THE METAL PROBLEM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4663, 18 February 1924, Page 4

THE METAL PROBLEM.

PLAINS COUNTY REQUIREMENTS

31,235 YARDS WANTED.

Some idea of the magnitude of the problem of obtaining sufficient meta, for tlie urgent requirements of the Hauraki Plains County Council for work covered by Government grants already approved, and tor work covered by loam money already sanctioned by the ratepayers, and concrete reasons why the machinery loan No. 2 which will give the council authority to purchase quarry equipment and punts, is an absolute necessity, can be gauged from a report tabled by the engineer at the last meeting of the Council.

The Government grants authorised and the amount of metal required for each arc : Ngataipua East Road £3OO, metal required 592yds ; Paeroa to Tu-rua-Netherton section £5OO, 968yd,s ; Ncthei ton-Awaiti £3OO, 836yds ; Pipi-roa-Orongo £333, 825yds; Wilson’s Road £l5OO, 3014yds. This does not include Newman’s Road or Orchard East Road, as provision is made tor these in the Turua-Netherton Roads Loan.

The loans authorised and the metal estimated to be required are : Horahia Road Loan, £26,580, metal required 18.500yds; furua-Orongo Road Loan £4lBO, 2800yds. Netherton Roads Loan, School to Factory and Troughton’s (3in course only) 500yds; School Road 2200yds; Pekapeka Road 1000yds. Total amount of metal required. 31.235yd5.

Tn addition to the above, estimates have been prepared tor Pipiroa riding roads and Kerepeehi riding roads. These have not been included as the. total given is sufficiently convincing to prove the necessity of a machinery loan for obtaining and developing quarrying and distributing facilities. From past experience with the Hikutaia quarry, and continuing with three punts in good order, it would not be safe to estimate a’greater output from that source than 5000 cubic yards a year. Reckoning 2000 yards a vear for maintenance, there remains 3000 yards for permanent construction ; not sufficient for two miles of road.