TARANAKI TO AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18862, 10 November 1924, Page 9

TARANAKI TO AUCKLAND.

WORK ON MAIN ROAD.

DIFFICULTIES MET WITH.

REPLY TO CRITICISMS.

'•The metalling of this road is perhaps the most difficult roading proposition that has ever been undertaken in New Zealand, owing to the fact that on a length of 33 miles, between Uruti and the Awakino Valley, no metal outcrop can be found,'' said Mr. T. M. Ball, engineer of tho Public Works Department, in replying to a criticism of the department's methods of work on the road which has been submitted to him by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce.

The criticism referred to was by a settler in the Awakino Valley, who expressed the opinion that if the works on the road was left to the Public Works Department to complete, there would be no road through for throe years. He thought the work on the unmetalled portion should be let in contracts of two to four miles. A suggestion was also made that if tho chamber could- do anything toward having this work and the erection of tho Mokau Bridge accelerated, the through road would benefit not only the towns which would be linked up "but also the settlers and all who would make use of the road.

Mr. Ball, in his reply, which was read at the meeting of the council of the chamber last week, said that the Minister for Public Works and the Main Highways Board were desirous of completing the necessary work of metalling the New Ply-mouth-Te Kuiti road with the utmost expedition consistent with economy and good work. After mentioning the difficulties attendant in the wide separation of the quarries, Mr. Ball said that there still remained six miles to be metalled from the quarry on the Mokau River, and at the rate at which they were able to get the metal out, 80 cubic 3-ards a day continuously, it would be possible to put down a six-inch foundation course on this stretch by next .May, and this would enable all cars and light lorries to be run throughout the winter. The four-mile gap north of the Mokau would be metalled from a quarry situated 4£ miles beyond Awakino, and as this quarry had an excellent working face, rapid progress could be made and the gap completed. It was added by Mr. Ball that it was impossible to subdivide the work into contracts, as suggested, owing to the inadequate metal supply. It was the de partment's policy to let the work by any means that would secure the best results. Where possible, contracts had been let, but in all cases as much work was done by contract as possible. In the present instance the quarrying was being done by contract, the barging by contract, and the transport by lorries was mostly by contract. The actual spreading and rolling was done by day labour, but as this was the most important part of the work, it was extremoly desirable that r.o chance should be allowed of slumming and bad work.