SPIRAL ROAD COMPLETED

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12455, 25 May 1926, Page 9

SPIRAL ROAD COMPLETED

OPEN FOR TRAFFIC AN IMPORTANT WORK Per Press Association. TAUMARUNUI, May 24. At Raurimu this afternoon, the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. G. Coates, officiated at the opening of the Spiral road. The completion of this road marks one of the most important accomplishments in roading in Central North Island. After years of agitation by the Kaitieke County Council, backed up by other local bodies, the road has at last been completed by prison labour, with the result that a through road, south of Taumarunui, is now an accomplished fact. During the railway strike Taumarunui was almost isolated, but the completion of the road over the Spiral removes this possibility should a railway sirike ever occur again. Moreover, the road gives access from the north

to the important and fast-developing National Park which, in a very short time, must become the Mecca of hun-' dreds of motorists. H Those present at the ceremony to-' day included the Hon. A. D. McLeod," Minister for Lands, Mr R. W. Smith, M.P., Mr W. Croker, chairman of the Kaitieke County Council, and Mr P< Keller, Public Works engineer. Mr Coates said the more or less isolated districts deserved notice. The road had been completed under difficulties, and was a big undertaking. The Highway# Act would, ho said, prove a success, and it was quit© likely the men would be set to work on another section of the road on the other side of Taumarunui. Mrs Crocker cut the tape, and Mr Coates declared the road open. The Prime Minister and party left Raurimu at 5 o’clock for Taumarunui, where they were entertained at dinner to-night by the Taumarunui County Council. To-morrow the party will visit certain areas in the district and receive deputations.