HIGHWAYS VISIT

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 3

HIGHWAYS VISIT

BOARD TOURS TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCES. REQUESTS FOR WORK TO BE DONE. / The New Zealand Main Highways Board arrived in North Taranaki from Te Kuiti yesterday in the course of its touiof a large part of the North Island. Projected works north of Waitara were inspected and requests were received from the Taranaki and Clifton County Councils, the Waitara Borough Council, the North Taranaki Farmers’ Union, the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and the Taranaki Automobile Association. Appreciation was expressed of the board’s efforts and difficulties, and Mr. C. J. McKenzie, chairman of the board, in return stressed the desire of the board to assist in improving the reading of the district as far as finances and the needs of other districts would permit. The board was met by Clifton County Council members at Pukearuhe junction, and on the way to Waitara inspected the sharp angles of the hill at Okoke Road junction, which the county desires to have improved with help from the board, the deviation work in progress at Urenui and the portion of road west of Urenui it is desired to have tar-sealed. Board members met the Clifton County Council in conference at Waitara, when requests were made in connection with the projected works, and a discussion took place on heavy traffic licenses for farm trucks. Waitara borough representatives also asked for the declaration of Parris Street as a main highway and for assistance in tar-sealing it, to relieve traffic through McLean Street, the main thoroughfare. Various projects were placed before the board by the Taranaki County Council at New Plymouth, support being given by deputations from the Farmers’ Union, the Chamber of Commerce and the Automobile Association;

The board will visit Inglewood to-day’, inspecting the Chain Bridge over the Waiwakaiho River at Egmont Village. After conferring with the Inglewood County Council the board will go to Opunake, with halts at the site of the Oakura deviation and the lower Wairau Road to the Oakura beach. After meeting the Egmont and Waimate West County Councils at Opunake and Manaia respectively the board will proceed to Eltham in the afternoon to receive representations there. ■Hie personnel of the touring party is Messrs. C. J. McKenzie (chairman), J. Wood and E. J. Greensmith (Government members), C. J. Talbot and W. Morrison (county representatives), M. H. Wynyard (motorists’ representative), G. W. Albertson (highways engineer) and G. W.Knapp (secretary). Messrs. P. Kelter (Public Works engineer for the Taranaki district) and Irwin, Public Works Department, Stratford, are accompanying the board. ONAERO-URENUI SEALING WORK. OKOKE JUNCTION DEVIATION. Assistance with deviation work at the Okoke Road junction and the tar-sealing of the main road from Urenui towards Onaero were requests made to the board by the Clifton County Council. Such meetings did a great deal of good, said Mr. H. A. Foreman, chairman, in welcoming the board. The county appreciated the assistance given in the past in construction and maintenance work. There were three matters requiring attention; firstly, the improvement of the' hill oh the main north road at the Okoke junction. It was desired to put the work in hand on the completion of the present Urenui deviation work if the necessary financial arrangements could be made. The present camp could easily be moved. A portion of the main road west of Urenui township needed forming and sealing. The council was not in a position to do the work this year. It was intended to ask for the work to be done next year, and that a subsidy be granted. The road carried the main road traffic, and it was decided to ask for penetration work, which would be better although more costly. Mr. Foreman also asked for an expression of the board’s opinion regarding the sealing of Onaero and Urenui hills temporarily. It would not be possible to seal the deviation for four or five years, he said. Mr. Keller said there should not be any difficulty, and board members agreed that in addition tq it being a better road! the maintenance costs would go down. Mr. McKenzie said the board would investigate the position regarding the Okoke junction hill work. There would be little hope of an Unemployment Board subsidy as in operation at the Urenui work. It would need a Highways Board subsidy. Mr. Wynyard suggested the county have a survey made and make, an estimate. This was agreed to. Regarding tar-sealing work between Urenui and Onaero Mr. N. C. Fookes, county engineer, said the work was deferred when the radial programme lapsed. There was £lOOO, it was understood, still to be spent in the Clifton county. Mr. McKenzie pointed out that the board paid £3 for £1 subsidy, on all sealing work. It . had been found an attractive proposition and well worth while.

WAITARA SECONDARY HIGHWAY.

DECLARATION OF PARRIS STREET.

The provision of a well-surfaced alternative route through Waitara by the declaration of Parris Street as a secondary highway was asked for by the Waitara Borough Council. Cr. W. B. Glasgow, deputy-Mayor, apologised for the absence of Mr. J. Hine, the-Mayor. Parris Street, he said, would provide an alternative route for motorists through Waitara without passing through the main street. Assistance was desired from the board in placing the street in a good condition. The council had been unfortunate in that it spent £6OOO on the construction of an up-to-date main street just before the board’s £1 for £1 subsidy scheme became available. When that work was done Parris Street carried all the through traffic and was now worn out. Remetalling would not be of much use without sealing, and it was thought a suitable time to forward the proposal, which would relieve congestion.

Mr. Wynyard: Would the shopkeepers be willing to have main road traffic diverted?

Mr. Glasgow said he thought so. Cr. E. A. George pointed out tlfat the cost of the building of the main road meant a payment of £3OO a year. Therefore, to preserve the road and relieve motorists of the main street congestion, it was thought the board might help to construct Parris Street as a full-width penetrated road. Mr. McKenzie pointed out that 600 extra miles of main highway had just been declared. He suggested the council apply next year, when the necessary declarate