METAL FOR THE PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4478, 11 October 1922, Page 1

METAL FOR THE PLAINS.

ERECTION OF HOPPERS. In connection with the problem of obtaining supplies of metal for the Hauraki Plains County the county engineer (Mr J. Higgins) reported to the County Council on Monday as follows : “In consideration of the urgency of obtaining road metal at a reasonable cost for the eastern portion of the county I have arranged a contract amounting tp £2OO for putting the Hikutaia Stream, in order to enable your council to have metal conveyed by punts on to the western boundary of the Waihou River. The arrangements provide that, in tihe event of the Public Works Department undertaking the hauling put of wiUlpws, the contractor undertake to cancel that item in his coptract, and in lieu of same additional widening and deepening will be done to improve the means of transit for, metal. “In further consideration of the above I have endeavoured to expedite the necessary alterations to punts, with the result that the work required is well in hand, and the two punts placed in charge of Mr John Kennedy, at Thames, should be completed early next month .and another punt, which at this moment is at the Puke bridge, will be taken in hand at an early date.

“I desire to ask your council this day for authority to erect one bin at Hikutaia, and two at poipts tp be selected on the bank of the Waihou River between Wharepoa and South Netherton, to receive metal. In view of the factithat all this, preliminary work required to be put in hand without delay, I shall be glad if your council will authorise preparations at Hikutaia quarry for the breaking out and crushing of metal, so that there will be no delay when the works already mentioned are completed.

"I haye gone carefully into the matter, and I find that previous methods of working the quarry will be entirely abandoned, as in order to derive full benefit the stone must be worked from a tow level, necessitatiny a short tunnel, which will in a short time more than pay for the outlay. I would recommend that tenders be called, returnable at your next meeting, for preparing access to metal in the manner described; also for quarrying and breaking, say, 15,000 cubic yards of metal, your council to reserve the power to control the output according to requirements.’’

Cr. Death asked how tong it would be before the £lO,OOO was available. The Council should urge on the Public Trustee to let the Council h.ave the money as soon as possible, so that the Council could get op with the works.

Cr. Hayward said that for the time being the Council should go on with one hoppep at Nethertph.

•Or. McLoughlin agreed with Cr. Hayward. The engineer had every confidence in the Hikutaia quarry and the Council should back him up.

Cr. Parfitt moved that the Council call tenders for the three hoppers, returnable next month.

Cr. Mayn supported the idea, and alse that the Council should back the engineer.

Cr. McLoughlin said it would cost the Couhcil one ntonth in calling the tenders and another couple of months before they were built. “We’ll be here till Christmas before one stone goes oh the road/’ he concluded. It was pointed out that the money was not yet in sight, and by next month it may be. Cr. Chatfield moved an amendment that the engineer be given authority to build one hopper and tenders be called for the other two. Cr. Hayward seconded. Cr. Mayn: I’d like to know who’s going to pay for it. Thle Chairman: Dp you think it wise to put. a hopper at Hikutaia before we know that we can be able to get to it ? Cr. Chatfield said that by next meeting the Council would know whether the Hikutaia creek was accessible or not.

Cr. Whitechurch and the chairman supported Cr. Parfitt’s motion.

Cr. Chatfield, with tlyj permission of his seconder, withdrew his amendment. '

Cr. Parfitt’s motion was carried. Cr. Hayward suggested adding another hopper for Turua.

Cr. McLoughlin suggested haying a movable hopper. The engineer/was instructed to apply for the approval of plans for the formation of Wilson’s Road and that tenders for cartihg 1000 yards or more of metal from the Paeroa railway station to the road be called assoon as the plans are approved. The engineer’s action in letting a contract for preparing the Hikutaia Creek for the landing of metal for £2OO was endorsed. It was decided to call tenders for the supply of 16,000 cugic yards of metal.