ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4799, 14 January 1925, Page 4

ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

DIL P. MARSHALL’S APPOINTMENT

SELECTING'-THE BEST MATERIAL.

Some time ago the Government decided to appoint an officer for the purpose of investigating stone deposits and quarries throughout the Dominion, and Dr. Patrick Marshall has since been appointed to the staff of the Public Works Department to carry out these investigations.

Dr. Marshall hap a distinguished scientific record to his credit, and has graduated to high scholastic honours in this country. He is late headmaster of Wanganui College, and received his education at Wanganui College School, Canterbury College, and Otago University, where he secured the degrees of M.A., B.Sc., and D,Sc. He was lecturer in natural science at Lincoln Agricultural College, science master at Aucklanid College and Grammar School, and lecturer in geology at Otago University. He is the author of geographical and geological works relative to New Zealand as well as various scientific papers.

It is of interest to record that the Public Works Department has on order a stone-testing plant which Is designed to determine by mechanical, ments the physical properties of roadbuilding without the delays and loss incidental to practical experiments, which must be extended over a number of years to arrive the same result.

The machines reproduce as nearly as possible, rapidly, and without loss of time, results pimilar to, those produced by the wear .and tear of vehicular traffic on roads, thus enabling authorities responsible for road construction to determine without difficulty, and with a reasonable degree of certainty, .which of the materials at their disposal is the most suitable and meet economical for the traffic to be served in each particular instance. The value of this informatio i has already been demonstrated in Great Britain and America, where similar standardised testing plants have been in operation for several years. The results of the tests which will be made will be tabulated under the following heads : Specific gravity, weight, porosity, resistance to abrasion, hardness, and toughness. The step taken by'the Government is a most important one in the progress of road construction and maintenance, particularly in view of the operaUon of the Main Highways Act, under which much of the Government funds is spent in this direction, and it is hoped by the introduction of improved methods that improved road surfaces will be secured.