MAIN COUNTRY ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18888, 22 December 1924, Page 12

MAIN COUNTRY ROADS.

TOUR OF HIGHWAYS BOARD.

MEMBERS COVER 1200 MILES

COMPLETING UNMETALLED GAPS

IMPORTANT WORK IN HAND.

A fortnight's inspectional tour of the Auckland Province was completed by the ' Main Highways Board on Saturday. Several of the more important, main roads \ were traversed during that time and conj sultations were held with a number of the local bodies concerned with their maintenance. Approximately 1200 miles of roads were covered, frequently at the rate of 120 miles a day, and whila furnishing the members of the board with valuable first-hand information regarding the state of the country roads and the problems connected with their up-keep, at the same time served to bring the controlling local authorities into touch with the personnel of the board and direct acquaintance with its policy. All the members of the board were engaged in the tour with the exception of the chairman, Mr. F. W. Furkert, Under-Secretary and engineer-in-chief to the Pubic Works Department. They were:-—Mi'. M. H. Wynyard (actingchairnmnj. and Messrs. J. D. Bruce, J. Connett, G. T. Murray and P. S. Waldie. The Work at Bangiriri. During the inspection, considerable attention was devoted to the unmetalled gaps in the principal highways, with the object of completing the work of metalling and linking up broken stretches of road as expeditiously a:, possible. Concentrating attention first on the main road leading south from Auckland, it was found that the metalling at proceeding between Ohinewai and Rangiriri, and the work on the Rangiriri Hills and deviation, were progressing satisfactorily, and the board was satisfied that the gap would be completed during the present summer. The unmetalled link between Kiokio and Kihikihi on the main south road has now been joined up, and with the completion of the Rangiriri deviation there will be a continuous metalled highway from Auckland pa.ssed Awakino. When the link between Awakino and Tongaporutu, on which work is rapidly proceeding, reaches completion—it is hoped before the winterthere will be an all-the-year-round road connecting Auckland with Wellington. On the Pokeno-Paeroa road there are two unmetalled sections, amounting in all to about six miles, and during the board's visit to this district the local bodies were interviewed regarding a workable basis for the linking up of this gap. This is an important highway, giving outlet to the wealthy Thames Valley, Coromandel, Tauranga and the goldfields, and part of the road is in very bad condition at present.

Main Highway to vtne North. As regards the North Auckland peninjiula, the policy of the board is to concentrate upon one main trunk highway, together with roads linking up the important centres and producing districts. The complete metalling of this highway will take time, and in the meantime the board hopes to arrange for the improvement of the worst portions of it, and the gradual improvement of the sections at present unsurfaced. The board is evidently seized with the necessity of having this line improved, not only in the interests of the travelling public, but with the joint aim of facilitating the marketing of primary produce Commencing at Waipapakauri, at the northern end of the highway, the road is metalled to Victoria Valley, and the Public Works Department is putting in a connecting road through very fine bush scenery to Mangamuka. This is now being 'metalled beyond Rangiahua, with the exception of a section now under construction. From Rangiahua the road connects with the old coach road through Okaihau, and Ohaeawai to Kaikohe. The board has authorised the metalling of a section of the unmetalled road from Kaikohe down the Maungakahia Valley, and the Public Works Department.is now widening and metalling the road through the Mangakahia Gorge, while the Whangarei County Council is negotiating for metalling a further stretch of th'j valley. The rest of the road to Whangarei is metalled.

Maintenance System Defects. From Whangarei southward, the Government has arranged to complete a metalled road to Waipu, using the railway formation to a large extent. ■ From Waipu the road through the Waipu Gorge, Maungaturoto and Kaiwaka is metalled, though a bad section of the road further on, between Tehana and Wellsford, will require early attention. Southward of this, the road to Warkworth is only metalled in places, while the bridge over the Hoteo River is an urgent necessity. 'I lie road between Warkworth and Waiwera also requires metalling in places. The grades from, Waiwera over the old East Coast Road are considered prohibitive, The main highway runs up the Waiwera Valley on a good grade, and then to Wainui. This is practically clay throughout at the present time, and requires widening and channelling. Proposals are being made for the improvement and metalling of the section between Wainui and Birkenhead. One thing that struck members of the board during the tour was the lack of sufficient culverts on a great many clay roads in the North. Their absence leads to the destruction of large sections of the forma tion and the scouring out of water-tables, especially on the hill roads. It was apparent, also, in some of the counties visited, that road maintenance had been neglected, the general principle being to effect somewhat drastic repairs to a road and then allow it to go without attention. The members of the board are impressed with the necessity of instituting maintenance on the principle of "a little and oftiin," instead of repairs at long into;' 1 - vah, as being both more effective and more economical.

Besults of the Tour. The hoard is satisfied that it* tour has been of considerable benefit, inasmuch as it has removed some misunderstandings which were bound to arise . uring the nr.st year of the new system's operation. Members were imposed with tie enterprise of settlers in improving road access, but in some cases considered that the proposals made for road construction and improvement were i-nneoessarily costly to provide for tha traffic offering. In this connection the engineering members of the board were able to give their opinion with a view to the adoption of a style of road construction more suitable to the particular requirements of the district. The board was more than ever convinced of the necessity, where possible, of the use of road rollers to improve road surfaces. A conference on Saturday regarding the main road to Henderson was attended by Mr. W. E. Bush, city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, assistant engineer, and representatives of the Waitemata County Council. Engineering details were discussed, as well as the application by the council in connection with the improvement of the Wai-nui-Birkenhead highway. On this point Mr. Tyndall is making a special report. The Waitemata Chamber of Commerce also waited on the board with a request that the coast road should be declared a main highway for maintenance only, pending completion of the central highway, on the ground that it would carry thfl bulk of traffic. The members of the board" dispersed on Saturday.