NAPIER-TAUPO ROAD

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 47, 19 November 1926, Page 9

NAPIER-TAUPO ROAD

SOME PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. A number of important improvements on the Napier-Taupo road, long tiie principal route into the thermal district from the south, are outlined in an interesting article written by a correspondent of the “Hawke’s Bay Herald” from which the following excerpts are taken:—“Those who know the country between Napier, Taupo, Wa'irakei and the volcanoes to the south of the great lake are never tired of singing its praises. It embraces features so varied and charming that one can drink on its beauties and its wonders merely as relishes to further proceedings in the quest of new discoveries. To Waikareinoana or to Taupo, a trip is equally tempting and delightful. I recently had the opportunity of travelling over the NapierTaupo road and noting the work being done by the Public Works Department and it may be interesting to mention some of these as the tourist season will soon be opening. “There was nothing of special importance till one reached the Mohaka river. The river was in high flood and showed that much rain had fallen and was still falling within the upper basin of the Mohaka. During the last seven or eight years the county council has altered the grades, diverted the roads here and there, and has .continued the improvements by metalling the whole distance, as far as the bridge. “A quarry has been opened by the Public Works engineers to metal the road between the river and the top of Turangakuma hill. Those who remember this long stretch of hill country from 1000 feet at the bridge to 2465 feet at Turangakuma, as it was in the old days, can well appreciate the wonderful change that has taken place during the past five years under the intelligent guidance of engineers like Messrs. Dyson, Thompson and Thomas of the Public Works Department. Motorists whose experience embraces the unmetalled and metalled period of reading know the difference between what was and what is now “A little farther on the beautiful Te Hauroto bush is reached. There the Public Works engineer has made a deviation from the original road so that the grade is vastly improved, and the lover of Nature has a delightful trip through bush of varying aspects and beauty. Nearby natives from Te Hauroto were working on the road and had done some excellent work in anticipation of the coming tourist season. Fortunately there is an abundance of good stone for road-making, and the natives under proper supervision make capital roadmen who can be trusted to go over their respective sections when heavv storms are likely to cause slips. The Turangakuma hill is in fine order and we made rapid travelling into the Waipunga Valley and there on to the Double Crossing. Passing the bridge at this place, it

was a matter for surprise to find that the whole of the road had been metalled and regraded. “We then made our way to Tarawera. Not far from the hotel or the saddle leading to the Nunneries Valley a number of roadmen were carrying out some important alterations in anticipation of changes that are to be made in road deviation. A little further on, after crossing the bridge over the Waipunga stream, Mr. Thomas, of the Public Works Department, who has charge of the Mohaka-Taupo section of road under Mr. Thompson, the chief engineer for the Hatfke’s Bay district, informed me that a survey of the country from near the roadman’s whare along the valley a mile or two from the Waipunga bridge marks the place where the present road will stop. Instead of continuing into the difficult hill country by wav of Ohinekuku the road will deviate into the valley and cross a bridge to be erected over the Waipunga, following up the right bank of the river a little to the left of the three waterfalls and coming out on to the present road near Himing’s place at Runanga. This proposed road passes .through some charming clumps of bush and offers no engineering difficulties in its construction and saves more than two miles.

“We ran along the Waiarua stream for several miles ever rising, but slowly. towards the Taupo tableland which really begins as the terrace is reached from which the stream takes its rise. The terrace extends for several miles and can be seen surrounded by a ring of hills sloping inwards towards the swamp terrace known as Oranga-te-haha. This swamp is about 2200 feet above sea level with blister hillocks here and there. Another deviation of the road is proposed that will shorten the distance to the top of the western crater that overlooks the Rangitaiki Hotel, which is some two miles further on down the outer crater slope. At Rangitaiki the public works men have several cottages and here a grading machine is kept for road use. “As we bowled along across the plateau in the early evening of a late October dav, one was struck to observe the marked improvements that had been made, in the road during the past 12 months or so. Undoubtedly it has been a fortunate thing that the Hawke’s Bay Public Works control district includes the main road between. Napier and Taupo Such an arrangement means much to Napier and Hastings, and if the authority extends to Moewlianga and there to Taupo there will be opened out one of the finest tourist and touring roads in the country.”

When the gears of the electric starter become stuck turn off the ignition switch, put in high gear, and then gentlv rock the car backward and forward This will release the starting motor gear from the flywheel gear, and the starter will then turn the engine easily.

In some cases where a fan belt persists in jumping off the pulley it can be made to stay on by removing it and replacing it with the side that was previously in front towards the rear. Tlie trouble is caused by a defective belt stretching more at one side than at the other.