HOW OTHERS WORK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1938, 22 December 1913, Page 6

HOW OTHERS WORK.

SCIENTIFIC ROAD-MAKINGi . COMING OF THE MOTOR. PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEER'S REVIEW. Mr. F. W. Furkort, hwpcctor-Ej* {jinccr for the Public Works DcpartiM»nt, who was in charge of tho building oi the .Mum f j rinik lino, has just returned to Wellington, via America, after a visit to England, the Continent, and America, lasting toy sumo eight months. While in Knglaiui, .Mr. kcrt attended tho Internationa! Roada Congress, held its Juno last, and an Imperial Motor Transport Congress* He comes back to New Zealand with; material for interesting reports, which will be plated in due course before the Minister for Public Works.

Speak'.ng with regard to tiro Inter-, national Koads Congress, to ail interviewer on Saturday," Mr. Fiirkert said the subject of road-making was discussed from every point. Tho work of the congress war. divided into a great many sub-sections, and dill'erent subjects wcro submitted from many Gov; eriinicnts, and papers prepared by representatives of those countries. One of tho large questions was about woodblocking for pavements. 'ITicro koto papers read oil this subject fj'onj Britain, Russia, Belgium, Fran-ce, and America, and all hud their own opinion as t<j how tho work should bo done. "I ma.v' say," went on. Mr. Furkort, "that tho general consensus of opinion completely supported the stylo of wood pavement we have here in Wellington. I do not know that there was anyono there who appeared to know more abriut wood-paring than was knotvn by tho man who put it down in* Wellington. I do not know any wood pavement better than that in Lambton Quay." Various shades of opinion On tin's littlo point and that little, point had to bo considered, but. he did not .think they. adduced atiy point that was not eont sklered when New Zealand started on tho work of making a first-class road. This might be said to apply io tlvo asphalt laid down on yueen Street, Auckland. Motor Traffic. The subject of motor traction was arousing a good deal of consideration in the Old Country. Tho Imperial Motor. Transport Congress was practically run iby commercial men. They were very, very anxious to know all about the colonies. Tho old attitude of "Wo ard making this kind of car, and you can take it or leave it," was gone, ami the commercial men interested in the inamii'aefcire and sale of motors we»o anxious to do all they could to meet tho requirements and conditions of tho overseas Dominions. It was at last recognised that itli important field had opened up for their wares in this respect. Any remarks mad® at.this Congress from colonial representatives were eagerly listened to and welcomed. Amongst thosn present were: Colonel Robin, representing tho Defence. Department; Dr. Hope Lewis, Aiwklaiid . representative of tho Motor Association ; Mr, Leo. Myers, representing tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. Coombc, late chief railway engineer.

Kegardiug the possibilities for motor traction in New Zealand Mr. Furkert stated that motors were used to a largo extent in Canada oil far worse roads than existed in country districts in New Zealand. Of course the imid roads itt Taranaki would not carry niccliflliieal traffic. The practice of tar-sprayiiig roads was extending everywhere, and in this respect Mr. F. Basham, the engineer for Eltham County, Taranaki, had shown what could bo done. Hound about Eltham the laud was tremendously valuable, and the tar-sprayed roads had amply repaid the- smail outlay. Tar-spraying would he equally effi» eacimis wherever used. Country roads in America were Dot any better than country roads in Xew Zealand, and Mr. Furkert believed that there svas a bigger proportion of uunietalted, ami -even unformed, roads than existed in Xew Zealand. This applied to tho Eastern States as well as the Western.

Tlio American peoplo wove, however, undertaking a bijj worlt in connection ivith the formation of a. road, suitable motor traffic, across the Continent) from the Atlantic to tlio Pacific Oceans. Sections wore now being made, and parts were to be concreted- Tho wbolo thins had been planned out, ami would be a notable achievement. Unfortunately ho did -not have an opportunity of inspecting any of tlio work. Ught Railways. tight railways, and all that pertaiiiß to them, were extensively Studied by tlio inspector-engineer during his stay ia Europe. Ho had to make a report to tlio Minister in New Zealand on tlio subject, so was not prepared to say ijfuch as to how his opinions wok likely to. affect this country. The light railway problem bad been grappled with by Belgium as by 110 other country, and ho spent a good -deal of time in tbo country, and was ablo to interview all this prominent Won, farmers, awl engineers there on tlio subject. He 'was tlifls afforded an opportunity of looking at it from all sides. Tlicro was 110 doubt the light railways vrero a tremottdous success, ami Belgium had the most complete system of railways of any country ill Europe. The country was about tlio size of Qtngo, and was simply honey- ■ combed with different gauge .railways. Notwithstanding this, hundreds of miles of further lines were being laid down every year. Afforestation. Although not required to report on tbo matter, Jlr. Purkt'rt paid some attention to tbo scientific afforestation that was being taken tip by all European countries. Great progress had been made, especially in Norway. Tbo great Forest of Ardennes was a pj-acti- . cal illustration of wiiat could be done in timber preservation. There wcro more sawmills there than were to bo found round the Taiunarunni district, yet more trees wcro being planted than wore cut. Cuts were being made from different points year by year, and for every treo taken another was planted, so that the forest was being {maintain* cd as a great timber reserve.

While viewing those forests, Mr. Furkert was struck lay tlio intelligence in foreign affairs of European residents. These forests are the groat holiday ground of the Belgian people, and many parts of them are still unknown, esce.pt hy tho people who by chance liavo discovered tlio 'remoter and hitherto well-guarded charms. Mr. Furkert here Met a group of "hoy scouts" coil* versing in French, When it was discovered that, tlio visitor was English. a lad of about eleven years struck up a. conversation iii fluent English, a ltd showed himself possessed of n wide education in foroirt.il affairs, even to tlio ostent of social conditions in far-away New Zealand. They worn all full of aknowledge of forest craft, . and when closely questioned: showed themselves "regular Baden-Powells."'