AS OTHERS SEE US.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 221, 26 January 1928, Page 1

AS OTHERS SEE US.

A SOUTHERN VISITOR. Impressions of North Island. A resident of Christchurch, Mr. J. A. Flesher, has recently completed a motor tour of 1850 miles through the North Island. In giving his impressions to a Christchurch Press reporter, Mr. Flesher said:— “ What struck me mostly was the number of flourishing towns in the North Island, all well laid out and cared for, their streets in good order, and their appointments, in many respects, quite up to city standards. In particular I was impressed by the provision made by these small towns for women and children in the shape of comfortable rest rooms—a provision that puts some of the larger cities to shame. North Island Roads. “ The condition of the roads on our route was, as a whole, good; of course there were bad patches and some very good patches. But there were evidences of lack of continuity of policy. One county did one thing and the next county did not work up to the same standard. After a trip of the length \ve took, it seems to me that it is desirable that the Highways Board should attend to the work or. the main highways itself, and not under this system of subsidising the local authorities. One cannot shut one’s eyes to the fact that there is a tremendous length of main highways yet to be done in the North Island. One great drawback is the scarcity of road metal. Another problem is how to construct the clay roads. In the rainy season the clay runs into all kinds of shapes, and when it dries it is like running over boulders the size of a man’s head. Concrete Roads.

“ The concrete roads about Auckland certainly fill the bill so far as that district is concerned, and where the foundation is suitable I think concrete formation is as good a system as can be adopted. “ I was impressed with the system of traffic control in Auckland, and it would not be amiss if some of our men were sent up to see how things are done there.” Other Impressions.

The infrequency with which North Island motorists sound the horn was remarked upon by Mr. Flesher. In his opinion this disinclination to sound a warning is very risky, especially in tricky country. He did not think that during the whole trip there were more than six or twelve times that they heard a horn, in spite of the many warnings to sound horns at corners.