jy.—i.

_ For the information of local authorities the following is a complete list of successful candidates since the examinations were originated : S. Annabell, G. Avery, V. L. Bagnall D Baldwin F H Bastm, J. W. Bean, H. V. Bond, D. Ē. Brown, H. Chappell, W. Ē. Cottrell, A H Davis J G Denmson, Ē. J. Ferguson, P. S. Finlayson, J. Forbes, W. I. Gardiner, G. E. Gibbs, Ē Grant' W J Hawkes, F. Hermans, 0. G. Hewison, T. J. Hickey, M. H. Houlihan, R. G. Howell, T. R. Hutton' W J. Jenkins, W. J. E. Jenkins, J. H. Kendall, B. L. Larson, R. M. Lankshear, R. G. Lysnar J G Mahood 0. R. Marshall, G. Mascull, F. F. Maynard, J. Ē. Mays, H. N. McDonald, J. G, Mclvor' C D Molesworth, J. I. Monfries, F. Muggeridge, J. V. Neill, R. H. Newman, R. F. Newton, L. Oldham' W. Page E. B. Price EM. B Revill, S. G. H. Robinson, J. I. Shields, H. B. Smart, T. G. Smith! 1 R. Sneddon, S. G. Stockley, J. Stringer, C. B. Thomson, R. H. Westbrook, J. A. Williams H J L wotten. ' Bulletin No. 2. In order to assist those reponsible for the submission of schemes for highway improvement the Board issued early in 1930 its second bulletin entitled " Typical Specifications with Introductory Notes on Mam Highway Standards and Design." The publication comprises seventy-eight pages and is furnished with a comprehensive index. Copies of the bulletin were supplied free of charge to all local authorities m the Dominion, while to meet the public demand, copies were made available for sale at a nominal charge. The skeleton specifications issued by the Board in 1925 were withdrawn. Sixth International Road Congress. The New Zealand Government was invited by the United States Government to send an official delegate to the Sixth International Road Congress held at Washington, D.C., from the 6th October to the lltli October, 1930. Mr. A. Tyndall, Highways Engineer, was appointed, and left New Zealand on the 26th August, 1930, returning on the 12th January, 1931. While in North America many »reat courtesies were extended to the representative from New Zealand by the Chief of the Bureau of Public Roads, Mr. T H Mac Donald, the officers of the Federal Government associated with him in Washington and also by the State highway officials with whom he came in contact both in the USA and Canada' Without a single exception these officials did everything in their power to supply any information at their disposal, as well as to make special arrangements to enable the delegates to view numerous works under construction. Special tours lasting for some seventeen days, held under the auspices of the Highway Education Board, proved most interesting and beneficial. Upon his return, Mr. Tyndall furnished a comprehensive report to the Government and to the Board. RoUGHOMETERS. One of the features of a highway always closely observed by road-users is the smoothness or ridingquahty of the road-surface. A rough surface gives rise to effects unpleasant to the passenger and detrimental to the vehicle. Smooth surfaces mean greater mileage with less fatigue, with less damage to the contents of the vehicle, and with lower operating-costs for the vehicle. Thus, as far as the user is concerned, the question assumes a very considerable economic aspect. On the other hand the highway engineer is vitally interested in building and maintaining smooth roads on account of the direct effect of surface-roughness on the life of the pavement. The research of the past few years has clearly indicated that road-roughness produces impact, and impact contributes to the early deterioration of any type of road-surface. So convincing has been the evidence of this fact, that many highway engineers have expressed the belief that smoothness is the most important quality to be sought m road-surfaces. The appreciation of the importance of surface-smoothness has resulted in the development of a number of mechanical appliances for the measurement of same. A comparatively simple and efficient instrument for determining relative roughness was devised some five years ago by the Bureau of Public Roads in the United States of America, and is known as the roughometer It Has been adopted by a number of Highway Departments in different parts of the world and its use in many places has resulted in considerably improved standards in the riding qualities of new pavements. The instrument is fitted to an ordinary motor-car, and actually measures the total average accumulated compression of the two front springs of the vehicle in inches per mile of distance travelled The Main Highways Board has purchased two of the instruments, and during the forthcoming season they will be fitted to motor-cars and used in determining relative roughness of a number of recently constructed pavements. ■ Magnetic Truck. Investigations have shown that there is considerable economic loss annually to the road-user in the way of damage to tires by punctures and cuts caused by iron and steel nails and other metal fragments. To deal with the problem there have been developed in other countries, notably the United States of America motor-trucks fitted with special electro-magnets. The trucks patrol the highways at a comparatively slow speed, the magnets being suspended within a few inches of the road-surface Surprisingly large quantities of iron and steel scrap are usually gathered, and the beneficial results which have followed the use of the devxces have been most noticeable. The Board proposes to try out the scheme m this country, and with this in view a special magnetic truck is at present being assembled. Progress Report. The following statement shows the more important construction work carried out under the control of the Main Highways Board during the year ended 31st M"arch 1931 :— WaMnate-Kaeo-Mam/onui.-Kakoe Bridge : The northern approach has been constructed with stone facings, and a contract let for the erection of this bridge Fairburn itoj -Povey's Bridge : A 25-ft.-span bridge with rolled steel joists and concrete deck

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