PLAINS METAL PROBLEM

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4474, 2 October 1922, Page 4

PLAINS METAL PROBLEM

DEVELOPING HIKUTAIA QUARRY. THE ENGINEER’S SCHEME. The urgency of acquiring adequate ’metal supplies fop the Hauraki Plains County was stressed during some informal discussion at a special meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council held on Thursday at Ngatea. Cr. Hayward said the Council would be held up again this summer unless it got on with something in connection with, road work and they wbuid be in the same position as they yvero last sumnier. Metal was being Landed on the riverbank, and if they had money they could make provision for bins. He would like to see the matter discussed, so that they could get on with the business at the next meeting. The engineer (Mr J. Higins), wii:h regard to metal for Netherton, said that if the Council did start with some bold scheme it would be left this summer. They must first prepare the Hikutaia stream. The punts were now being prepared, and the quarry should be improved, top. He would suggest that the Council should ascertain the exact amount of money which was to be spent at Netherton. He would suggest the calling of tenders for supplying, the whole of the Netherton metal for the coming summer. It was suggested by a councillor that three hoppens be supplied on each hiver. Cr. Mayn: What money is available

for the Netherton loan ? Mr Walton said that £2500 was in hand and £1350 was at call in the State Advances Office. Cr. McLoughlin thought the Council should support the engineer in his scheme of obtaining metal frost the Hikutaia quarry. He would support the engineer’s policy of developing the Hikutaia quarry and give it a fair trial. It could supply the whole of the metal for the Nethertop riding. Cr. Harris said he would much, sooner see the money raised at a lower rate of interest than what J.t was proposed. He was opposed to high rates of interest, but the occasion would warrant it, for if they let the roads stay in their present condition it would cost the Council more to repair them. This was a time when the Council should show that they were out t.o put the roads in good order. He would recommefld the raising of the £lO',OQO. Cr. Chatfield said it was a matter which should receive the Couhcd’s immediate attention. Cr. Mayn considered it was hign time the Council got a. move on co make access to the Hikutaia quarry. There was perhaps some reason for the Netherton ratepayers to find fault and in this instance the Council was to blame. Cr. Parfitt said they should leave it in the hands of the engineer. Cr. Harris said that if the chairman made immediate arrangements tp raise the money he hfid no doubt the Council would back him up,