HAURAKI PLAINS ROADS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4549, 11 April 1923, Page 2

HAURAKI PLAINS ROADS.

HANDLING OF METAL. BETTER FACILITIES ADVOCTED. A deputation consisting of Messrs D. G. McMillan. R. H. Rogers, and J. Madgwick, representing the Turua ratepayers, waited upon the Hauraki Plains County Council at its meeting on Monday, with regard to an extra machinery loan. Mr McMillan suggested that the Council should go in for more rails, punts, trucks, skids, etc., as most of tjie roads on the Plains had recently come under the control of the county. Tim suggestion had been put forth that the Council should abandon th? purchase of three motor trucks and put the money into more rails. Mr Madgwick urged the necessity of more up to-date machinery, and suggested an additional machinery loan. The southern area had started a reading scheme, and at present needed the machinery. A contract wa° the method of unloading metal at Wharepoa with wheelbarrows, and the Lands Department dredges shifting hundreds of yards a day. Mr Rogers also urged the machinery loan, as even if the loan was carried a groat deal of time would elapse before the machinery arrived. In the Horahia riding the roads were now in good order, but a permanent surface was necessary, and it would he an economical measure to go ahead right away. The ratepayers were agreeable and eager that this should be done. More machinery would be necessary, and a movement, should be started right away.

Cr. Hayward said the Council had already discussed the question of providing more rails, punts, and skips. Two metal hoppers had been provided, and another was necessary. He supported the idea that more machinery should be obtained, and was sure that the ratepayers would be favourable. Mr McMillan said they wished ?o know if the amount for the trucks could be used for purchasing rails, etc. Or. Harris said that this could not he done, but it would reduce the amount of the present loan, and the ratepayers would favourably consider the matter if this was explained to them. Cr, Parfit said that the idea in the minds of some people when the last poll was taken that there was not sufficient work available was a jnistaken one. as there was plenty of work at the time. Tn reply to a question by Mr Rogers the engineer said that the Hikutaia quarry would turn out 18,000 yards of metal a year. The chairman said it was a pleasure to hhve the ratepayers come and ask for a loan to be raised. Th? meta) question was a nightmare, and the method of carting by drays and trucks had not proved satisfactory The Plains were' ideal for the use of rails, and these must come. He suggested that a small committee be formed to go into the matter. They should consider what would be needed and go carefully into .the matter so that absolutely nothing would he missed. Mr Madgwick suggested that th? loan proposals should be put to the ratepayers on the day of the election, but members said that it was unfortunate that there would not be time. Mr McMillan asked the engineer if the scarifier would be a success on the roads of the southern area. A rumour had gone about that the implement was a failure. The chairman explained that the machine was a success, but the work was, a failure as there was such a little metal. The engineer said the present scarifier was a success. The clerk asked if it would he misconstrued by the ratepayers if th-?. Council proposed on the loan schedule to buy road-making plant instead ol itemising the proposals. If t,he items were mentioned the Council was bound to buy that particular item, but if road-making plant was the name given, any implement necessary could be purchased. Mr McMillan, Mr> Madgwick, ami Mr Rogers agreed that the suggestion wa« a good one, and promised to expla'h the matter to the ratepayers at Turua and Netherton. The deputation then thanked the Council and withdrew. ANOTHER DEPUTATION.

.Messrs F. Olsen, A. P. Gardiner, and C. Ansford, representing the Turua Town Board, waited upon the Council and asked that the amount of metal required for the reading scheme to be reduced to six inches. Mr Skitrop had siad that feur inches would be sufficient, and the county engineer had stipulated eight inches. The chairman suggested that Cr. Hayward, the engineer, members of the Town Board and himself visit the area and discuss the matter after inspecting the depth of metal. Or. Hayward said that in his opinion eight inches of metal was necessary, as the job would be a permanent one and the road would carry the heaviest traffic on the Plains. It world be foolish to spoil the job oy sparing a few inches of metal. Cr. McLoughlin and Cr. Hare also spoke, and said that in their opinion the amount of eight, inches would be necessary. Mr Ansford said that he had had experience in Taranaki, and found that no matter what the foundations were he thought that six inches would be sufficient. Roads had been made in Taranaki over swamps with less, metal. Whatever was done, they wanted the work carried on as quickly as possible. Mr Gardiner said that as the Town Board area was a small one, and if a big amount of metal was required, it may be the means of having the loan turned down. The chairman said that perhaps this was a shortsighted policy. Mr Gardiner said that a road with a little metal was better than no road at all. The deputation then asked if it was possible to purchase 25 yards )f metal, as it was urgently required. The engineer replied that at present

metal could not be delivered, as two plants were laid up. , Cr. Hayward suggested that in a > few months’ time metal could not ba carted to some roads in the county, but metal could easily be delivered then at Turua. The chairman said that the metal question "as a nightmare, and he was glad that, some other body had run up against the problem. The settlers on Orchard East Road had no metal at all, and any metal supplied to the Town Board would be taken from their supply. The deputation also asked about the financial agreement between the county and the town board. The chairman said that as the financial year had ended only nine days preivously the accounts were not yet aavilable. The deputation! pointed out that—the Board required to know how they stood, so that they could go into the estimates for next year at their next meeting. It was decided that the members of the Council appointed and the engineer should visit Turua to-dajr and inspect the roads and discuss the depth of metal with the members of. the Town Board.