and, to this end, renewing its offer to undertake the* job. ; .

In the Morrlnsvillo Brough Council's new suggestions for a £45,000 _ streets improvement loan are included, it is understood, proposals for the tar-sealing or bitumen-coating of sorno of the main streets of tho' town, while concrete has also been mentioned as possibly best in the centre of . the business area. The Papakura Town Board is another local tody which purposes using bitumen for its principal streets, and it has applied to the Matamata County Council for the services of tho new county engineer, Mr..-. Fitzgerald, of-.Eltham, lb advise : it in the matter. The council deferred the application until Mr.- Fitzgerald's 'arrival, on or about August 11, next. .

The Waimarino-Tokaanu road baa been placed in charge of the Prisons Department, and nt present a. gang of men, with a motor lorry, is employed at work on the hill near . the Wanganui River. The section of this main east and west road which really, calls for reconstruction and metalling is that between the native settlement at Lake Roto-Aira and Tokaanu, which for a distance of 20 miles is more or less a track on which motors ore compelled to use chains during the greater part of the winter. The surface consists of soft pumice soil, and is soon ground into ■ a quagmire. Constant work is needed to keep it in anything like a decent state, but this is necessarily limited owing to a totally Inadequate staff. Metal is obtainable at many points and it is to he hoped full us© will be made of it in the immediate future.