TAR-SEALED ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1919, Page 8

TAR-SEALED ROADS.

iFEATHERSTON COUNCILLORS VISIT TARANAKI.

Soma years ago it. was recognised by progressive members of loc-nl bodies in J'aranaki that the roads as then constructed would not last under the strain imposed 011 them by motor transport, and, as motors had undoubtedly come to stay, it would be as well to adopt lasting- road-making methods, anil, though possibly more costly to construct in the lirst instance, would prove more •conomical in the long run owing to the greatly decreased cost of annual maintenance, and also on account of the lessened wear and tear on the motor vehicle. South Taranaki, particularly, proved 'very progressive in this respect, and Eltham, llawera and Waimßte counties adopted a. system of tar-sealed or tar-grouted roads, that lias made Taranaki , famous throughout the Dominion for its good roads, and as the necessity of adopting improved methods of road construction has forced itself upon local bodies in other parts of the Dominion, delegations from all over the Dominion have viisted Taranaki for the purpose of inspecting our roads 'and local methods of construction. The latest delegation iis from the Featlierston County, and comprises Councillors D. M'Leod (chairman), H. S. McLaren. Q. Donald. T. 0 Haycock, Messrs -IT. F. Toogood (consulting engineer) and (t. W. Cobb (clerk). They arrived in New Plymouth on Tuesday evening, and Wednesday in visiting the borough and county crushing' plants, etc., also collecting data as to road construction, and afterwards visited some points of interest in New Plymouth. Yesterday they bad a busy da.v, making a tour of Taranaki, the trip being organised by Mr D. Cameron, who is in cbar»e of Mr Newton King's machinery department. Leaving N>w Plymouth at 8 a.m. Stratford was reached about 9, and tlie party were met by Messrs J. W. McMillan (Mayor) and Cameron (engineerl, and were shown over the borough crushing and tar macadam mixing plant, also viewing the tar macadam work now in progress in Broadway. Mr Spence. Stratford Countr engineer, then took them to the county boundary. Eltham was next visited, the partv being met bv Mr C. .1. Belcher (chairman) and R. D. Toswell (engineer). The county depot in the borough proved an object; of much interest. The plant was thoroughly inspected, whilst the motor trucks- proved very interesting, the five ton White particularly being greatly admired. This was the firet White dump imported, and has been in- use eighteen months, giving ereat satisfaction. The fact that Eltham was able to do most, of its metal carting from one depot for a radius of over ten miles evoked favorable comment. Much valuable information was obtained by the delegation here and elsewhere.

In reply to'a question, the chairman of the Jilthain Council, himself an okl Wairarapa resident, emphatically asserted that he would recommend Featherston going in for read tarring. Various road> were inspected before lunch, and afterwards a start was ma-do for Manaia via Kaponga, patching operations to save the tar surface being viewed. The lower Duthie road was visited en route where a gang was engaged in laying down ordinary macadam road. Before reaching Manaia tlie famous Waiinate roads were reached. Here a gang of men were engaged in resurfacing a section, the man with tha tar sprayer not having an enviaJble job. At Manaia. Mr T. McPliillips (chairman) and A. Hansen (engineer to the Wairnatc County Council) were met, and valuable information obtained. The former stated that with the shortage of meta) and the heavy traffic to be handled, he -was satisfieed Wainiate could not have maintained its roads had they not been tarred. Before tarring they coat £4OO per mile per annum to maintain, whereas now the average was considerably under £IOO, and, as could be seen, the county had real goods roads. They adopted tar-grouting, and tome of the loads were surfaced again every three years. He pointed out that though it was said Taranaki roads ivere made out of toll revenue, their county had no toll, and had tarred 30 miles of road out of loan money and paid Interest on this, also general maintenance out of lid rate, or equal to Is per acre rate. Comment was made on the fact that if every local body used tar on their roads the demand would exceed the supply, but it was stated tfiat providing cheap freight was available, illimitable quantities of bitumen could be procured from America. The difference in the qualities of tar from various °as works was also touched on, Mr Hansen speaking in term* of praise of New Plymouth tar. At the county boundsrv tile tarred road was left and for over ">C miles, 32 through TCgmont County and IS through Taranaki County, to near New Plymouth, no tar was met. and though the road was in pood order for metal, save in two or three places, the contrast was noticeaWt>. particularly as regards the dust nuisance, which was absent during the rly part of the day. At Opunake, Mr Peare (Egmont j ('"i.nty engineer) was met, and at Kahutu, .Mr W. R. Wright (county chairman) showed the paity the council's motor water pump in action, he being :i gr"at believer in putting' down his metalled roads wet. A section of roail now being constructed was viewed. This, Mr Wright stated, would he tar-sur-firort as soon as a loan was raised, as it \v»s hoped ratepayers would approve a comprehensive road-making policy on modern lines, which is absolutely necessity if the roads are to cope with the I li.'avy traffic through the district.. The I Acme crusher in operation was inspectI pil. its tally the previous day being IK. I yurds, and (surprise was expressed at I secinsr tin!lncl« teams used to convey the i metal! to (he crusher. New Plymouth was reached at a.bouf 8 p.m v and the liiiHy/together with the Mayor of New Pk moutk Cr. Clark -and the engineer, were entertained to dinnc. at the White Hart Hotel.

The visitors expressed themselves as pleased with the days outing which had proved very educative. They W.n-e delighted with the roads, the worst of which were equal to the best in the Wmirarupa, and that they must |»> oood \yas shown by the amount of ooimtrv (over 120 miles) travelled over pud (he time spent en route. They fully appreciated the need for ntilisiii!; I i*ie most modern plant and labor-sav-in.,- Aevioas. The splendid country twsnsd thrnwprll P'so evoked n-eneral admiration. Quite 8 number of interestj ina 1 photographs were smnired during the I The party pybeeecl to Hawera hy the mail train tins mornin°\ and will inl speet the roads there, afterwards leavfar fa- WWanui en route f«- home.