IMPROVED ROADS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10302, 11 January 1927, Page 5

IMPROVED ROADS

thbouchout NORTH ‘SLAND MOTORIST’S TRIBUTE,

EXPERIENCES OVER 1200 miles TOUR,

/Soecial to the Times.) Jan. 10.

The great improvement in the majority of the North Island roads in the past fern years, and the consequent opening up of many districts hitherto neglected by tourists, was referred to by Mr O. F. Bennett, of Auckland, who recently returned from a motor tour extending over 1200 miles.

.Mr Bennett said that motoring in tin* North Island was at last becoming a pleasure. During the whole oi the trip be had not once had occasion to use chains,, while the erection oi >iimposts bv Various automobile associations, and especially the Auckiaiui boily. had done much to make travelling easy. As an example of the fast Transit that can now be made over the road through the Awakiuo (Jorge, Mr Dennett said he met a untiT who had made the trip from Auckland to the hostel on the Xe«’ plvniouth side of 'Mount Egmont in IT hours, lie had left Auckland by tho daylight Limited, joining the service car at To Kuiti. further south, the road ’through t l,o Manawatu Oorge had been com plctely restored since the serious slip of a few: months ago, and was now io excellent condition. The roads from Napier north tuAVairoa were all in first-class order, particularly over the Tongoio Hill. Many elbow bends through the Matahourua Gorge were also made easier to negotiate on account of the good surface. I’ALSE ECONOMY NEAR >VAI-

KAREMOANA

Perfect roads were to be found from Vuiroa toward Waikaremoana, with the exception of a six-mile approach to the hostel. This was in a very bad state, unmetalled, and with treacherous potholes The Government had recently expended about £IO,OOO in improving the hostel accommodation and facilities, but had strangely omitted to metal this last stretch of road. In consequence of heavy rain at Christmas time, about half the holiday makers who had booked at the hostel were not able to get through. This was to be regretted, especially as 'Waikaremoana was one of the finest scenic resorts in the North Island. However, it was understood the Govern meat intended to spend about C2OOO on this road, and work would be completed in about three or four .months.

WAI K 0 A-GISBOR NE-MOTT HOAD. The improvement of the road from Wairoa toward Gisborne was also referred to by Mr Bennett, who said that about seven years ago this was .a long stretch of heavy clay. It had now been metalled and tar sealed. The only difficulty when proceeding towards Motu was the long section of unmetalled road after crossing Waihuka creelc before reaching Motuhora and motorists were held up there in large numbers this Near. LUGGAGE PROJECTING OVERRUNNING BOARDS.

The necessity for legislation to prevent service cars attaching huge bags ui luggage, which projected over the running boards was urged by Mr Bennett. He said the service cars in Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki were now putting all the luggage in the back. The carrying of luggage on the "sides was very dangerous on narrow roads, which was shown by the experience of the Auckland cricketers. When travelling from Morere to Gisborne their baggage caught in the sides of narrow cuttings, and was nearly torn otf while it frequently bumped -itber >Sfcfs on the road.