HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4582, 4 July 1923, Page 3

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY.

special meeting of council. A special meeting of the above council was held at Ngatea on Monday to consider the machinery loan and to transact special business. There were present: Councillors J. C. Miller (chairman), W. Madgwick, j. H. Nicholson, T. McLoughlin, WG. Hayward, C. W. Harris, and C. W. Parfitt. Apologies were received from Crs. Mayn and Hare. The clerk, Mr E. Walton, and the engineer, Mr J. Higgins, were also in attendance. The clerk explained that the meeting had been called to, among other things, discuss what should be purchased with the £20,000 machinery loan. The engineer gave revised estimates of the needs of the county, and these were, discussed at length. The estimates were : Three miles of tramline for Patetonga quarry, £4200 three locomotives, one for Patetonga, and two for delivery lines. The engineer was not sure that a locomotive for Hikutaia would ever • be required, as it might be cheaper, owing to the necessity of having to acquire land for a tramline, to cart metal by motor. lorry.: In that case one locomotive and one mile of permanent tramline and 20 trucks, as previously mentioned,’ would not be required. Three locos.: would cost £2250. It had been decided to do away with skips, but an elevator would not be feasible for unloading punts owing to the rise and fall of the tide. In regard to trucks, 4<o oneyard or 20 two-yard trucks would be required at Patetonga, as they would have to be used to store metal in until .punts arrived. Owing to the flat nature .of . the land a hopper would not be a payable proposition. It would be a very costly -matter to build a ramp to run trucks to the too of the hopper, and also a very cosily matter to install and operate an elevator., In his opinion trucks would, therefore, be required, 20 for Patetonga and 20 for the delivers’ lines along the road. These would cost £2OOO. Six hoppers would be required, but three had already been authorised. Three would cost £9OO. Five derricks would cost £9OO, and eight punts-£6400, and slips for punts £2OO. To improve the river to make a .suitable berthage for punfe would cost £4OO. Recently a punt had been considerably strained by lying on a mudbank at low tide at Turua, and it would be advisable to ascertain in future if berthages were suitable, and, if necessary, to remove snags and sand bars to prevent punts being damaged. Tractors and graders would be required, but were already authorised. Two rollers would be absolutely essential. The county already had one, and a second would cost £1250. With only one roller the county's operations would be halved. Two tarspraying machines would oe required, but one was already authorised. The cost would A stone-crush-,ing plant and .hopper, equipped for Patetonga,.would cost £5OO, and sheds for housing machinery, £lOOO. A jetty for Patetonga, £350. Certain operations of the Lands Department at Patetonga would reduce the cost of the tramline by £l2oo>, so the total would be reduced to £19,630. Th 5 first yearns interest and sinking fund would bring the total to about £21,000. After considerable discussion, during which it was pointed out that all the previous loan, except about £4OO, would be raised, it was sugested that the amount for the stone-crushing plant and hopper should be increased to .£l5OO, bringing the total up to • £22,000. It was pointed out that a rate had not yet been struck for the previous loan, .and that the next loan would riot be itemised, so that the Council would not be compelled to purchase the items mentioned. These were the ’ items that it was now thought were required, but as time went on it might be found necessary to alter the list. The rate on the loan would be 2-7 d in the £, bringing the total lia’■jbility up to just under 4d in the £. Cr. Parfitt gave notice of motion to rescind the motion authorising the ' raising of a loan for £20,000, and substituting £22,000 as the amount. Cr. Madwick mentioned that he intended dropping his previous notice of motion referring to bridges being county' matters. Cr. Harris said that if bridges were made county matters he would oppose the machinery loan, as if bridges had to be paid for by a rating area his riding would be one of the heaviest ’ rated, and he was present to protect the interests of his ratepayers. Cr. Madgwick said that the Council had his assurance that he would not oppose bridges being made county mattery, but did not favour sectioi 119 pf the Public Works Act. ' \ It.was decided, on the motion of Cr. McLoughlin, seconded by Cr. Hayaward, “That the Waitakaruru disstrict would have the prior right of the portable crusher and engine authorised in the previous loan.” Cr. Harris moved, and Cr. McLaughlin seconded seconded “That ’for the purpose of discharging an existing liability of £2OOO for the purchase of land at Hikutaia for quarry purposes the Hauraki Plains County . Council hereby authorises the raising of a loan of £2000.” The motion was carried.