BOROUGH METAL SUPPLIES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2182, 11 September 1907, Page 2

BOROUGH METAL SUPPLIES

“MUST COME FROM AVAIHIIIERE” t COST Or' PAT UTAH! STONE PROHIBITIVE AND QUANT- , TLTY’ LIMITED. i

MR. HARVEY GIBBON’S REPORT. ,

The most comprehensive and val- j liable information to date on tlio vex- , ed question of metal supplier for ] the Borough is contained in the follow- . ing roport furnished to tlie Council j by tlio Borough Engineer (Mr. E. i Harvey Gibbon), at last night’s meet- - IUE “To His Worship tlie Alayor. j “Sir, —Re Metal Supply: It is ad- , mitted by all that tlio streets through- , out tlio borough are completely worn out-, and the urgency for an aliund- i ant and continuous supply of metal , is very pressing. Indeed, unless tlio question of where tho stone is to he obtained from is given immediate attention, and steps taken to procure it in considerable' quantities, tlie roads, which aro bad enough now, will become absolutely impassable next winter. , On the Bth of January last I reported fully Oil the metal question, and estimated that 36 thousand yards would bo required to put tho streets in fairly passable condition, but after the winter’s experience, this amount will havo to bo materially increased. With tho exception of parts of Lowe and Customs streets, there is not a thoroughfaro in the Borough which does not urgently require metalling. The Council estimates getting oi.UU cubic yards of Patutahi stone lor the remainder. yen’ J. I **}. 0 col ,' sidoration will show that 0000 yards of stone is totally inadequate. Take Gladstone road for instance. It is in an exceedingly bad condition. There is absolutely no metal on it. The smallest quantity required to make it even passable is 30 cubic yards to the chain, and as there are 160 chains of it, this road by iteell will absorb 4800 cubic yards out ot tho estimated 5000, leaving only 200 cubic yards for the balance of the main roads. It may bo argued that an abundant supply of river grave] can bo obtained to supplement the metal. Now, although river gravel undoubtedly makes a good fine weather road for light traffic, it is becoming more and more unsuitable tor borough requirements, and experience lias, during the last winter, clearly demonstrated the fact that the traffic in wot weather churns it up into A SEA OF AIUD. Tho use of sand and beach gravel, in 111 V opinion, is only a costly expedient for tiding over the difficulty of want of stono. . Qauntity of metal required per annum.—The minimum amount ol metal required per diem for the next few years is 50 cubic yards, and with a proportion of screenings and dust. This is equal to 10.000 1 yards per annum, together with loUb cubic yards of screenings, and 700 cubic yards of dust. . ... Means of transport.—Assuming that the stono is to bo obtained form 1 atutahi quarry, the question of trans- , port arises. Clearly transport by ; waggon cannot bo considered for the most obvious reasons. Tho next j means is by Straker waggons, and ' trailers. These can only be employed hauling stone for seven months out of the twelve, and would during ’ that time be subject to County road ; and quarry regulations. Then, tak--5 ing your Committee’s estimate of j 3458 cubic yards as the amount which could bo brought into town .by two 1 steam waggons and trailers, it would l require ten steam waggons and their j accompanying trailers to carry sutti--1 cient metal to meet the Borough’s reqiiiremenls. Thor© remains then the s suggested tram line as a means of haulage, and in my opinion this is l by far the best method, as a suitable engine, with half a dozen trucks, t could easily bring into twon a mimP mum of 54 cubic yeards per diem, and such a system would be independent of road and quarry regulations. I Cost of plant.—Again, taking your Committee’s estimate for Straker wag--1 - aim- vrUVftriSPs*,-cf, t ] but as it would require ten of such i waggons to deal with the amount of ' metal, the cost would be £IO,OOO. The upkeep and working expenses of this ~ plant would be very great, and in p my opinion tho advantages of this system are very much less than those offering by a tram lino. lam of ’ opinion that transport by rail is tlie best and most economical. I then ' carefully considered the cost of construction. After taking out tho quantities, I estimated that the cost of a s tram line. 3 feet gauge, for a disf tnneo of 13J miles, will amount to . £17,000, engine and trucks £827, t sheds, shoots, loading platform, stren- ’ thening culverts, and special work " at, new bridge and contingencies, £1337, making a total of £19,174. Cost of metal by steam waggon and f tram.—l then took the cost of trans- , port into consideration, basing my estimate on a daily delivery of 54 j cubic yards for 300 days in tho year f for tram haulage, and seven months T for steam waggons. This gave tho . following results: —By Straker wag- > gon 3s 11 Jd per cubic yard; by tram ' line 4s old per cubic yard. ! Available stono at Pafutalii.—The j next matter was the all-important one . as to tho amount of stono in bulk at Patutahi quarry. In my former report on the metal question, and speaking as a geologist of some standing, 1 gave it as my opinion that the amount of stone was limited, and , would ho exhausted in a few years. On further examination I felt certain

