BETTER ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1924, Page 8

BETTER ROADS.

NORTH ISLAND HIGHWAYS. GENERALLY IN FAIR ORDER. WORK OF DEVELOPMENT. TOUR OF INSPECTION. (From Our Own Reporter.) Stratford, Dec. 13. Mr. T. M. Ball, district engineer for the Public Works Department, Stratford, returned last night from the final tour of inspection of the outlying districts under his jurisdiction. In what proved to be an interesting though arduous trip, the engineer covered 680 miles and completed his inspection in four days. Good weather favoured the party practically all the time. The initial stages were over the wellknown highway to Wanganui, from which tbe route led on to Raetihl. Along this section the Parapara Road was inspected, and proposals for widening and metalling were considered, the formation work to be done by the Public Works Department, and the metalling by contract. The proposals,, which Mr. Ball approved of. tend considerably to improve some of the worst parts of the main road from Wellington to Raetihi.

The next day was occupied in inspecting the Mangatiti East Road and the Waipapa Valley Road, where extensive works have been carried out during the winter to open up the soldiers’ settlements. There are thirty men employed on an important deviation near ‘Harris’ hill on the Raetihi-Ohura road. It is expected that this work will have a far-reaching effect upon traffic in this district, for it will eliminate a rise of 500 feet, besides shortening the road by over a mile. Good progress is here being made and some time was spent in the section in view of the fiVt that this will become a through road in the future. As soon as the deviation is completed, the road will be metalled by the Waimarino County Council, thus giving a good all-season road for 17 miles from Raetihi towards Ohura. Beyond the point of deviation, the road is formed for a further 15 miles, and is in excellent condition. The Public M orks Department intends pushing on with the remainder of the projected road to Ohura.

IN THE KING COUNTRY. After leaving Wanganui, Mr. Ball was accompanied by Mu C. 11. Williams, assistant roads engineer, -and was later joined by Mr. J. Hogg, engineer to the Waimarino County Council. The party ■stayed the second night at Ohakune, and set out on the following day for Taihape, where the Bulls-Taumarunui highway came in for critical observation. Mr. Bali arranged for metalling work to proceed in the vicinity of Karioi, and also near Hikitahi. Satis factory progress is being made in this section, and Mr. Hogg, who left the party at Hikitahi, was cordially congratulated upon his efforts. His place in the car was taken by Mr. Mair, engineer to the Rangitikei County Council. The general condition of the Bulla road was good. It is metalled In stretches and the re-graded portions having consolidated remarkably well, good time was made. Mr. Ball and Mr. Mair set out at midday for Taihohi to inspect the proposed highway between Taihape and Napier.

This is an old and historic route, used extensively long before the Main Tiunk railway was constructed as the outlet for the immense district inland from Patea. The origin of this route is lost in antiquity, but its beautiful and v inding course is associated with many stirring incidents of the old pioneeiing days, and the-districts it traverses arc rich in Maori lore and legend. On the way the* engineer inspected a new suspension bridge across the Rangitikoi River at Erewhon. This important bridge will be completed by the end of February, and should immediately popularise the road for tourists, a* the ford, which hitherto had been the only means of crossing the river, presented a formidable obstacle. The road generally is in fair condition, but steep grades were encountered in crossing the ranges, and ofttiines the car climbed sturdily for long distances up grades of 1 in 7. It is. however, by no means dangerous, is quite passable for cars, and presents vista-s of wonderful beauty. Ac one point a stag and a doe approached within a short distance of the •cat and gazed w’ide-eyed at tbe intruders. The stag was a magnificent specimen. carrying *its sixteen-pointed antlers with ease, and the pair presented a striking picture when discovered in their retreat, standing knee Seep in luscious grass. METAL FROM RANGITIKEI. The terminus of Mr. Ball’s district is at Kurihaponga, barely 40 miles from Napier. As there was still plenty of daylight the party decided to visit Napier and return next day via the

Manawatu Gorge and Palmerston North. On again reaching the Rangitikei county they inspected the big crusher plant now bi’lng installed a*. Kahariki. by the Rangitikei County Council to supply their own ami other local bodies’ needs. The- installation work is rapidly progressing. and already limited supplies ! are being taken out. When the plant , is in thorough working order it is ex- ■ pected that 200 yards a day of really good metal will be crushed. Unfortun- ; ate.ly, the delivery of certain machinery Las been delayed, and the plant- will not operating at its maximum capacity for nine months yet. From there the long bridge over the Rangitikei River, on the main Auckland-Wellington highway, was inspected with a view to effecting extensive repairs to the docking. Coming into (he Wanganui district again, the engineer was mot by delegates from, the Tnrakina Town Board, who discussed matters concerning the maintenance of the important section of jthe highway passing through the d:s- -; trict. Wanganui was reached that eventing. and next morning, accompanied by i Mr. Di.v. engineer to the Waitotara County Council, the party inspected the Rangitatau watershed highway, where they found extensive widening and metalling work in Laud and progressing favourably. This road runs east ' from Kai Iwi and opens up a large tract of valuable country reaching to the north bank of the Wanganui River. On the final run back to Stratford, Mr. Ball visited the reconstruct on work at present being carried out by the Patea

County Council, and found everything progressing satisfactorily. GOOD PROGRESS NOTED. In traversing the roads, Mr. Ball was i struck by the marked superiority in the ! surface of roads in the Wanganui (No. !8) highway district, as .compared with ' those encountered in the Napier district. ■ ‘’Of course,” he said, ‘'the Wanganui people have greater facilities and have j not the same problems to contend with.” ■ Generally speaking, he could find very little difference between roads in tlie Wanganui and Taranaki districts, though he noticed particularly a considerable improvement in the main road running through the AVaitotara county, which previously was regarded as the i weakest link in the Wellington-Tara-inaki highway. | ‘'Since the Main Highways Board i came into existence,” said Mr. Ball, i •county engineers have had more opportunities to display their worth and ingenuity, and it is extremely gratifying to note the splendid manner in which, without exception, they are rising to the occasion and slowly but steadily pushing on the work of providing good roads in each section, which, as time advances, will link together to form miles of highways, uniform in quality and standard in width, and construction.’*