CONDITION OF ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20924, 14 July 1931, Page 10

CONDITION OF ROADS.

WARNING TO MOTORISTS. EFFECTS OF WET WEATHER. BAD STRETCHES IN PLACES. Serious inconvcnienco to motor traffic is likely to bo caused for the next few 1 clays by the condition of a short section of tho Tirau-Taupo main highway 24 miles south of Putaruru, reports tho touring manager of tho Auckland Automobile Association, who has completed a tour of 1000 miles over the Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Hawko's Bay and Taupo roads.

On the piece of road named a corner has been cut back preparatory to laying rhyolite metal. Rain fell before the pumice became consolidated and deep ruts developed. Willi a few days of fine weather, a grader could smooth the surface and hard material could be laid. In the meantime, however, motorists are advised to travel to Taupo and Wairake' through Rotorua, where the conditions are quito favourable.

Several other sections of the TirauTaupo highway, particularly between Lichfield and Tokoroa, provide uncomfortable travelling on account of their "pot-holed'' and rough state. At the end of last week Gisbornt* wac practically isolated, as slips on the Mere Mere Hills blocked traffic for a day and three unbridged and floodod streams formed a barrier on the other section of the road. At present there are many minor slips over the Motu Hills, but these are quickly cleared, and there is not likely to be anything more serious than the usual winter conditions.

Motorists travelling between Opotiki and Gisborne, however, are recommended to consider railing their vehicles from Matawai to Puha to avoid unbridged streams during wet weather. Between Gisborne and Wairoa travelling conditions are good, though the pontoon ferry which is in use on the Wairoa River pending the reconstruction of the bridge t damaged by the earthquake is not wholly satisfactory. At certain states of the tide there is a rather severe bump in embarking and in disembarking and the Public Works Department proposes to carry out further improvements. It is considered advisable for through traffic between Gisborne and Napier to use the Awamate deviation at Wairoa, which means a saving of from 30 minutes to an hour. There were several slips on the WairoaNapier Road last week, but by Saturday evening these had been cleared sufficiently to allow traffic to pass. On many portions of the road in the hill country there are places where slips may be expected at any time, but workmen who are engaged over the entire length of the road quickly clear away the obstructions. The road between Napier and Taupo is in good order and is holding traffic satisfactorily.