that my judgment was correct, and have not hesitated to say so. In accordance with the Council’s instructions, tho County Engineer and myself had a considerable number of bores put down with the object of actually proving the ground. A series Of levels wero taken and measurements made, and the result's are embodied in the plan which wo lay before you this evening, AVo have made a careful estimate, and ascertained tho fact that 150,000 cubic yards is tlio total amount of stono available at this place. Taking the annual output for metal, screenings, and dust at 17,250 cubic yards, then the quarry would bo exhausted in 8J years, but now comes the most important part of the whole matter. There aro three bodies interested in tho quarry, viz., Patutahi Road Board. Cook County Council, Borough Council, and as each of them will naturally require their share of the stone, the amount available for borough purposes hocomos proportionately limited. Taking the consumption of stone by the three bodies mentioned above a, fair estimate, based on the present output, would be represented by the proportion between the figures 1, 3. and 5. so that, each body’s sliaro wcfild bo: Patutahi Road Board, 16,666 cubic yards; County Council, 50,000 cubic yards; Borough Council, 83,334 cubic yards; total, 150,000 cubic yards. Additional cost of stono.—As there would only bo 83,334 cubic yards for borough purposes, as far as tlie quarry is concerned, it would bo exhausted in 45 years, and the cost of tho tram line would bo required to be added to tho cost of hauling, after allowing half of the cost of the line as an asset, so that cost of haulage would be 4s 6J(I, loss on tram • line 11s Id—lss G-id. Conclusion.—Under the most favorable conditions tho cost of broken metal from* Patatulii amounts to 8s

lljtl by Htraker waggons, made up as follows: —Haulage 3s llid, broken metal at quarry ss, total 8s 113 d, say 9s per cubic yard, but it lias been shown that the plant suggested by the Committee would not nearly carry the amount required per annum, unless five times lb;- number of waggons were obtained. The tram line could undoubtedly copo with the demand for metal, lint at a prohibitive cost. To come hack to the question as to

where future supplies aro to be derived, I have no hesitation in reaffirming tho statement I havo so often made, it must sooner or later come from-AVailiirere. Aly contention is, not that tho stone to be obtained from that locality is as hard as that from Patutahi, but that it is a most excellent material, when properly treated, for tho secondary streets of Gisborne. I offer my opinion, based on a lifo’s experience iii handling stono for street construction, and with all due respect to those Council-

lors who differ with mo on tho subject. In addition to what is seen on the ground, my geological knowledge end experience points out that t. o stone exists in Waihirero in abundniico, and would meet the Borough’s requirements for an indefinite period. Very exceptional conditions obtain at Waihirero for economically and prolitabiy handling tho stone, and alter going over my original estimate, 1 am satisfied that it can bo delivered on

. any street within a miio of the ..ailway Station for 5s Gd per cubic yard. A certain proportion of Patntahi metal could bo obtainde for the streets carrying tho heaviest traliic, whilst with a continuous sup-

ply all the year around from Waihircro, and taking tlio streets systematically. a radical change could he speedily effected, and at a cost well within the financial resources, of the Council, and to the great convenience of the burgesses generally.—l am,Sir, your obedient servant, E. HARVEY GIBBON, Assoc. Member Inst. Civil Eng., London, Borough Engineer.

WARM DISCUSSION BY THE COUNCIL.

