The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “ The West Coast Times.” WEDNESDAY. MAY 18th, 1921. REVELL, STREET.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “ The West Coast Times.” WEDNESDAY. MAY 18th, 1921. REVELL, STREET.

lui. main street ot the town, as tiiw principal thorouglitare might well have the attention of the authorities to lender it. more presentable and serviceable. I'hu suggestion has been milde before that the roadway should undergo a modification of the -tar sealed system, so as to secure a more cleanly and better surface. The road is not subjected to the heavy traffic it once hud to carry. Waggons and heavily freighted drays do not ply in the main street now, but though there is a lighter volume of loaded traffic, the surface of the road is Ta lly holed and in need of repair more or less urgent. As a result of the more general motor traffic, the road instead of being c ut ui>, is now pockmarked, as it were, with a succession of holes, which in wet weather hold water and become unsightly puddles. The roadway itself becomes humpy and the unevenness of tin road makes traffic unpleasant. The repairing of the road should not he a heavy item, hut certainly the holes rcipiire filling. If the work is taken ill hand it would be well to do it thoroughly so that the road .might stand the traffic for a lengthy period. Tarred macadam could he used for the pot holes to produce a level surface, and then the whole spread of tliu road could he tarred and sanded, producing a good level throiighfare which would he a credit to the town. The road for- the greater part of its length, and in the area where most in use, is well graded and crowned, so that the repair work is not of a serious monvmt from a monetary point of view. The suggested tarring and sanding would not he expensive, because the material is close at hand in liberal supply, the tar at a nominal cost, and the sand in generous free cjuanti ties. A suitable plant for doing the work in a practical way would not be costly; indeed it might be possible to hire it from the neighbouring Town of Greymouth, where a very long stretch of road lias had the attention we suggest for Revell Street. Tho labor is available, and if

the Council has the will to tackle the job, a way can be found to finance the work which would be of a semi-perman-ent character, and give most satisfactory results, not only for vehicle traffic, but also for pedestrians, who make the main street the line of principal promenade on the late shopping night. No doubt with the introduction of the electric light. He veil Street will become more and more popular for the weekly promenade and the improvement of the road surface in the manner indicated would be a boon to all. Shop-keepers would feel the benefit bv reason of more

people being brought alxmt, and generally the effect would he to popularise that portion of the town, and stimulate trade. Prom the point of view of cleanliness the attention to the road surface would he of value also, because the main street certainly stands in need of more frequent scavenging than is now the case. A tar-sealed surface wouffl facilitate the work, and make the cleaning a simpler and less costly work. The growing importance of the town, and the no-less important part the main street plays in the appearance of the town, well justifies the attention directed to the matter suggested, bv the municipal Ivuthorities.