CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1921, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

PAPA ROADS.—A CORRECTION. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Over Mr. D. J. Hughes’ signature In the News of August 8, appears some hints as to road-making in papa and otner districts. I am sorry that Mr. Hughes did not get all his particulars and facts quite, correct. The process is all right, but the mixtures of aggregates as supplied to the Dally News are slightly in error. We state a sto 1 mixture for roads, not 12 to 1, and the cost of the basic material ’is about £7 per tou, not £4 as stated, although by mixing alumina earths the basic cost caq bo materially reduced. Our company are preparing samples to submit to the Minister of Public Works for road and bridge building, and other work. From tensile and crushing strains officially carried out in Wellington, tie "magnislte" was 2 or 3 times better than Portland .cement mixture, and, having little affinity for water, produces a superior new construction material with great and varied possibilities. Further, the strongest adds fail to make any impression. The material is easily worked In all consistences, wet, plastic or semi-dry, easily blending with papa, clay, ironsand, and other grits, shingio, cinders, sawdust, and even cork, dust, with octre pigments or oxides. I may say that we are experimenting with earth mould and so-called waste materials from the concrete point of view of the cement mixer, using up to a 12 to 1 mixture, and have so far found a complete blending and easy incorporation, but am not at this time prepared to state that suck a weak mixture can stand up to severe crushing strains, but with only ‘ a few days setting and no burning required, seems equal to many of the so-called building bricks that are being used at the present time.—l am, etc., J. C. CAMERON, C.E. Hawera, August 8, 1921. EGMONT COUNTY. (To the Editor.) Sir, —-Recent happenings in Egmont County have been of an amusing character, so much so that ratepayers and public alike are apt to loso sight of the more serious matters at issue.

It would bo well to remind that section at present wooing Taranaki that that county has not an untarnished record. In (he not Tornote past Taranaki’s advocacy of a wheel tax raised wrathful and widespread indignation. Though baulked in that direction the thirst lor more money is acute, and, failing other uniquo moans of raising funds, must be quenched by an Increase in the rates levied. Inglewood’s secession provides an object lesson in dissatisfaction al. the other end of the county, while, If reports are true, discontent over the stale of the roads still prevails in much the same quarter. Probably it would be difficult, anti perhaps unkind, to speculate on the motives underlying the warm welcome extended to the deputation by the Taranaki chairman and councillors. In the aggregate I am assured the welcome resembled the nil embracing anms and action of the N.D.A.. which may or may not bo a recommendation to coastal ratepayers. Admitting that Egmont County has fallen upon bad timep, or into bad hands—or both—two questions arise, viz.: (1) Whose fault is it? The ratepayers and their lack of interest, is the answer to this. (2) What is the remedy? To tills question one party replies by agitation in favor of merging with Taranaki. Another party recognises that a live interest by ratepayers in county affairs, resulting in a re-organisation and re-modelling of the council, is tho truest, sanest, and most economical remedy. Merging means money—fees for commissions of inquiry, clerics, lawyers, etc.—and this money can be better spent on the highways. Will the ratepayers awake io life and energy?—l am, etc., G. T. EGMONT. Rffhotu, August 8.