THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 21 May 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Tar-Sealed Eoads. It has become generally recognised that the old method of road-makißg by simply xonnding-up the earth, and giving a layer of broken metal, is au out-of-date, unsatisfactory and, in the long run, expensive one, on. aceount of the cost of maintenance where the traffic is at all heavy. All progressive local bodies arc now turning their attention to the more up-to-date methods, giving better and more permanont roads. Hoeing that this county mast, in the near future, take somo such step,' district residents will be specially interested to learn .that the Taranaki County Council has just decided to embark on a scheme for raising a loan of £60,000 for tar-scaling 64 miles of main roads in that county, and including £3500 for plant. Before arriving at this decision, the Taranaki Council went .very fully into tho matter, a special committee being set up last January to go exhaustively into various suggested methods of improving tho roads. The committee was at first favourably disposed towards concrete roads, as being more permanent, and costing less in upkeep, but, on fuller investigation, found the cost would bo excessive approximately £3OOO per mile —while construction would bo slow, ; and the material available was not suitable. Tar macadam was also thought to be costly, and too slow a method of construction to suit the Council’s requirements. The committee inspected many miles of tar-sealed road in South Taranaki, and found it-- in every case satisfactory, and recommended tar-sealing as most satisfactory for Taranaki. In flic opinion of the committee, tar-sealing was quite as effective as tar-grouting, and slightly ; cheaper. Seeing that the method of tar-sealing has been adopted more extensively in the past in parts of Taranaki than in any other part of the Dcmiimon,„.the decision of the Taranaki County Council to follow suit should certainly have considerable influence with the local County Council representatives. Horowhenua must take up this matter of xoad improvement in the. near future —the sooner the better we think —and the experience of other local bodies will largely act as a determining factor as to our local proposals.

A Soldier’s Sermon. A timely reminder has just been given by General Sir Andrew Bussell of the necessity of placing first things first, and of putting our trust in the Almighty in the days of peace, a« we .did in the days of war. In concluding his speech at Hastings on Tuesday, in acknowledgment of a remarkable demonstration of welcome, the General said: "It is no good calling on God to help us in the war if, when the war i 3 i over, we are going to put- the Almighty . I by, and His teachings on the shelf. God s has helped us to win the war, and now we have won we must not banish Him from oar lives." Coming from such a man as General Bussell, the "Fighting General," beloved by the soldiers, renowned throughout the world as one of the finest soldiers who took part in the great war, such a public-- utterance will have more effect than the most powerful sermon that might be preached by ■ the highest clergyman in the land. Be- i turning to his native town covered i with honour and glory, feted and prats- ! ed by all, and with the shouts of welcome ringing in his ears, it will ever - redound to the honour of this truly ; great man in the fuller sense of the I word that he did not hesitate to speak * out plainly that word of warning that I we so much need to have impressed , upon us:

j "If, drank with sight of power, we S loose f "Wild tongue# that have not Thee in awe, ! imieh boastings as the Gentiles use. ! Or lesser breeds without the law — ! Lord, God of Hosts, be with us yet. Lest we forget; lest we forget! "