ROADS DEPARTMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 142, 25 March 1909, Page 2

ROADS DEPARTMENT.

- Mr Hogg's Opinions. A recent article in the New Zealand Times in dealing with the subject of back block roads, has something of interest to say regarding the Te Kuiti Road District. Various views and comments from the new Minister in charge of the Department, the Hon. A. W. Hogg, are also contained in the article, from which the following is quoted: —

A principle of road formation, followed by Mr Burd, District Engineer of the Te Kuiti Road District, is a model for local bodies to follow. It is counter sinking the roadway for the width of the metal to be laid, a crown being made in the formation. Boards are stood up on edge on either side of the track, and as the earth is removed from the track it is banked up against the boards on the out side. Thus when the metal is laid on the properly formed roadway it is protected on the edges by the banked earth. This not only keeps the metal in place and prevents it being scattered and thrown off the road, but preserves the crown. Roads so formed have lasted many years without repair, with the crown, the essential feature in maintaining a road in good order, always in the desired shape. The Minister of Roads and Bridge, the Hon. Mr Hogg, strongly approves of this principle of road formation. He has secured its adoption in certain disr tricts, but unfortunately there are engineers to local bodies who do not like to be told that there is a better method than the one they have followed, and they refuse to accept the new idea. Probably a means will be found especially where the Government contributes to the cost of a road, of forcing them into line. Mr Hogg does not intend to be an ornamental figurehead of his department of roads and bridges. —lmportance of Expedition. —

A common weakness in road con* struction is want of expedition in carrying out the work. This is especially the case in districts like Whangamomona, where the winter weather plays havoc with the soft papa formation, and compels the work of metalling to be carried out in the dry season. The Hop. Mr Hogg, with his long experience of backblopk reads constituency, is fully alive ot the importance of this matter. An earnest of his is his action as soon as he took over control of the roads and bridges department in ordering a motor waggon for expedition in road metalling. If successful, a number will be imported for the department's use. The motor waggon for this purpose is not a new idea, as one or two have been imported, but have failed to come up to expectations. It is hoped the one the Government has ordered will be more satisfactory. A local firm, Anderson, of Christchurch, make excellent trucks for metalling work. The Hawke's Bay County Council intend using them extensively, with a traction engine as the haulage medium. —Capable .Qffiuers, —

If the Country has not been as generous as it might .have been in constructing the main arterial roads ahead of settlement, and thereby inflicting Unnecessary hardship on the men, and women who are the principal in»;ans increasing the national wealth, it is satisfactory to know that the officers of the road and bridges department are doing very satisfactory work. This is certainly the case in the Te Kuiti Road District and the Whc-ngamomona district, ana though ;'.:&• ;..ior:iUS ithee-p way-back sett'.err.e-.ts have their grievances, they are gcr.irv"? in their praise of the good work cf the district road engineers, who. it is freeiy admitted, are rencerwg ;;W- service with

The public are r.otiiied that Alisa Pine's new quarter for music and painting commences on April sth. — Advt.