MATERIALS FOR ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21293, 21 September 1932, Page 7

MATERIALS FOR ROADS

DISCUSSION AT WHANGAREI

BITUMEN OR CONCRETE [FROM- our OWN correspondent] WHANGAREI, Tuesday The Wliangarei Borough Council last evening considered the question of repair - ing Walton Street. The" Mayor, Mr. W. Jones, said tlip Works Committee liad--recoinmended that the Onerahi road should ' bo consolidated and sitrfaced with tar, but it would be impossible io repair "both Walton Street and Onerahi Road, at ieasfc before Christmas. • Mr. G. H. . Morrish moved that six - chains of Walton Street be laid down in concrete, 16ft. wide, and at an estimated cost of £220. Ho quoted figures to show, that concrete roading had a life of more than twice that of bitumen, with considerably less maintenance charges. Mr, R. K. Trimmer moved an amendment that Walton Street be laid down in concrete from the Station Road to Cameron Street, a distance of about 10 chains, with a width of 18ft. at a cost of £4OO. Mr. Morrish then, withdrew his motion. The Mayor said he believed in concrete as being the best material for road-mak-ing, but he would not support the type of concrete proposed. It was an experiment. The motion was lost by six votes to, four. ... The Works Committee's recommenda-' tion regarding Onerahi Road was referred back to the committee for further conv sidcration. ■ ■*, Reporting on the Otaika Road, the engineer said that after the summer monthi. the cracks in the road might disappear, and he recommended only small repairs in the meantime. Mr. Morrish said that if the Otaika road was a sample of bitumen roads, the sooner- the council stopped constructing these roads the better. The Mayor said he claimed to be the " father"' of the Otaika Road and he was perfectly satisfied with its condition, which, he said; would improve after the first twelve months during which the summer months would cause "bleeding." The engineer's report was adopted.