ROADING MACHINERY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4574, 13 June 1923, Page 3

ROADING MACHINERY.

r - COUNTY 'ENGINEER’S ESTIMATES- ' At the meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council yesterday the engineer (Mr J. Higgins,) reported as follows:— & “In compliance with instructions • received Y beg to state that I have compiled estimates for machinery which I consider is required for permanently laying down roads in the county. I, consider that it would not be practicable to engage in carrying . out permanent reading in several ridings at the one time. To do this would' necessitate more machinery, and would also increase the cost of supervision with much less efficiency. In my opinion work of this, kind should be carried out on broad lines, independent of riding boundaries, giving preference to the most urgent works. I would'suggest" that when money becomes available the roads to be taken in hand’bei Main road from Orongo to Puke, via Wilson’s Road, Piakp Road, and main Netherton-Tu-rua Road to Ngatea;, via Kerepeehi. The next should be Waitakaruru-Nga-tea Road and Orongo-Kopuarahi Road. ; “Your Council has already provided rails for a tramline to _the Hikutaia quarry, and I would recommend that provision be made for eight miles of temporary lines for "running the metal on to the roads and for laying dow.i approximately three miles of permanent line to the Patetonga quarry. It may yet be found necessary to lay a extending over about two miles between;McKenzie’s quarry and the Waitakaruru canal. The latter, can, however, come up at your next meeting, after 1 have inspected the stone.

is. “The estimates provide for machinery that would employ two gangs of men at different localities engaged in preparing road, laying metal, rolling, etc., and applying bitumen. In order •to carry out the work efficiently it would be-advisable to have two sets of machinery, so tha& one set of man would not 'be; dependent on the other ,for plant, which should be kept on the job. ■ . “I find that there are about 206 miles' of rpad in the county. I estimate that in addition to doing the repairs required on the existing metal roads the plant included in the schedule would be capable of laying about 18 miles .of permanent road a year. . I would, however, draw attention to the fact that at best we cannot draw more metal from the Hikutaia quarry than will keep one plant working for fl say, nine miles of road a year, and as there is quite a limited supply in Puriri Stream it would be found necessary to have the Patetonga quarry ready at an early date, as Hikutaia and Patetonga will be our main sources of supply.

•. ’“fpii will' note that in addition to plant I have included slips for punts, as I am of opinion that they will be necessary. I have also included £4OO for improving the river for berthing pUnts, which item I consider very necessary. I estimate "that it will require two -sets’ of punts (six in number) for Hikutaia Stream .and four punts to work the Patetonga quarry, and in addition two spare punts tor distributing metal for maintenance, pile-driving, and odd jobs. Two uf the old punts may be used for the latter work. <

',“l have included 60 trucks dn the estimates, as i consider it will be necessary to have a considerable number of loaded trucks standing by to take the place of a hopper both at Hikutaia and Patetonga landings. I find that steel trucks, 2yds capacity, cost approximately £62 each, but as I hope to procure most of these secondhand I have fixed the prgee on a safe mhrgin of £5O. ‘ /“Before placing the estimates before the Council I would like te point out that some of the items, such as launches and skips,- may be cut down at some later date, but I would- recommend that your Council consider wdll before cutting out one single item that I have included in the schedule.

. ESTIMATES. . .Tramline, Patetonga, 3 miles at £440'0, £4200 ; temporary line.. 8 miles at £5OO, £4OOO ; locomotives, 4' at £750, £3OOO ; trucks (2yds), 60 at £5O, £3*oo>o ; skips (9cub. ft),. 1000 at £6, £6000>; hoppers, 6 at £3OO (semipdrtable), £lBOO ; derricks, equipped with winches, etc., 5 sets at £lBO, £9OO ; punts, fully equipped,, 8 aft. £BOO, £6400 ; slips for punts, £2OO ; launches; 4 at £750, '£3ooo ; improvements ' to river, £4OO ; tr,actors, 2 at £470. £9OO ; graders, 2 at £lBO, £360 ; roller, £1250 ; spraying machine tanks, etc., 2 sets at £4BO, £960 men’s huts. <?n wheels, 4 at £lOO, £4OO-; stone-crush-ing plant and hopper, equipped, £3000; portable crushing plant, £2OOO ; sheds for housing, £1000'; jetty, Patetonga, £350 ; total, £43,180.” 1

Mt was explained that the sum of £8950 was already provided for by the previous loan. 3 The engineer said that the estimate was a very liberal one, and would be, reduced if second-hand machinery was purchased. -Members said that the amount must ' be reduced. ;Each item was discussed at length and given very close Attention. wag suggested that the loan'proposals be : Patetonga quarry and tramline £6300, punts £6400, skips £2OO, berthage for punts £400,, roller £1250, tar sprayer, £4BO, sheds £lOOO, locomotives £2200. * After discussing the matter until 2. a.m. Cr. Hayward moved, and Cr. • Madgwick seconded, that the County rdise a loan of £20,000 rar further plant, quarry, etc.,, to carry out reading works in existence and in prospect, and that meetings be called in the ridings to. explain the proposals and ascertain the feeling of the ratepayers. After further discussion the motion was put and carried.