COROMANDEL ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

COROMANDEL ROADS.

VARIETY FOR THE TOURIST. The remarkable improvement and extension of roads on the Coromandel Peninsula in the last two years will make available for the 1930 motor tourist, many delightful camping sites and scenic tours which have previously been accessible only to yachtsmen. Starting from Thames, there is a good metal road following the western side of the peninsula to Coromandel. Twelve miles north of Thames, a road turns inland at Tapu and climbs up over the mountain ranges, crossing the divide at a height of 1425 ft. From Mercury Bay, Coromandel can be reached by another road which passes direct through from east to west and crosses tho ridge at an altitudo of just under a thousand feet. Another narrow winding road leaves Coromandel and runs back again to the East Coast to a very delightful spot at Whangapoua. This road, however is not in tho best of condition and should only bo attempted by the most experienced drivers. For the ordinary motor tourist, tho best route heads direct north, joins tho coastline, and running past Amodeo Bay, leaves the metal and continues to Colville. At the northern end of Colville an estuary is crossed at low tide and although the formation is fairly rough at tho present time, when road improvements are carried out, thero will bo one of tho most delightful trips .available on the* new road toward Port Jackson which is just south of the Cape The main lower road, however, continues north and aftor following tho coastline for a time rises to 420 ft., before dropping down to the level near the eastern sea front. Thero is then an unformed road through tho paddocks to Waikawau

Beach where provision is being made for motor camping. There is only a short gap of miles of unmetnlled load between Thames and Colville. The County Council does not seem to adopt a very progressive program me but local .settlers have in several cases undertaken the work of metalling the roads to provide access for themselves. Between Colville and Waikawau, where the county was unable to take advantage of the subsidy offered by the Government, Mr. W. C. Denize, a local resident, has undertaken the contract for metalling and has personally guaranteed the ratepayers' share of tfie money amounting to £I4OO, of which the County Council has contributed £IOO. LEVEL CROSSINGS. No longer will the motorist be required to " stop, look, and listen " at every one of tho 2640 level ; crossings on the New Zealand highway system. It is proposed to erect compulsory stop signs at only 640 crossings. Tneso will include all crossings at which warning bells are installed, as it is considered that in view of suggestions , the bells are sometimes inaudible, it is desirable to retain the additional safeguard. No compulsory stop sign will be placed on crossings equipped with wig-wag or flashing light signals, as these are an unchallenged safeguard. In cases where there are no automatic signals or bells, and where visibility is good on one side of tho crossing, tho compulsory slop may bo required in ono direction only. Tho A.A.A. has expressed gratification at tho Railway Department's effort to remove many of tho hazards on tho highways, and tho service committee of the association is to bo given an opportunity to express'an opinion regarding the crossings in tho Auckland province which havo' been selected for compulsory stopping.