TAR-SEALED ROADS.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 17 March 1920, Page 4

TAR-SEALED ROADS.

ENGINEERS’ CONFERENCE’S • VIEWS. Mr ,T. Malcolm (County Engineer), in a report submitted to the Horowhenuu, Cmniiy Council on Saturday last, says: — I liatl tne pleasure of attending the conference. of civil engineers held in Dunedin on the fifth, -dill and gdth oi lasi month, and alt hough there were not manv subjects of immediate interest to as discussed, "at the same time 1 got much valuable information. My only 1 egrets arc (hat my age prevents ■ne from making use of it for liiy own sake anil yours. •11l reference to (lie tar-sealing of our roads. I think this is the most important subject as far as we are concerned al present. J regret to say the discussion on this subject was rather limited, as there, were none of the Taranaki engineers present, and so faNtl’aranuki seems to lie the heme of tar-seal. Mr Dobson, the city engineer of Christchurch, read a most interesting paper on jfir-puving. etc., ami this elicited a great ilciil of discussion, and many contradict nrv views on the dilferent methods of. using; tar. The author of the paper would not see any virtue in tar - unless all the ammonia and light oils were lirst extracted from it. This lie does by distiiiing it al about lioll degress of heat. I may say 1 had flu pleasure of i nspeci ing his work, and 1 ciinlV-;:, i; i:. tl.e best 1 have seen, ii is now laid ill many of the principal streets in tlwis-ehuvch, about three inches thick, and is subjected to all -ai rt s ol Ira it i ■-. vet In* claims llt e mainlenance is very iittle. A well-known North Island engineei. Ini has much experience in tar work, gave it as his experience that raw or crude tar call be used equally well as i, oiled or distilled if it is ripened to a ■rtaia consist envy (consistency given’' : :i proof of jib: ussfi iion’s lie invited ub those who doubted to visit and see hi* .cork. 1 will have more to say on this .subject when till' year’s estimates comon a month hence, a.•s>!. am fully com viiieed we will have to do something, ami all are agreed that concrete is Old of the question on account ot its cost.