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Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1925, Page 2

The improvement of the district roads brought aliout by tlie use of modern machinery, ns indicated hy the special report of Mr E. A. Wells. County Chairman. on the matter, suggests that tlie local body lias done wisely in obtaining a heavy road roller. The next best tiling to do with it. is to use it to the fullest advantage. It is now passing over some of the roads in the settlement districts, and the effect- is said to ho altogether satisfactory. Users of tlie roacls will appreciate this, while the ratepayers will have some consolation in the knowledge that the greater the permanent improvement effected to the highways, the less will he the cost of maintenance. Road-making machinery in the ordinary course should reduce greatly the average cost of upkeep, as roads should he better constructed. There should be also a great saving in time by tlie use of machinery, thus cutting down costs. The rending problem is a recurring one in nil countries. but the only way it can be mastered is bv adopting the use of machinery to cope with the greater needs of the times for better and faster roads for modern traffic. The popular support to the swimming

baths as evidenced by the record attendance at Wednesday night’s modest gathering, indicates that the ocal public are ready ever to support a worthy object. As Hon. Mr Michel aptly remarked, it is not possible to estimate the value of the cultivation of the art of swimming, and the fact that such a large percentage of the school children can now swim, when formerly only a fraction had any idea of the rudiments shows that the establishment of the baths lias served a very good purpose indeed. The Club which lias taken charge of the baths for the municipality has done excellent service in equipping the hnths in so many ways, thus adding to their general usefulness. The installation of a separate water supply was a necessary step,’ as the town supply could not he drawn upon. Now the baths are lit for the use of followers of the art for night swimming. Altogether the baths have been rendered specially useful to the community and should he kept up to the best advantage.