MACHINERY LOAN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4665, 22 February 1924, Page 3

MACHINERY LOAN.

DISCLOSED Bk PLAINS COL3XCID

A special meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council was held on Wednesday last to discuss uie machinery loan. Except for Cr. H. Hare there was a full attendance. The items in the loan schedule were read by Life cierk, and were as follows :—

Paletonga quarry tram X:>000, three locomotives £z2so', 40 trucks £2OOO, three hoppers £9OO, five se;s derricks £9OO, eignt punts £B3OO, slip for punts £2OO, berthage for punts £4OO, road i oiler £1250, tar-spraying machine and t-jfiks £4BO, purchase of land and quarry equipment £l5OO, jetcy at Maukoro £350, sheds for housing machinery £lOOO, interest, etc., £2470. Total, £25,00u.

The engineer said that the question of a tramline at Hisutaia was also to be considered. He estimated the cost of laying the tramline from the quarry to the Waihou River', a distance of 200 chains, at £6500. With the. tramline running, the saving in transport was estimated at 2s per yard, and the annua : charges on the capital cost would amourlt to £487 10s. Estimating the cost under improved conditions and increased quarry plant at 20,000 yards a year, the annual charges would be approximately 6d per yard. This left is 6d per yard for; r educcon of capital, and on the 20,000 5 ards output basis the whole of the caipta< cost would be saved in four and a half years.-. The output of metal during this period v.ould be sufficient for approximately 50 mile; of new paving. He only Suggested this as a means of getting meal. The trouble with the stream at present was that it could only be used accord ing to the tides, Floods also interjered, and many other factors-delayed the supply.

Members were of the opinion that the proposition was too big for the present, considering the Aiaukorquarry and the amount of finance available in road loans io purch*.the metal, and it was decided to do nothing further. The various items in the new loan were discussed separately. It was ppinted out that the sum allotted for the Maukoro quarry tramline was to assist tire old loan. One locomotive and about 20 trucks were r equired at Maukoro. It was decided to let the amount lor the other locomotives and trucks remain.

It was resolved to increase the amount provided for hoppers, to £l4OO, and to provide £2OOO for derricks anti metal grabs. The amount for slips for punts was increased to £350. and that lor berthage to £lOOO. These would increase the estimated total by £2350, making £27,350. Or. Madgwick moved that a sene# of meetings be held throughout th; area to explain the loan proposals to the ratepayers.z Seconded by Cr. Hayward and carried.

The places at which the meetings ■ ere to be held, and the dates, were i xed as follows : Pipiroa, March 17; gatea, 18 ; Kopuarahi, 19 ; Turua 21; ?'etherton, 22 ; and Kerepeehi, 24. The -chairman, riding member, clerk, and « ngineer would be present.

Cr. Hayward moved that a circular be posted to every ratepayer, if considered advisable, after the meetings. Seconded by Cr. Parfitt and carried-