A REPORT TO BE OBTAINED

Before this report was dealt with, the works committee notified acceptance of the following tenders: —Supply of 1000 yards of Patutabi metal, Rogers and Ma n son, 8s per yard ; 1000 yards of Kaiteratahi shingle, Newman Bros., Is B}d pet yard. It was recommended that the Council visit the Patutabi quarrv and go into the question of the handling of stone to ensure the contractors getting prompt delivery, etc. In reply to Cr. Maun,. the Mayor said the Ratutahi tender was for the second 1000, yards, of the 5000 yards authorised. Mr. J.as. Jones, Gisborne, wrote:*— 1 ■ [ hereby offer to cart by traction power from Patululli quarry to depot, Gisborne, 3000 yards of Patut ..hi metal at the price of 8s per y.trd, on the understanding that you arrange with the County Council for access to the quarry, and also for the strengthening of the small bridge on the Pafutahi Valley road. I would ho willing to pay £4O if necessary towards the cost of this work. .Six ■months to be allowed for the completion of this contract. ” Cr. Miller was informed, in reply to a question., that the County Engineer had reported adversely on the use of traction engines on county roads. Cr. Whinray objected to the newspapers and others trying to force the hands of the Council. In view of the Engineer’s report they must carefully consider whether it would be wise to embark on any large expenditure for machinery and appliances at Pafutahi, but he thought the costcould be considerably cheapened by proper facilities. He took exception to the tone o-f some letters and interviews in the Press, trying to make out that the Council comprised “a lot of old fossils.” (Laughter.) Cr. Miller: I am inclined to think thov are right, too. (Laughter.) Cr. Whinray said that for the balance of supplies from Patutabi the cost could be cheapened by the provision of hoppers for broken metal, chutes, otc., and for this purpose he thought the public works committee should make an inspection. , It was finally agreed that the public works committee interview the County Council on the matters contained in Mr. Jones’ letter, and on the whole question of cheapening supplies from Patutabi, the Borough Engineer to assist by reporting on the cost of hoppers, etc. It was also agreed that tenders for 3000 yards of broken metal be advertised for, Mr. Jones’ tender in the meantime to be returned. The Mayor: Our object is to increase the facilities, in order to get a lot of broken metal on the roads as soon as possible, and at the cheapest cost. The Borough Engineer’s report, given above, was then read, surements and calcuiati6ne~ l ivere"e3-" dorsed by Mr. Fraser, County Engineer. The Mayor: This settles the Pafutahi tramway proposal, at all events. If the mota.l is not there the tramway is out of court at once. Cr. Whinray: We shall have to look elsewhere for metal. Cr. Williams moved to the effect tbit a committee of experts bo appointed to make a rejiort upon the quantity and quality of stone available at AVailiirere, to settle the question once for all. It was not an unusual course to follow in professional circles, and did not in the slightest degree reflect upon the Borough Engineer in any wwy. He believed the Borough Engineer’s views would be upheld, but in view of the difference of opinion upon the merits of Waihirere he thought this the best course to follow. , The committee he named comprised Mr. Fraser (County Engineer), Colonel Winter, and Mr. Grant. Cr. Whinray speaking with some heat, declared liis lack of faith in gentlemen “who had not been near the Waihirere quarry for 20 years, and yet backed up a report in its favor.” He was surprised that one gentleman liad “had his leg pulled,” after reporting adversely on Waihirere many years ago. Cr. Sawyer suggested that Mr. Couston, who was Engineer to an important cottnty in the South, which handled large quantities, of stone, should bo asked to report in conjunction with Mr. Fraser, County Engineer. The Mayor said Mr. Couston liad the necessary experience to act. Regarding Cr. Whmray’s remarks, the Mayor recollected that so far back as 1883 Colonel Winter reported to the County Council adversely on the use of Waihirere, but tile main reason, he believed, was that at that time the place was very inaccessible. In reply to a query whether the site reported on was identical with tlio present quarry, the Mayor did not think it was. _ As to the expert’s visit, lie thought it would be as well to leave the County Engineer out, and get an outside nuau to act with Mr. Couston. Cr. Somervell did not believe in experts. The only way to prove stone was to tunnel and boro. No expert could tell with any certainty how the stone lay underground. It would be preferable to get the Government boring tools and let tlio Borough Engineer get to work testing. Cr. Whinray 'reiterated his belief

that Waihirero stone was worthless Some councillors had no definite opinions, but ho had, and was not afraid to state them.

