ROAD-MAKING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 282, 26 November 1914, Page 3

ROAD-MAKING.

SUGGESTION FOR IMPROVED

METHODS.

At various times the Stratford County Council has discussed the question of road surfaces, but so far has come to no decision regarding a change of system. The' matter wan Again discussed at yesterday's meeting is a result of the following passage in ihe Engineer's veport:—l would urge upon the Council the wisdom of adopting a more modern method of blinding ntr -roads than the one now in vogue, xnd'if at all possible would like to see r mile or two laid down with tar sealing this year.

Cr. Smith said the tarring on the Eltham Road was not a success. Cr. Christoffel took a different view. He would favor a little bit of road being tarred in order to show settlers the iifference made by tarring. A piece •ould lie done in each Riding. He thought it would pay better to get out 'ess stone and spend more money on the blinding.

Cr. Walter thought it would be un,vise even to make experiments. Other bodies were making experiments and these could be watched. It was-no use taking any steps so long as the Coun>il was pinched for money. By the ime the Council was again in easy circumstances, there might be some entirely new form of road-making. For ; nstance, in America there vi'ere thousands of.miles of concrete roads coated vith pitch or similar material. The Engineer gave figures, in con-' lection Avith the tarred road in the Waimate West County from Manaia to Inaha. He claimed that there was no better tarred road in Taranaki. It carried a great deal of heavy traffic, but,.it had withstood it well. Already the Mountain Road had been blinded three times with clay, and the clay was very unsatisfactory in wet weather. The cost of the clay blinding went out in surfacemen's wages and Councillors did not recognise it prooerly as expenditure. If the Stratford County decided on making experimenls they could get the necessary tar from the Waimate Council, which had raised i loan to tar the whole of the roads in the County.

The chairman said he recognised that something should be done to the roads, 'mt it was necessary to be very careful vith expenditure. No motion was passed on the matter.