TURUA ROADING SCHEME

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4659, 8 February 1924, Page 1

TURUA ROADING SCHEME

THE TROUBLE STARTS. transportation problems. At the last meeting of the Turua, Town Board the chairman reported; that together with the clerk he had, proceeded to Auckland to. among, other matters, make enquiry a)s> to the possibility of getting the road; loan work put in hand this summe,. The manager of the Board and Conn-, cil Journal was interviewed and the conditions of the loan discussed. The members of the deputation were informed that the growing practice of local bodies letting contracts had induced construction companies to start business in New Zealand. There was therefore a likelihood of getting several tenders. The manager of the Board and Council had since wired. “ Experienced construction company of Auckland desire submit proposal for road. Would suggest permitting alternative proposals.” The deputation had then interviewed Ellis and Co. but could not see Mr Skitrop., They had been informed that a reliable man was available to act as foiemin should the board decide to do the work itself. Ellis and Co. wete prepared to sell the bitumen but wtere. not prepared to undertake the work .themselves. They would overlook the. job if required. Ellis and Co. had been very helpful in the matter of hunting up machinery and had named several likely; men. The deputation then interview-; ed Messrs McCallum Bros re punts.; They were informed that it was pracs tjcally impossible to get punts suitable for the Kauaeranga River. Scows could he obtained to bring red metal; and a punt could be hired, at £4 a day; Jt would take three months, working five days a week, to transport the whole of the .metal for the job. Many enquiries were made by McCallum Bros., but no other punts could be obtained..

From there the deputation went to Carr,. Pouiitneys Ltd. ...This firm had a punt, but it was doubtful whether it could get under the Kauaeranga bridge. Until it was known if it was suitable it was no use inquiring the price. It was thought that it would l)c a good proposition to have a punt built, as it c otild easily be sold afterwards. However, this could- n®t be done out of the loan, Carr Pouiitneys owned a metal deposit at Miranda, and were anxious to sell metal, but could only deliver at the rate of one boat load a week.

The secretary of the Thames Quarries Ltd., was then approached, but regretted the inability of 'the company to give a quotation for metal as it had no means of screening the output from the quarry.

Enquiries were then made to the Auckland Harbour Board and several more firms, and all had as much worn as they could carry out. Enquiries for other supplies of metal were also made, as it was thought that scows could be used for the transportation instead of punts. However, there was a grave doubt whether the metal offered ’them would be suitable. It would be no use losing the Government subsidy by using inferior metal. The deputation also enquired folia'inches for towing, but without success.

The chairmam baid he did not see what -could .be done. The board was up against the same proposition as the County Council. The Lands Department had since been approached as regards borrowing punts, but while willing to help was unable to do so. Apparently the only hope was to ask the county council to lend a punt. While in Auckland the deputation had inspected a bitumen road laid down by contract, and found it very unsatisfactory.

In reply to Mr Olsen the chairman said that if the Board decided to de the work itself bitumen heating and spreading machinery could he obtained , from many places. Much, discussion ensued on- other ways of obtaining metal, Mt. Eden Tirohia, Owharoa, and Paeroa quarries being mentioned, but in each case the transportation and cost put these out of > the question. Members expressed the opinion that now that the board could give a,n order for 50.00 yards of metal quarry owners might pbtahi punts themselves to deliver the metal. A member-: Why was the County machinery loan turned down ? Another member: Why didn’t we support the Turua riding loan ? “ If the southern area had not been wedded to Purirl metal we would have had no trouble now .Their job would now be finished, and we could take, over their source of supply," said another member “We can understand better now what the County Council have been up against,’* said another member. Mr Beck suggested bringing Miranda metal to Turua in scows and crushing it there. The chairamn pointed out that there was no authority in the loan to puicha.se a crusher. One could perhaps be .hired. It was finally decided to leave the matter in the hands of the committee to go on , making enquiries.