RANGITIKEI COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 158, 6 July 1934, Page 10

RANGITIKEI COUNTY

(Continued From Page 9). Main Highway Works. —Bad weather has delayed the reconstruction and metalling between Turakina and Grant’s Flalt. Dalvey and McQuarne's Hills have been metalled, rolled and dressed with chips. Makirikiri Bridge has been completed. Good progress has been made with re-formation and metalling near Union Line on Tura-kina-Bulls Road. Contractor has now commenced reconstruction work near i’ennant’s Road, the traffic being detoured via Curls Bridge, Makirikiri Road. Crushing Plants.—Railway Department completed present requirements of ballast during the montA, but will require a considerable amount later. Hands have been reduced and hours shortened to normal to keep pace with 1 local requirements. Several moderate freshers have partially replenished the pool with good shingle. The traffic cableway over the river is being erected. Two men are engaged pipemaking for county requirements- Utiku crushing plant has worked continuously during the month supplying county requirements and Taihape Borough, bu'e. has now almost completed and will close down. Mobile Plant.—l propose reporting comprehensively next month on the above, with recommendations re replacing two units, one a light truck, and the other a power grader.

Traffic Inspector’s Report Mr. H. J. Fowles reported as follows:—Owing to pressure of other work and being laid up for a short period with, the prevailing epidemic, 1 have been unable to pay a visit to the Taihape area during the month. The rearrangement of magistrate’s circuits in this district necessitated the holding over of various cases concerning breaches of the Motor Regulations, and these will be heard during the present month. After the portion of the Bulls-Tura-kina Highway between Williamson’s Road and Bulls was closed for reconstruction, some person tore down the locked gates and went through. It is believed that he can be located and if so t action will follow. 1 was called one evening to an accident which took place on the MartonBulls Road near Reid’s Road. Two care collided and were slightly damaged, but no personal injury resulted. The accident seems to have been due to each driver being dazzled by the other car’s lights, and JL propose to take no further action. » Now that the winter mon'ths are here, the problem of dazzling lights becomes more in evidence, in my experience there are certain types of I lamps which are inherently dazzling, and to which very little can be done in the way of improvement without changing the front glasses or lenses. Many oi the British cars, even those recently imported, are equipped with this type ol lamp, and found it impossible to cure the dazzle without depriving the driver of a sufficient range of visibility, i understand that the cars referred to pass the requirements of The British regulations, and are imported into this country and bought m all good faith. Notwithstanding the fact that many of these lamps do not, and cannot be made ku comply effectively with the New Zealand regulations, it would hardly be just to institute proceedings where the vehicles were imported and sold in this manner. I had an opportunity recently, while testing and adjusting was being carried out at the county testing stand, of confirming my views on tins matter. That lamps can be made wnich are satisfactory in all respects Js proved by the fact that those fitted to American-made cars do not offend against the regulations, and at the same time give all the driving light necessary. The foregoing does not mean that ali lamps which uazzle are incapable uf adjustment. Wild many it hs simply a case of bad adjustment, and in others it is due to the fitting oi plain glass to replace the original antidazzle lenses or, in some cases, to the lamps having no glass at allThe cost oi titling suitable lenses to lamps is small compared with the benefits to be obtained, and it is now possible to obtain them to suit almost any type of lamp. In view of the universal condemnation of the dazzling head-lamp, it seems strange that steps have not been taken to cope with the matter on the lines I have suggested. 1 have noticed that a few of the latest British cars are being flitted with lenses of the correct type, a fact which shows that the more progressive makers are becoming aware of the position. This, however, does not remove the present unsatisfactory state, and it would seem ‘that some further legislative action is necessary. During the month I attended a sitting of the No. 6 Transport Licensing Authority at Palmerston North. From what I observed there did not seem io be any intention of bringing the principle of co-ordination of services into operation for the present, and were being renewed on the same terms as before. The regulation known as the “offside rule” has been amended and is once more enforcible. Testing new drivers has occupied a considerable portion of my time and a very large number have come forward. There were a few who failed, but these will no doubt come forward after fur'ther instruction. Motor-drivers’ Licenses Three hundred and four of these were issued, the fees collected being £76, bringing the totals to date to .1468 and £367 respectively. Heavy Traffic Licenses Fees amounting to £lO9 13s were collected, bringing the to’tal to date to £435 17s 7d. The traffic inspector was instructed to take action against drivers of cars with lights which do not conform to the regulations. The matter of dealing with the tenders for the repairs to the Turakino Town Hall was referred to Cr. Stuart and the engineer.