BUSY ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22612, 28 December 1936, Page 10

BUSY ROADS

HOLIDAY TOUBING record motor traffic CONDITION OF HIGHWAYS TAR-SEALING APPRECIATED Anticipations of a record volume of holiday traffic on the roads this year have been fully realised. All the main roads in the Auckland Province have been exceptionally busy throughout the past week. It has been fortunate that the travelling has been spread sufficiently to prevent the congestion which would have occurred 011 the main outlet from the city had there been a general exodus on one day. The south-bound traffic from Auckland had time to become distributed to various destinations before the stream of cars from the south reached the Waikato. The main volume of northbound traffic is now reaching the city, however, and the Automobile Association (Auckland) patrol south of Hamilton reported yesterday that there were twice as many vehicles moving north as there were going south. Preserving Road Surfaces It has been reported to the Automobile Association from all parts of the province where there are unsealed roads that they are deteriorating rapidly through the exceptionally heavy traffic. Where they were graded into a smooth condition prior to Christmas, loose metal has been pushed to the side and pot-holes and corrugations are forming. Graders and roadmen will be back at work this morning, the Main Highways Board having issued instructions that every endeavour is to be made to preserve the best surface possible and keep pace with the requirements of holiday traffic.

Some of the southern visitors who have reached the city have expressed keen appreciation of the very great improvement in many highways in the Auckland district, especially of the increased lengths of tar-sealing. The amount of deterioration of other roads through holiday traffic has probably been over-estimated by comparison with the long stretches of tar-sealing. A very dense volume of traffic has been reported on roads leading to Roto rua. Some are in good order, but others are disappointing. Chief criticism has been levelled at the unsealed portion of the Cambridge-Tirau highway. East Coast Routes The main volume of traffic at Gisborne also is travelling north at present. A record number of campers patronised the Gisborne camp last night, many of them intending to explore the Cape Runaway route before proceeding to Rotorua for the New Year. The coastal route is in fair order, but bullocks are still advisable for towing at the Raukokore River. Conditions on the scenic highway through the Urewera country are a great improvement 011 last year. Some of tFfc Bay of Plenty roads, particularly at the western end, are very rough. This area also has been very popular. A large number of tourists from the south used the National Park-Xaupo highway yesterday, relieving the burden on the Taumarunui-Te Kuiti route, where roads are in good order. Heavy rain in the Waikato late yesterday afternoon had a detrimental effect 011 the fe Awamutu-Otorohanga main highway, where reconstruction has been in progress, and portions of it became veiy siushy.

Visitors to the North Resorts in North Auckland arc filling fast, but the main volume of tourists has not yet reached the Far North. The roads immediately north of Auckland were exceptionally busy yesterday with traffic moving in both directions. There is every indication of a record number ol visitors to the Far North within the next few days. The Paihia road is being criticised by travellers, one motorist saying it was the worst he had travelled over during his tour. The various camping places at the northern beaches are already well filled, and it seems likely that there will bo little space available before the new year. Automobile Association patrols state that caravans and trailers are a feature of the season's touring. There appears to he a tendency for some drivers tq travel a little too fast with trailers attached, as they have been seen to sway badly at corners, endangering cars travelling in the opposite direction. In at least one case, however, this was due to a defective coupling. Motorists' Minor Troubles Another noticeable point is that tyre troubles have been prevalent on tarsealed roads. Much of this can be traced to cold patches on tubes which have not subsequently been vulcanised lifting through contact with the hotsurface of the road. Minor mechanical and electrical troubles have also been noted in considerable numbers. Several of the drivers concerned said they had only recently purchased second-hand vehicles, and had not troubled to have them looked over before setting out on tour.