ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5492, 25 October 1929, Page 2

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS. THE EAST COAST ROUTE. , The road now being constructed by relief workers from Matangi Road to Waihi Beach Road will complete a circular route around the Waihi Borough which will be of great use to waggons collecting cream off the Waihi Plains. Waggons will be able to make a complete round, starting from Waihi by the Whangamata road as far as Patterson’s Road, along that to Ngatitangita Road, thence to Matangi Road, and over Trig Road (now under construction) to the Waihi Beach road. From the latter road the route will run on to the Waihi-Tauranga main highway, down to Ford Road, thence along the old Tauranga road and from there the waggons will ne able to return to Waihi either Ly Franklin Road or else by fording the Ohinemuri River and travelling along the Paeroa road back to Waihi. From this it will be seen what estimable benefit the farmers will receive. Mercury Bay Route. The Hikuai-Whenuakite road via Tairua is also nearing completion by relief workers. The road is unmetalled but will retain a good surface for part of the year. The work near Tairua is following the track of an old road which was used as a cattle route. A few cars here have already been over this rosd, which by Christmas time ft is expected will be ready for regular traffic. The present work constitutes the remaining link between Paeroa and Mercury Bay along the east coast of the Coromandel range.

It is also proposed to continue the metalling of the Tapu-Gumtown road, work on which was abandoned last year owing to bad weather. The opening up of the completed road will add a great deal to the prosperity of the districts tapped, not only from the point of view of ordinary commerce, but from that of the tourist business. With the deep bays and mountain streams so accessible from Auckland there will be a continually increasing traffic front the city and beyond. As a scenic route, too, ft will be hard to surpass. Soon after Christmas it will be possible to have a delightful drive from Paeroa round the circular route by way of Whangamata, Gumtown, Tapu and home.