ROADS OF THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20385, 14 October 1929, Page 12

ROADS OF THE NORTH.

WHANGAREI COUNTY NEEDS.

TAR-SEALING SUGGESTION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANGAKEI, Sunday.

A proposal which may assist in bringing the more important roads in the Whangarei County up to higher standard was advanced by the engineer at a meeting of the Whangarei County Council at the week-end.

The engineer reported having witnessed tho laying of experimental strips of bitumen. He said ho had suggested that the firm concerned might bo prepared to lay experimental strips of, say, two or three miles, and maintain them for two years. If the tar-sealing waa then considered satisfactory by the council the strips could bo taken over and paid for.

Members expressed themselves in accord with the proposal, and the engineer was authorised to enter into negotiations with any firm which desired to lay experimental strips.

Disappointment with the Main Highways Board was expressed by Mr. Elliott, in referring to ,an intimation from tho chairman of the District. Highways Council that probably the only work that could be done this year on the Otonga to the county boundary section of the Whangarei-Kawakawa main highway would be the completion of tho bridges, and that owing to tYs reduced allocation in the district, it would not be possible to consider any motalling scheme. Tho engineer advised that he was representing the position to the Main Highways Board. Mr. Elliott said he was particularly disappointed, as when the Highways Board members visited tho district recently tho importance of an ell-weather route to the North had been urged upon them. The board was asked to undertake the responsibility of financing tho work, as it had been done in other places, allowing tho council to contribute £IOOO a year. Although nothing definite had been said tho board had given the impression that it viewed the representations in a favourable light. The chairman said evidently the Highways Board had not taken the slightest notice of tho representations. Tho board had not given tho county fair treatment. It was decided to make very strong representations to tho Highways Board for the completion of tho strip of road in question.