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Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1925, Page 2

At Christchurch this week there was a representative gathering of public body men to hear an interesting address on modern road construction. The speaker was .Air G. A. Repko, eonsuiting roadway engineer of the Texas Company (Australia), Ltd., on improved methods of road construction and maintenance, with special reference to methods employing bituminous asphalt. Air Hepko is an engineering graduate of the Brown University. He took a post-graduate course at Columbia University, at which he took a degree of Master of Science in roa engineering. He has had about twelve years practical road-making experience in the United States, winking with road contractors in the actual building of roads. His experience has extended over China. Japan and Australia. Air Hepko was sent out to New Zealand as an authority to represent the Texas Company, and an endeavour is being made for him to meet as many as possible of the lo: a bodies' officials and others interested in road making, to place his exponentc at their disposal. Ah' Hepko dealt in his address with the strength and quality of the different bitumens on the market, illustrating the length of I of each. He spoke at length on tin methods of modern road structure in Amciien. In boggy country, he said, a foundation of heavy stones would he set down; the road would then he gradually built of finer materials, and would he finished off with a bitumen surface. Where there was already o shingle or rock foundation, the road would call for less expensive treatment to carry the load required of it. Healing with the costs of the different Kinds of roads. Air Hepko said that the bitumen surface applied to Canterbury roads would r* st approximately os a square yard, whereas a penetration road surlace would cost about Is (Id a square yard. There Would, of course, have to he added to the cost of the bitumen surfaced mad the interest and sinking fund connected with the machinery used ill its construction. In answer to a question. Air Hepko said that if sand were to I o used in connection with the construction of bitumen surfaced roads, a great deal more bitumen than otherwise would have to lit l used. Speaking with legat'd to the essentials of the different kinds of roads he stressed the necessity for the quality of durability, in a road used by heavy traffic; such ■ road must also he sanitary, and the matter of cheapness could he wholly disiegarded. Around warehouses and so mi granite rock was (tm.sidered the ideal class of street.’ There was also tin* wood block, hut this was altogether too slippery for horses.