MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20415, 23 May 1928, Page 4

MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. (Special to Dai t Times.) WELLINGTON, May 22. The monthly meeting of the Main Highways Board was held at Wellington last week. Mr F. W. Furkert presiding. A large amount of business was dealt with. Following on . ite policy to complete unmetalled sections of main highways, the board dealt with two cases which are of considerable interest to motorists- These were the Gisborne-Opotiki via Motu main highways, and the main highway (from Bulls via Taihape to Ohakune. It is hoped that the decisions arrived at by the board will ensure that the unmetalled gap of about six miles on the former and a similar length between Kaiapoi and Waionra on the latter will be metalled during the next construction season. With a view to giving a metalled connection from Auckland northwards to Whangarei within the next few year# the board has drawn up a programme of construction for next season which will involve the expenditure of a considerable sum. It is hoped, during the coming summer, to provide an all-weather route from Auckland to Waiwera. Local authorities adjacent to the larger centres of population are, taking advantage of the preferential subsidies being offered by the board out of the proceeds of the petrol tax towards the cost of paving roads carrying dense traffic. The following roads radiating from Palmerston North, Christchurch, and Dunedin were dealt with during the meeting: Christchurch-Akaroa, one mile in Paparua county. Dunedin-Invercargill, 16 miles in Taien county. Palmerston-Sanson-Himitangi-Ashhurst via Palmerston, 6J miles in Kalranga county. Christchurch-Dunedin, eight miles In Panama county. It is hoped to have construction work commenced on all the above lengths at an early date. The reconstruction of the portion of the Dunedin-Invercargill main highway immediately south of Dunedin is the first work in the Dunedin district on which the responsible county council has co-operated with tjhe board, and agreed to find a fair share of the cost. An application from the Christchurch Tramway Board for a subsidy on its enpenditure on maintenance of such portions of the roadway as are covered by the tram tracks on main highways which are carrying heavy motor traffic received consideration. It was decided to advise the Tramwav Board that there is no authority under the Main Highways Act to make a subsidy available on expenditure incurred by the Tramway Board on maintenance. The Main Highways Board’s subsidy is limited to the amount expended bv the controlling authority on the roadway only.