CONDITION OF ROADS.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17585, 14 December 1928, Page 2

CONDITION OF ROADS.

HOLIDAY PROSPECTS. ■i " REPORT OF THE A.A.A. WARNING TO TOURISTS. The Auckland Automobile Association issues a warning to touring motorists to carry chains if any unmetalled roads are included in the summer itinerary. The condition of clay roads may naturally change overnight if rain falls, and surfaces which present comfortable travelling in fine weather may become treacherous within a few hours. '

The following report has beenSissucd by. .the association:- — '■

Rough and Rutted.

Pier Plo to-Ohura.—The unmc'talled j portions of the Aria-Matiere Road are in bad order, and .even: the metal sec-j tions are very rough. Before the pre- I sent rain there we're several wet patches, and several .slips'across the road. The Flat Road is in bad order, and traffic.should divert through Matiere. Frpm Matiere to Ohura the road : is rutted' and very rough. The association is not advis'irig traffic over the Aria-Matiere-Ohura route this Christmas, pending a long spell of fine wGritfasr. Matiere-Okahukura. —The unmetalled portions are rough and badly rutted. Gars were being railed on Wednesday. Tokarimu Junction (Ohura-Stratford Road) to Taumarunui. —There are manv minor slips, but traffic is able ; to negotiate the road, which is somewhat rough, and on the papa bluffs is particularly narrow. This road should be avoided after rain. Ohura - Stratford. The OhuraStratford Road is in fair order, and given fine weather motorists; should not experience difficulty over ( Christ- j mas. Ohura-Tongaporutu, via Okau. — This road is closed pending the rebuilding of a bridge. National Park Road. Te Kuiti-TaumarunUL—There is a diversitv of opinion as to which is the belter road south of Te Kuiti. After inspection the association advises motorists to travel south on the New Plvmouth road for eight miles, and then turn south via Mapara. The deviation at Aratora is now open and the route then continues through Ongarue After leaving the New Plymouth road the first section is somewhat rough. The roughness is again encountered after leaving the metal south of Aratora, and the surface is rutted on the clay portion south of Waimiha. Portions of the road bcvond Ongarue are also somewhat rough. Avoid this route after heavy rain. ' Taumarunui - National Park.—Considerable difficulty has been experienced just south of Oio, ahd chains will be required in wet weather. A deviation is being made south of Oio, and when travelling northward care should be taken to keep to the old road, as there is a sudden drop at the end of the work on the deviation. National Park to Taupo.—This road Is in good order, but with exceptionally heaw trafflo and heavy rain chains may be required on the flats near Lake Roto Aira. Tokaanu-Walouru Road (direct).— ■ On the eastern side of the National Park the road has been graded with the exception of a few miles at the southern end, but even this Is ground clown and any driver of experience will be able to negotiate this road with comfort during the summer. Raetlhl-Ohakune-Waiouru. —A portion of the road : between Ohakune and VVaiouru is still unmetalled and chains will be required in wet weather. Raetihi - and fillings and reconstruction work are in progress on the unmetalled portions of this road, and considerable trouble will be experienced in wet weather. The metalling work is to start very shortly. Wanganui to Karioi, via Mangamahu. This new route, which was to have been opened for Christmas, is now delaved pending ,the construction of a bridge, and traffic will-not be able to proceed on the through route before Te Awamutu-Arapuni-Putaruru. The clay gap has been reduced by the metalling of one mile and the surfacing of the remaining mile should be completed early in the New Year.

Conditions in the North. ! Reports from North Auckland state! that the roads have been very bad j » during the past week and the East i Coast Road from Warkworth to Wellsford has been closed. Trouble has! .been encountered on the West Coast Road between Helensville and Port Albert, and on all clay surfaces chains -have been required. On Wednesday, with the improvement in the weather, better reports came through, and the advice late last night was that al roads were drying rapidly and that by the week-end they should pewnit traffic without chains. In the Kaitaia district the surfaces are already dry. Coromandel Peninsula.—The clay surfaces have been unfavourable, and it will require a couple of days fine weather before these provide comfortable travelling. Bay of Plenty.—Most of the roads in the 1 Bay of Plenty are. holding traffic satisfactorily, but urgent maintenance is required between Te Puke and 1 auranga.. The Tauranga-Waihi Road is very rough and chains have been used during the week. Provided no ram falls the road will now be dry. Heavy rain falling on the Gisborne side o the Motu Hills has necessitated railing cars over the clay gap between Opotiki and Gisborne. Service cars have maintained timetables with difficult* The road is now drying, but will be very rough. The Kaimai Hill between Matamata and Tauranga which was recently melalled, developed a few bad places during the week but these are to receive immediate attention Rotorua.-On the main road from Hamilton to Rotorua the old clay gap over the Mamaku Hills is now metal - ed and it forms a perfec riding surface The metal stretch is somewhat narrow and in wet weather ■ care should'be exercised when passing, as fh sides of the road become soft. RaSan and Kawhia.-Improvements m both these routes have been earned 1 and all-weather surfaces are providedto both resorts from Te Awato Hamilton.-Thc heavy ,nr£f siXc on this road is somewhat loose sunace swamp Son of "c Rangiriri deviation is »k rc r iv *»■ ■«<- Ta , UP Vlho re cent wet weather in fercdwiUi the. WC«« andduri n S the the vicinity of ]°J° roa ' be required JfuK" utes in this area provide comfortable 'ravelling __.