TARANAKI’S ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1922, Page 8

TARANAKI’S ROADS.

SOUTHERN VISITORS. Taranaki’s far-famed roads are ever drawing visitors to make investigations on behalf o.f outside local ibodies, and the latest to show themselves interested are the Levin Borough Council, who wrote to the borough manager ('Mr. F. T. Bellringer) about ten days ago and asked for permission to witness a tarring demonstration and for all possible information oh the subject of roadmaking as understood in New Plymouth.

The result was the arrival here on Wednesday of the Mayor (Mr. Matherson), and Councillors Keeble, Murchinison and Parker, of Levin. Under the direction of the borough engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) they witnessed an exhibition of tarring in Courtenay Street. They were shown how the roadway is cleaned, how the tar sprayer is used, and the methods of distributing the gravel. Later the party inspected the crushing plant, the asphalt plant, and made a general tour of the borough roads; in the company of Mr. J. S. Connett (chairman) and Mr. G. Meredith (overseer), of the Taranaki County Council, they were taken to see what is done in the county. The visitors expressed keen approval of all they saw, particularly in reference to the borough plant and methods of spreading the tar and gravel. At the suggestion of Mr. Cook they included Pukekura and Kawaroa Parks in their itinerary, and were very much impressed by “what it is possible for a committee to do.”

The party came through from by motor-car and stopped en route at Wanganui, Haw. . a and lEltham, with the view of gathering information relative to road-making in those districts. They intended to return to-day by the same means, via Opunake and Hawera. On Friday a similar visit was paid to New Plymouth by the engineer to the Petone *Borough * Council (Mr. Alex. Cowie), who returned south with a budget of information for his council. It is interesting to note that with the up-to-date methods in use here a road twelve feet wide that has been treated previously may have a primary coat of tar applied at an average cost of £144 per mile; the second and third applications cost slightly less. The first coat on an untarred road, however, averages in cost at about £260 per mile.