TARANAKI ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1922, Page 6

TARANAKI ROADS.

. IDEAL FOR MOTORISTS. NEVER IN BETTER CONDITION. Outside motorists will, this holidaytime, find the Taranaki roads in better condition than ever. From Patea to Hawera the road is tarviated practically all the way. A small piece on the Ngaere side of Stratford is receiving its finishing touches to-day, and then the road will be tar-sealed right through to the Waipuku toll-gates. For the next few miles the road is of ordinary macadam, but about two miles are in readiness for the tar. This position has always been bad, but the Inglewood County Council intends to tar-seal the whole from Waipuku to Inglewood. The same council has wrought a big improvement in the condition of the road between the township and Egmont Village, quite a distance being bitumen-sealed.

From Egmont Village to Kent Road the road is ordinary macadam, but in fair condition. For the next two miles the road is in readiness for the bitumen surface, and from Mangorei factory right on to New Plymouth the road is perfect. On the Main South road, from New Plymouth to Opunake, the road is in tip-top order as far as Puniho. Here the tar is left, and the macadam is wearing. Between Pun garehu and Rahotu there were some ugly pot-holes last week, but during the past few days the county roadmen have been paying it their attention. From Rahotu to Opunake the road is in fairly good order, and then from Opunake to Hawera, and from Opunake to Eltham, the roadway is splendid, except for a mile or two at the Opunake encl. From New Plymouth to Awakino the road was never in such good order. The stretch to Waitara has been done up, and the greater part is tar-sealed. From Waitara to Uruti the road is quite whilst Mt. Messenger is a pleasure to negotiate now that the Public Works have got it out of hand. The officers have made a really good job of the work, reducing the gradients, improving the corners, and putting down a beautiful surfaced road, with camber and channelling to keep off the water. The department will, after the holidays, turn its attention to the five miles stretch from the foot of Mt. Messenger to Tongaporutu, which it is ex pected to get out of hand by the end of the present season. From Tongaporutu the going is over clay and sandy roads, but at this time of the year it is quite good. The Taumatamaire is negotiable at present owing to the recent fine spell of weather experienced there, but not a few motorists are thinking of attempting* the Lower Valley Road instead of the tortuous hill. In three months there will be no risk whatever in taking this road, which winds along the beautiful forestcovered valley through which the Awakino river meanders, until it comes out at Mahoenui; thence on splendidly metalled hard limestone the road gones on to Piopio, and to Te Kuiti. It is a picturesque trip, and can be done this summer under better conditions than ever was possible before.

The Stratford East Road is reported to be in good order, it being possible to get right through to Ohura, via the unrivalled Tangarakau Gorge, in five to six hours easy running.

Taranaki ha§ been noted in the past for its good roads, but it will have an even more enviable reputation in this respect when the present improvements now under way are completed, as they will be by next summer.