NORTH AUCKLAND ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 17

NORTH AUCKLAND ROADS.

DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETS. COSTS OF MAINTENANCE. [by TEXJEGji-irn.—own ronassptjVDsNT. 1 VT HASTGAHEI. Friiiav. On the motion of Mr. Rodney Ccates, the No. 1 District Council of the Main Highways Board derided to advise the Minister of Public Works that it supported an increase in .the petrol tax t-o meet the heavy maintenance brought about by increased motor traSc. It. was stated that maintenance costs had increased from £7OOO in 1924 to £66.000 last year. Mr. J. E. McEnnis was re elected chairman ox the council, and Mr. W. B. Russell (Hokianga) and Mr. Rodney Coates (Otamatea). with the chairman, were reelected t-o the executive. The council decided to support the Waitemata County Council's pretest against inclusion in No. 2 group. The council was advised by the Main Highways Board that the annual maintenance allocation for North Auckland had dropped by £IO.OOO this year. In his annual report, the chairman saiu no new main highways were declared durinc the year, but a section of 11 miles of the Whantraroa Okaihan highway was revoked. The total of main and secondary highways was 907 miles. The maintenance had increased from £ll4 per mile to £136 per mile on the main highways, and from £65 per mile to £lO4 per mile on the secondary highways. The average for the whole system was £124 per mile. Metal laid totalled 25 miles, and 11 bridges had been constructed. New highways recommended were the Dargavillo - Waipona forest - Waimamaku Road, of which the 19 miles through the forest is to be a Government road: the Waipn-Oakleigh Road, to be a highway on the basis of a £5 to £1 subsidy for maintenance; the Kirihopuni-Pnrakao Road, and the Mar.camuka-Tictoria Yallev Road.