CARTAGE OF TIMBER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 46, 27 June 1947, Page 5

CARTAGE OF TIMBER

IN WHAKATANE COUNTY TRAFFIC INSPECTORS BUSY A problem for traffic inspectors in Whakatane County is how to prevent excessive loads 1 on trucks carrying timber from back-country mills. The County Engineer, Inspector Sharpe and Inspector Carling recently discussed matters relating To timber loading with a committee of the council. As a result the County Engineer, County Clerk, County Inspector and Inspector Sharpe will confer with the Resident Engineer, Tauranga, and the Engineer, Public Works Department, Rotorua, in an endeavour to have timber cartage permits issued on a uniform basis by both the Public Works Department and the council. Traffic Inspector’s Report Inspector Carling reported collecting 11 heavy traffic licenses to the value of £7O 16s.

The first quarter heavy traffic licenses were coming in very well and he had not taken out the list of outstanding licenses yet.

Two heavy truck owners, who were operating beyond Ruatahuna from Wairoa have now taken out their licenses from this office.

“I spent one day with the Transport Inspector K. Sharpe, 'weighing timber trucks between Te Teko and Te Whaiti,” added the inspector. “Six trucks were weighed, four with sawn timber and two with logs. “Goodsons Ltd, with two logs 2729 ft. with a permit to carry 3000 ft. proceeding to Rotorua was overweight on one axle by 1 ton lOcwt. “Robinson Bros. Papuera proceeding to Rotorua loaded with' 2689 ft. rimu sawn timber and holding a permit to carry 2500 ft. was found to be 15cwt. over the axle load. “The timber weights worked out about 350 ft. per ton for. logs and 400 ft. per ton sawn timber. “The Wilson Timber Mills trucks and Brabant’s logging truck which were operating over the Whakatane County road were found to be in order both for heavy traffic licenses - and axle weight. “Murray Cooper, Te Whaiti, was prosecuted and fined £4 and costs for exceeding the speed limit with a heavy motor.” The chairman, Cr J. L. Burnett, mentioned that in one case, the inspector found 5 ton weight on one axle of a truck crossing a bridge. The load had not been evenly distributed. Timber Royalty The clerk reported that in company with the County Engineer, he had conferred with Mr Self. at Turnbull’s. Mr Self would advise the council that he is prepared to pay 2d per hundred royalty on timber he is carting on the KopurikiMurupara Road—approximately 6i miles. Mr Self was advised that if the trucks engaged were: not garaged in the Whakatane County the royalty would be increased. Mr Self originally estimated his output at 2000 square feet per day but now thinks that the output will be up to 3500 square feet. „

The council resolved to enter into an agreement with Mr Self on the basis of this report.