COUNTY ROADS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3691, 28 November 1912, Page 5

COUNTY ROADS.

FITTING THEAI FOR HEAVY

TRAFFIC

EXPERIMENTS IX PROGRESS

At the instance of Cr -Williams, the Cook County Council recently decided to undertake certain experiments in regard to road construction, and these are now in progress. The matter was considered by the Cook Countv Council yesterday.'

Air. H. L. Friend. Auckland, wrote regarding the. experiments the Council intended to make with KarteTelt solution. Ho said his engineer, Air. R. F. Moore, reported to him haring had ail interview with the Council, -and reported that the Council decided to make certain experiments on their roads with Ivartefelt solution, the Council’s engineer and Air. Moore to work in conjunction regarding those experiments, and Air. Moore to have sole control of preparation of tar, and to stay the few weeks necessary for the work. Various thicknesses of surfacing was to be used, and the solution was to be tried with both sawdust and shavings and shingle. The object was to endeavor to arrive at a satisfactory thickness of surfaeng suitable to traffic using the roadways at a cost within the means of the Council. The Council was to provide suitable plant for making the solution and all material and labor at their own expense. The Council was to paw Air, Moore’s expenses (inclusive of hoard and lodging and travelling expenses to and from Auckland), and a fee of £lO per week while on experimental business. The Council was to pay Air. Friend a price for the Kartfelt solution at per gallon, to he fixed "after experiments were completed. The County Clerk stated that Air. Friend found some difficulty in letting Air Aloore away, but on him (Air. Warren) giving an assurance that the Council would not hack out of any agreement they had entered into. Air. Aloore came to Gisborne, and was here at present. The chairman _ (Air. H. Ken way) said that a committee was appointed to have the experiments carried out, and they had seen Air. Aloore on the matter, and the arrangements indicated in the letter were arrived at. They told him they wanted to make certain experiments over a limited area. He agreed to supervise the experiments, and was here for the. purpose. Ho and the County Engineer were in a position to carry out certain experiments, and Air. I raser had the material on the spot. Air. Alooie was actual]v at the work now, and he hoped 'to keep the experiments within the amount of money authorised bv the Council. The'Engineer said that the expen-', xnents were for the sake of obtaining certain tar, which Air. Aloore, agent for Air. Friend, stated that, he could procure. The tar was specially prepared for road work. Experiments were being conducted as regards the tar. which they proposed mixing with certain ingredients—sawdust* and shavings, shingle and stone. The material was to be tried at certain places to see what the lasting qualities would be. The Ivartefelt that had previously been put down near the AVliatanpoko bridge was three inches in thickness, but he thought as tins was so costly it might be tried with a much thinner coat. If it could be produced at a reasonable rate there was no reason why it should not be used round the town. They had got certain-material, and though the cost of the experiments would be higher than if done to the proper scale, the Council would lie able to get an idea as to the cost per yard. Air. Aloore hoped to have the particular pieces of roadway treated by Christmas, hut of course it all depended on the weatheY. He (the Engineer) had to thank the Borough authorities for the generous way they had offered the use of their plant. They were most willing to help the County Council. The tar was specially prepared, and was used in Auckland, AY ell in gt oil, and other towns for road purposes. The idea was to take the local tar from the Gisborne gasworks and put it through a certain process, and the result was pitch or bitumen. This was what Air. Aloore was doing, hut they did not know the ingredients, as the process was a patent. If the process was a success they would be able to supply this particularly prepared tar at a reasonable rate. The Council decided to confirm the terms.