THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19197, 13 June 1924, Page 8

THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

SOUTH ISLAND LOADS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. June 12. The federation of portions of certain roads that have been made •Government roads and roads that have teen made main highways, appears in to-night’s gazette. The statutory pronouncement under the Main Highways Act indicates that the roads which are designated in tho Order-in-Council, whether actually constructed or not, shall bo known as main highways as from April 1, 1924. The Act provides that every reference to ’‘main highway” as such shall include the land on which tho highway exists, as well as bridges, culverts, ferries, fords, or other structures forming part of the highway or land. There is in the genera] highways scheme of the Government provision under the Act for tlie Highways Hoard to undertake all works of construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and repair of any main highways that have been declared to be Government roads under the Public Works Act of 1908 without contribution from any Ipcal authority. Tills section of the Act gives power to the hoard to provide a greater proportion of the cost than is prescribed bv its highways provisions. Certain roads hitherto under the jurisdiction of the local authority are now declared to be Government roads. Two main reasons have guided the Main Highways Board in its recommendation now adopted by the order-in-Ouucil in the declaration of these roads, U) The position of unmetallcd roads running through sparsely populated districts, and whore the through traffic is greater than the Iccal traffic; (2) where it may be Inal the local authority has not sufficient staff or equipment for tho Construction or •e----coustruotion as the case may bo. These are the general principles underlying the declaration which it is intended will dispose of tho early criticism of the Main Highways •Act that it differentiated in favour of arterial or national routes as against the road that is purely a settler’s road or the road in a district just being developed where local body finance is not equal to any expansive scheme of highway construction. In the case of Government roads the Main Highways Board has power to pay up to tho whole of the cost of construction or reconstruction. Especially is this the case where assistance is needed hy local authorities that are not finanrially strong, lo the main highways the board ull contribute £1 for £2 in the case of maintenance and £1 for £1 in the case of construction. The following are declared main highways : Highway District No. 13.—Christchurch— Bionheim road via Parnassus, Waikari-Sear-gill, Culverdcn-Hanmer, Waikari-Waitohi. Highway District No. 14. —ChristchurchDunedin, Cliristchurcli-Lyttelton (via Sumner), Christi hurrli-Akaroa, Upper RiccartonArthur’s Pass, Sockburn-Southbridge, Motu-karara-Teddington, Christchurch-Blenheim (via Parnassus), Ranciora-Christchurch (via Flaxton). Rangiora-Oxford (via Lowburn), Christchurch-Blcnheirn to Bennetts (via Swannoa), Clirislohnroh-Chaneys (via Marshlands), Rangiora-Oxford, Oxford-Wadding ton. Highway District No. 15. —ChristchurchDunedin, Ashburton-Methven, Timarn, Hermitage, Geraldine-Fairlie, Geraldine-Oi ari, Tomuka-Pleasanl Point, Wuimatc-Decp Creek Corner, Waimate-Waihao Downs, Wainiate-M ‘Namara Corner, Timaru-Cave, Pukonri-Kiirow, Waireka Jnnction-Ngapara Highway District No. 16. —DnncdinGhristchurch, Palmerston-Qiieenstown (via Blocks), Cromwell-Hnwea Flat, Arrowtown to Palmerston, Queenstown Road, Clarkes-villo-Clyde. Highway District No. 17.—Dnnedin-Tnver-cargill, Mosgiel Jimction-Middlemnrch, Clarkesville-Clyde, Raes Junotion-Edievale. Highways District No.' 18. —InvercargillDimedin, Invercargill-Bluff, Edendale Wyndham, Kennington-Waikawa, EdendaleSeawarcl Downs, M'Nab-Edievalo ivnnd, ■Gore-Te Anau, Invereargill-Riverton, Lorno-Ca-stlorock, Mataura-Winton, WintonOhai, Argyle-Tualapere (via Otautau), Riversdale-Waikaia, Rivorton-Otautau.