WAIMATE COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1916, Page 3

WAIMATE COUNTY.

VISIT BY STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCILLORS. Some months ago tlie Government set tip a commission to enquire into the application of the Stratford County Couacil for a permit to erect a toll-gate on the main road, near Waipuku. After the commissioner had listened to the pros, and cons., the Government allowed the toll-gate to be erected, on condition that the revenue received through it should be expended on the main road from Cornwall road, Ngaerc, to the AVaipuku bridge. This gate has been in existence some months now, and a substantial revenue ia being raised through it. The arrangement with'the Government is that the revenue derived should be expended in making a tarred macadam road on the road mentioned, and various methods have been suggested as to how the road should be constructed. Motorists who have to pay tolls naturally complain that no start has been made with the stipulated improvements, and it was suggested at the last meeting of the Stratford County Council that unless an effort was made to start the proposed work, the Legislature may rescind the order made b\ the Government. It was, no doubt, the need o. getting machinery and to decide on tin. method of making the tarred road that prompted the county engineer (M>\ W. .T. Lopdell) to suggest to the councillors a visit to the Waimr.ie'County Council's roads to see the improvements. Tuesday last was the day suggested, and Cr. Hatahaway (chairman) and Crs. Were, Coleman and Christoffel, with the county engineer, paid » visit to this progressive county. At the Manaia county o!"ce, Cr. J. McPhillips (chairman) and Cr. Stevenson and Mr. Dawson (county clerk) met the party. Alongside the Town Hall Mr. Kilroy, a local resident, was giving a public demonstration of a specific for killing Californian thistle, gorse and ragwort. The inventor claims that after many experiments the fluid had proved a positive success, and he intends placing it on the market at an early date. The Waimate County Council deserves credit for the way in which they have tackled the tarred road problem. In Cr. McPhillips they have a Ijead who has made a special study of road improvement. and who gives it a great deal of his time. At first the councillors did not see eye to eye with their chairman on the question, but some two years ago the Council decided, with the sanction of the ratepayers, to raise a loan of £OO,OOO for road improvements, £30,000 of which has been expended. Just over two years ago this county had not a yard of tarred road: to-day 12 to 15 miles have been done, and before the seasons ends it is expected to have 20 to 25 miles of fine tarred roads in the eoiintv. i

The party then inspected the Main South road. About ten chains had been tar-sealed with crude tar. boiled and put on the surface, just tar-spra,ved and sanded ,at a cost of £3 10s per chain. This road had been tarred over twelve months ago, and was standing the very heavy traffic well. Further on, the party inspected another piece put down with restar, at a cost of slightly over £4 per chain. Mr. McPhillips pointed out that this road could have done with less tar than was put on. He stated that from experiments they found that the first coat of tar should not be put on too heavy, but the quantity should be increased in the second application. He pointed out that the whole secret of success was due to the boiling of the tar. Further, to make a complete success it was absolutely necessary to have good clean metal. Just over the Kaupokonui bridge the county staff were at work laying down a piece of new road, and there the party saw the whole system and the I methods used. This road '.van being ;;ut down on a eystc-m which had not hitherto been used by this county. First, nine inches of metal is put on the road and well rolled; then it gets its first application of tar,, some fair size shingle is then put on and well rolled, and later it gets another thicker coat of tar, then the screenings are used. After being allowed to set for a while, the ro?id i 3 fit to carry the traffic. Four yards of shingle to the chain was being used, and the cost is estimated, for tarring and shingle, at £4 10s per chain. At the corner of the Taikatu road the party inspected a nice piece of road put down by the Council's engineer wit) his own preparation, but on a different system. The tar was simply sprayed on the metal and then saiuUd, but it appeared to be standing all the traffic. Further on inspection was made of two lengths put down with American aid Sydney preparations, but it was fouir! to be no better than the cheaper iocal preparations. The party then returned to Manaia, and on the way visited the Kaupokonui Dairy Factory, over which they were shown by the manager (Mr. McDonald), who went to no end of trouble in explaining the various machinery and methods adopted in manufacturing cheese, at what is said to be the largest cheese factory in the \yorld. After luncli the party motored towards Tnaha. and there inspected a piece of road laid down by the late engineer (Mr. lopdell, who was engineer to the Waimate county prior to taking up the position with the Stratford county). This road had been put down two years ago and has had one dressing since, and is standing all the traffic, showing nn sign of wearing. After this a visit was paid to the county's yards, where the tar-boiling plant is installed. The tank has a capacity of 2000 gallons and is bricked in. the tar being kept boiling day ami night. On visiting the yards the party inspected the concrete pines and moulds made by the county staff in their spare time and oil wet days. As the chairman pointed ont, the Council sells whatever surplus pipes they have to their own ratepayers at cost price, lie being <i firm believer in en-operation between the Council and the ratepayers. .. Cr. Hathaway thanked Cr. McPhillips and his Council for the kindness and natience they had shown to the party. He congratulated the chairman on the excellent roads the county had, and felt sure it good deal of the praise was due to the enthusiasm and time put in *by him. He hoped in the very near future to be able to ask the chairman and councillors of Waimate county to visit the Stratford county and see the work of tarring his Council intended doing on the main roads. Cr. McPhillips said it had been a pleasure to meet the party and show them over their roads. He thought it was the duty of every local body to help one another.