ROAD REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 222, 14 November 1900, Page 2

ROAD REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE.

Under this comprehensive title a pamphlet has been issued, under the auspices of the Auckland Cycle Road League. The author claims to having compiled the contents from various reliable resources and the best English authorities. At first glance it has decidedly more the appearance of a cookery book than a brochure on the j art of road-m&king, but a closer inspection shows that the ingredients are' I hard to digest, but not more so than the treatise will prove when submitted j to the assimilaticg organs of Road Boards, County, and Borough Council*, to whom its study is recommended, There are a gtod proportion of truisms scattered through the twelve pages, as well as avast amount of information, some of which is useful, though net new, but, the one main point, as to where the money is to, come from fer attaining the perfection aimed at, is conspicuous by its absence. Perhaps' in the eyes ef the author this in a mi»nr detail. The peculiarity of the Housewife's Cookery Book clings to every page. All the ingredients are set out most carefully, the minutest detail as to order of mixing and quantities required is to be found duly chronicled, and all that is wanted is an unlimited purse with which to go to work. Just one quotation will suffice as an illustration of the advice given." The carts or barrows bringing the metal to the spreaders should on no account be allowed to travel over the metal alreadj spread until it has beon well rolled. Each load of stone must be tipped outside the area that it will cover when spread, so that every stone of the heap must be lifted by the shovel and the small stuff scattered oveir the surface, or, better still, thrown to one side. It is essential that all mu<J, dirt, and large stones should be removed from the surface before the new metal is spread." One almest expects to find a direction that the laborer's hands shall be clean and cool. Revised by a strong masculine hand the pamphlet could be reduced to serviceable shape. At present, itis woefully efikuinateaud its contents for the most part totally unsuited to the conditions to be found outside large and wealthy towns. The work is wull printed, and in that regpeot reflects credit on Messrs. Wilson and Son, of Auckland,