COUNTRY ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19163, 31 October 1925, Page 11

COUNTRY ROADS.

Sir, —Twenty years ago the roads around Mangera were renowned for their smoothness and were a pleasure to motor over. The reason for their excellent condition was that shell was used as a binding. Why has the practice of utilising the many banks of pipi shell in our harbours fallen so much into disuse ? I venture to assert that if these shell banks were made use of thousands of pounds could be saved, as many lotas for paving could be dispensed with. An object lesson can be had at any time by viewing and driving over parts of the road to Birkdale, via Northcote or Birkenhead. On portions of the road shell has been used as a top-dressing with the happiest results. The road carries motor-buses and other heavy traffic. At a trifling cost Sin. of shell as a binder on the ordinary rough surface of the metalled country road will work down and leave a surface which is a pleasure to travel over, while repairs and maintenance would only amount to "more shell." The roads to the North to the Waitakeres, etc., with two, four and sis-inch rocks strewn over them, are simply a disgrace to all the local bodies concerned, and one can well misquote "Where every prospect pleases and only roads are vile.' Warren* Blytii.