TAIHAPE TO NAPIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18861, 8 November 1924, Page 10 (Supplement)

TAIHAPE TO NAPIER.

NEW ROAD NEARING COMPLETION.

Good progress is being made by the contractors for the erection of the bridge over the Rangitikei Riyer at Springvale, on the Taihape to Napier Road. It is aiipected that the bridge will be completed in February, and will enable motorists to make the through trip from Napier to Taihape with little difficulty. A start is shortly to be made with the bridge across the Rangitikei River at the Mangawhero crossing, and when this is completed motorists will be fortunate in having the choice of two routes between Taihape and Napier, which will then be brought within a four hours' journey of the Main Trunk railway. Preparations are already being made to establish a through motor / service on the first route to be opened up.

THE NEXT MURIWAI MEETING. j' Arrangements will shortly bo put in hand for the next motor sports meeting to be held on Muriwai Beach during February and March of next year. The matter has been discussed by the sports committee of the A. A A., and it should shortly be possible to announce the date of the proposed gathering. Already, promises of support have been roceived from Australia and it is anticipated that big fields will be offered for several of the events.

BEAR NUMBER ILLUMINATION. A little more attention on the part of motorists in Auckland to the rear num- . ber plate illumination would not be out •of place. In Bome cases the letters and figures are clearly visible from a reasonable distance behind the cars, but in the majority of instances the rear lamp, save for showing a red light, might almost as .well be abolished for all tho use it is ,as an illuminant of the number plate. ■- The Commissioner of Police in London, ;■ in consultation with the R.A.C. Technical Committee, has decided . that a minimum standard of illumination is desirable. Action, is to be taken against drivers of jnotor vehicles who do not comply with the requirements to have the rear number plate clearly visible during -the hours of darkness.

MAIN ROADS. > Robertson Road, Mangere.—This route is jlgaint -open to- through-traffic. - • Hamllton-Rotorna.—Although ft is yefc early in tho tourist season, a considerable somber of cars have passed through Tirau of late en route to Rotorua over the Mamakn Hill. Up to yesterday the hill road afforded fairly satisfactory travelling. Harp of Erin to Ot&huhu.—The best route is to branch off at Penrose and take the Panumre-Otahuhu road. The Great South Road has been improved between Ellerslie and Penrose Junction, but the continual pounding is already making itself apparent by the small pot holes now appearing. Oteborne-Ruatorea. —The roads on the Coast havß improved to such an extent that the motor service has inaugurated its summer time-table again. The cars are now able to get right through to Ruatorea in one day, and next week a daily service to Te Araroa will be commenced. The car at present leaves Gisborpe at 7 a.m., arrives at Tokomaru Bay at noon and at Ruatorea at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Another popular feature will be commenced next week, when the cars will leave Gisborne at 8 a.m. instead of at 7 as at present. The daily service to- arid from Te Araroa is still a further improvement in tho coastal car service, and will place people on the Coast in much closer touch with Gisborne than his been possible in other years.