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Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1929, Page 4

A hi rye expenditure is being incurred ..-y juv.ii t,uv.co up unci clown t«»e L>ojj.inio.i Jn cue iiuitiur or suri&ung i\aiu.s ior general name. feome very coally work is being none, OiieiL mvspeciive or looniny ana volume 01 aa-iiiL. -in cures where iraiue is cono ana oireu very heavy,- rue hi SuiliaUiU <jl' iOi.Ulllg la OSaelluai ui near i..e Lrailic iMtu'Uie gieatom, ecui.u.i.y lit upkeep, it wouiii appear, noever, tn.u uus high standa.U loading is oueu carriea into (uuntry uisuieLS wneie mere is not the Volume nor the weight 10 be pioviaea .or. JHe expemliiure on such works runs into very sums. Tne heavy capital cost imposes large interest payments winch in a study of tne economic aspect, should be taken into amount m relation to the possible saving in maintenance costs it was hoped to ■effect. These interest payments have, invariably to be provided lor by spec- .... rates, even though the highways funds are drawn on by substantial subsidy payments lor part of the cost. In regard to the economical upkeep of roads, a Unristclnirch engineer has been offering some comment which is oi general interest. He stud: “larsealutg, if done properly, is an econ- , omiciu and efficient mecho'd of mainmining streets or roads where they are not subjected to heavy traffic pounding, I think that many failures' are due to the use of fuel oil or some such material for the first coat, In my opinion high-grade tar makes a mhch better iob. ior one thing it has a very superior penetration, thus securing the adhesion that is so necessary, and then again it contains no volatile elements whicli evaporate and leave a residue. There is no doubt that a good job can be made with tar-sealing.” I his expression of opinion seems to be home out here where substituted oils for tar were used. Both on Cass Square and in Sewell St., the wearing effect of the fuel oil has not been equal .to the tar' usfed previously. The Borough Council, it would appear, would'we well advised to make the fullest use of the local tar it has at its disposal. The quality of the tails high, and if applied without too much boiling, provides an excellent surface There are several examples (if the value of the tar-sealing about L he town, and for the future these should be followed as far as the local supplies of tar will permit. The tarsealed streets not only carry the traffic well, hut subsequent maintenance is light, and there is a moie ’presentable road at all times, permitting better surface drainage and a much cleaner street, lhe policy of tar-sealing should he pursued to the fullest extent possible.