Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1924, Page 2

An experiment in road inaintenan. e has been carried out recently in C>uiteriiury under the joint auspices of the Automobile Society and a local hotly. Tint local body provided the tools and metal, and the Society the labor for patrolling seven and a half miles of in-!iii mad which carried a considerable amount of motor, as well as ordinary traffic. A year’s trial was given, the total cost for the twelve mouths being about £l2.'. mu.'.e lip follows: —Wages £lB2 12s; metal £llO ■ls ; tools £0 17s Sd. Tliis was a cost oi £42 12s 5d )er mile as against tlio lm-ai body system previously of £GO per mile. The official report-of the experiment stated tho icstilt of the suttaeeiiian’s work done on the ‘‘.stitch in time saves nine’’ principle,.is that the present condition of the road is much better than the road was twelve months ago, and there are very few of the pot-holes so frequent on roads which carry heavy motor traffic, 'flic system of maintenance is certainly the best where it is not- possible to lay down properly macadamised or tarsoaJed roads. The piompt attention to signs of wear hv traffic is tho secret of maintaining u good surface. Something of the same kind has Von attempted in Westland where metal has been deposited ready at hand at the roadside. This enables the .surfaceman to attend more promptly to repairs which np|)eiir necessary, and this results in greater economy as to the general outlay, as well as in regard to the extent of the repairs, it the road is allowed to go too far Vforo giving it the required attention. Tn the borough also a system of repairs by patching is being adopted, and this promises to be no less successful, in reducing the* number of bad parts, gradually bringing the struts vp

to a more uniform condition of repair. Tho “stitch-in-time principle is ;t good all round method for application.

'fun Progress League which held its annual meeting here this week, has proved itself a very useful organisation affecting the general advancement of the district. The record of the year’s work shows that much usefid information was devoted to the" public interests, and that generally the League has been alert and alive to local needs. The year was memorable specially because of the opening of the Midland railway. The Progress League took up the work of the old Pailway League in carrying on the‘agitation for the completion of Arthur’s Pass tunnel. Thanks to the cordial co-operation from tho Canterbury side of the range more intlncntial work was done, and it was a mutter for all round congratulation when the work was brought to its final accomplishment. The plea put forward for the tunnel com] lotion is being well endorsed by the volume of traffic using the line. But for the unfortunate interruption by the misguided railway strike over ,111 important holiday period, the latest returns would have made very attractive reading. As it is the lino is responsible for a pleasing return from traffic, and the authorities are expressing their satisfaction with the results of the traffic. Tint traffic must lie an increasing quantity now that the connection lietween the two Coasts is so well established. The. present season of the year "ill not, of course, give (he best results, hut from the spring onward there is sure to he a notable increase for all classes of traffic. The League "ill he in a position to point to th<‘ success of the line as a justification for asking further attention to the district in other directions. The railway must contribute to a greater degree of prosperity in Westland. and the steady advancement created will cause the necessity for further public requirement which, we nmv be sure, the League will not be slow to put forward. The bridging of southern rivers is of outstanding importance. It is a matter the League has taken up in the past, and now it should press for promises in regard to the matter of more bridges being fulfilled.