TURUA BITUMEN ROADS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5013, 13 August 1926, Page 2

TURUA BITUMEN ROADS.

SUBSIDY AND MAINTENANCE. WORK TO BE CONTINUED. Matters in connection with the Turua bitumen roads were discussed at yesterday’s meeting of ,the Plains County Council. T'he. engineer reported as follows : “If finance can be iirranged, now is the time to advantageously lay the bottom course of metal on the fioads to be completed in .the Turua-Nether-ton special rbiads loan district.” The Minister of Public Works wrote with reference to the subsidy on the bitumeii road wonk in the Turua southern area. The position was, he stated, that in 1923 the • ratepayers granted authority to borrow £17,800, a'nd, following - representations, made, a subsidy of £1 tor £4 was grafted. In addition the following authorities were issued : Newman’s Road, £5OO £ for £ ; Orchard 1 East Road, £BOO free ; Hauraki Plains roads., Turua, £lOOO, £1 for £4 ; total, £2300. At the time the proposals for these works were under discussion, a.nd it became apparent that the original estimated cost was insufficient to provide 'for a good job and the amended estimate brought the total cost to £23,499. “I, am prepared,”, continued the Minister, “to favourably consider the provision of a further £2OOO, £1 for £4, in respect to the work under discussion, and will endeavour to make provision for this as funds at my disposal will allow.

"This additional provision will make.,a total subsidy approximately equivalent to £1 for £4 bn the amended estimate of £23,499. I wish to add, my depaitment is of the opinion that quite satisfactory roads can be built in country such as the Turua riding with ordinary macadam, properly maintained, and the annual charges should' be consideJ ably less than a bitumen road. I understand, however, that the Hauraki Plains County does, not contemplate doing further bitumen work outside the Turua riding.’.’ On Cr. Madgwick’s. motion it was decided that Mr T. W. Rhodes; M.P., be thanked for his representations on the matter and that the Works Committee go into the question of completing the scheme. MAINTENANCE. The. engineer reported as follows on the question of maintenance :— “When in Auckland I made inquiries into the possibilities of using bitumen emulsion for repairs, to bitumen roads. So Ifar this method has been tried in various places in New Zealand with promising results. The repairs carried out on Grafton Bridge and at Mangoi'ei appear to warrant a trial of this method in this county. The price of the emuls.ion, ’Lay Cold,’ is about £ll per ton in Auckland. I would recommend a ton being obtained and repairs to roads carried out, and possibly experiments tried in top-dressing on macadam roads. Several lengths of road have been laid, using the cold mix process in place of penetration and hot mix methods; So far the roads are standing up tel expectations, but until the price of the emulsion is considerably reduced it will, not supercede penetration to any extent. Its- chief recommendation lies in the fact that it requires no elaborate plant.”

On Cr. Miller’s motion the recommendation for an experiment was adopted.