THE MAMAKU ROAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 142, 6 September 1927, Page 6

THE MAMAKU ROAD

IN BAD STATE AT PRESENT ADVICE TO MOTORISTS In view of the unfavourable reports which have come through of the condition of the Mamaku Road —on the way to Rotorua —it is thought advisable to explain to intending drivers where the road is in bad order and suggest an alternative route. The Mamaku Hills road, which runs from Tirau To Rotorua, is under two controls, and is divided at the top of the hill by the boundary between the Rotorua and Matamata counties. On the Rotorua side graders are at work and the rhyolite surface is being kept in good order. Metalling is progressing, and it is a pleasure to find such energetic and good road-work.

On the Tirau side of the hill the whole of the surface has been neglected and where there was once a good smooth surface, bad holes have now appeared and the road is criss-crossed with water courses. Over a stretch of 10 miles there are numerous bad patches which if joined together, would exceed two miles. Fully a mile of this bad stretch is on a portion of the road, where a new deviation is being formed to provide a better grade and obviate a number of bad corners. Failure to maintain this piece of road might perhaps be understood, but allowing the surface of the main road to deteriorate is causing very unfavourable comment and much dissatisfaction in Rotorua. In the meantime the railway is reaping a harvest from cars which are being railed to and from Rotorua. It is certainly a bad state of affairs that the main road to New Zealand’s famous tourist resort is practically impassable for so much of the year.

EARLY ACTION CONSIDERED NECESSARY Mr. F. G. Farrell accompanied the Service Officer of the A.A.A. over the Mamaku Hill last week, and he considers that energetic measures are necessary to prevent the road becoming any worse.

ADVICE TO MOTORISTS The Service Officer does not advise any private cars to attempt the road, unless they have an exceptionally good clearance, and the drivers are experienced in bad clay conditions. The road advised by the Service Officer is via Atiamuri, Wairakei and Waiotapu to Rotorua. The direct road from Atiamuri to Rotorua is in bad order.