6r. Miller: Yes, opinions that no sound argument can shift are the cause of all the trouble. Continuing, lie said that he had been trying for six years to get the subject approached in a businesslike way, but with very little help from the older councillors. Cr. Whin my had disparaged the Press, but ho considered the Press had done excellent work in stirring them on. Ho was afraid those who advocated a report from Mr. Couston, had an inkling that that gentleman was dead against Waihirero; in fact he had been told so. It was necessary that anyone reporting should properly grasp local conditions, and take into consideration the price at which Waihirere metal could* be supplied, though not high-class material. 1 There were a number of councillors who did not wint Waihirero metal, no matter whether it was good or bad. (“Question.”) The Mayor (warmly): That is • a fact. Cr. Miller maintained that his statement was true. The Mayor: It is absolutely false. Cr. Somervell: I protest against these insinuations. The Engineer took up a remark of Cr. Somervell’s re boring. Ho bad known ‘for a long time, as ho had told tho Council, that the metal did not exist at Patubahi in large ouantitv, and the recent boring had confirmed his opinion. Cr. Sawyer rose to say thlit lie had no idea Mr. Couston luid already expressed an opinion adverse to Waihirere. It had struck him that Mr. Couston would be a good man to report, •>

Or. .Miller : I was nob referring to Or. Sawyer. There are others who t: know Mr. Couaton’s opinion. . Whinray : Do von suy I do r Cr. Mailer:' -No. I think you are unaware of it. The Mayor: The mover and seconder, then, were not a a uto of Mr. Couston’s opinion. , Cr Whinray: I would not bar the whole lot going, but I am surprised at local engineers backing up a report on Waibirore when they know nothing about it. Where did ill tills information come from!" The Mayor: Don’t ask me. liu sure X don’t know. Cr. Whinray: We wall still bate our own opinion after they are all done reporting. , . .. Cr. Miller: That is the trouble. Cr. i’ettio expressed regret at hearing reflections cast upon" councillors, also at hearing remarks levelled against local engineers. Ho was sure the Council was indebted to Mr. Grant for the information ho furnished, and that it was confirmed- by such able men as Colonel Winter and Mr. Reynolds was reason for congratulation rather than complaint. InK'tead of disparagement the Press was entitled to thanks for the interest it had stirred up in the question, ihe present report of the Borough Eugineer’s had a most important bearing on the Council’s future policy, and he favored the idea of an additional report. He su r -—ested a committee consisting of Messrs. Fraser CCounitv Engineer), Couston, and Grant, with the Borough Engineer. He wanted to hear all sides of the question, but felt sure when they got to the bottom of the matter Waihirere would prove the only solution of the metal difficulty. . Cr. Miann characterised Cr. v\ binray’s remar Its oil gentlemen waio had the interests of the town at heart as being in “execrably bad taste. This sort of tiring' was not very encouraging to men who came forward wn/tli the best intent to try and help matters along, but probably they would wisely take no notice of such remarks. The Press also should be commended for “waking the Council

Ul> in rqply to Cr. Williams, the Borough Engineer said boring was unnecessary to prove Wa-ihdrere. lit was as plain as an open book to any man who knew the rudiments of geology. Cr. Sawyer: That is night enough, hut we want to know the cost of getting the stone. If we have to shift 10 yards of mullock to get 2 yards of stone it should be included in the cost. The Mayor: We will add to the motion that the probable cost also be reported on. Cr. Whinray rose to make an explanation re his remarks which had been criticised. He quoted from the interview with Col. Winter,-in which that gentleman blamed _ councillors for setting up their opinion against that of the Borough Engineer, also hinting that unless the Council took action a pub]ic meeting of citizens would be held. “I call this tacit intimidation,” exclaimed Cr. Whinray. “and no one will intimidate me. (Laughter.) I’m not going to be hoodwinked with any experts.” He added that to liis knowledge Colonel Winter had not visited Waihirere for 20 ycuirs. After further desultory discussion, a resolution requesting Messrs. Fraser, Grant, (Houston, and the ough Engineer to report upon Waihirere was carried.