The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6th, 1921 GOOD ROADS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6th, 1921 GOOD ROADS.

From all accounts the Taranaki district is the home of good roads. The several Counties of the province vie with each other in general .maintenance. Tais is disclosed by a pamphlet recently published from AVellington, wherein nuich information is supplied regarding the roads of the various districts. The County Engineer for Stratford (Mr .T. \V. Spence) supplies much that is intciesting on the subject of improving good roads with a view to meeting modern traffic requirements, flo proceeds to say that most of tile principal roads in the county are laid down on what is known as tile tar sealing system. Some years ago a few miles were targrouted, but latterly sealing has been entirely adopted. The tar-grouted portions are standing well, But for reasons mainly concerning the necessary plant and the effect on other roads in progress, it was deeided to adopt the tarscaling. In the county the system of working differs from that adopted by several other counties, where practically the whole of the plant is concentrated on each special piece of work, whereas locally portions of other roads or the country nre being refaced with metal at tile same time a.s the tar is being applied. The road rollers, very necessary machines in tar grouting, are often engaged in works miles distant, being seldom available for finishing off the t tr work. Another reason for adopting tar sealing is on the score of expense. the amount of tar used in grouting being considerably greater than in sealing. There is no doubt that the maintenance of tarred roads where the traffic is eonstanf and hepvy is onh

about 50 per cent, of that oil the waterhound macadam. In cases where, owing to weather and other conditions, it has only been possible to place one coat, of tar on the refneed road, the wet weather of the past winter has not had anything like the same eflcct as is to he found on the water-hound macadam carrying exactly the same traffic. In the latter case the surface has been completely destroyed, whereas in the former portions of the tar have been broken avjjty, but the metal has not suffered to any extent. Mr Spencer shows 'that whereas Stratford was spending £3OO per annum per mile in maintaining a rough metalled road, it now lias a good surfaced road that cost £IOO per mile, per annum, maintenance. The paper, which lias been somewhat condensed owing to luck of space, is a.s follows:—Since tile advent of motor-propelled vehicles with pneumatic a.n! solid rubber tyres, the problem of putting down a road that will carry such traffic has seriously exercised the minds of nil local bodies. It has been found that the old method of putting down a road on what is called the water-hound macadam system, cun only lie looked upon a.s a waste of money. A road that- lias been refneed with a coat of crushed metal will lust a very short time if carrying motor traffic to any extent; it is a matter of opinion as to whether the liioloi’-lony carrying loads up to five tons travelling at front 12 to 15 miles per hour, or the motor-car wltich travels at from 20 to 30 miles per hour does the most damage. It is more generally considered that the luster vehicle is the greater offender. In order to overcome the road troubles, in Taranaki particularly, various systems of tarring the roads have been gone into. The principal methods adopted are tar grouting and tar settling. Tar grouting consists ol applying a coat of tat* immediately tlio new metal has lice ll rolled ; this appears to have ccrobjections. firstly tilt* iimount. ot tar used is much greater than in tar painting ot settling; to get good results in grouting it is necessary that the tarsM'ayer should he hauled behind the road-roller, 1 .nltcrwi.se, if drawn, by horses, the tendency is for "the horses to roughen up the already rolled stirlate. making it difficult to again obtain the best surface and the correct camber on the road. In soines places, "hero the local body does not own a ei ashing plant it obtains its metal supplies from quarry companies, by mil, and finds it does not pay to rail the screenings, therefore having nothing to blind the surface of the water-hound macadam road, tar grouting is adopted.