HIKUTAIA METAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4673, 12 March 1924, Page 3

HIKUTAIA METAL.

QUESTION OF TRANSPORTATION.

INSPECTION TO BE MADE. The county engineer, Mr J. Higgins, reported at yesterday's meeting of the Hauraki Plains Comity Council as follows :—

“ A good deal of dissatisfaction has arisen with regard to metal supplies from the quarry, and as the contract-' or for quarrying metal is apparently dissatisfied, T have called tenders foquarrying and breaking 2000 cubic yards of two-inch metal. This will get over the immediate rush for metal and enable a larger contract to be considered when conditions at the quarry improve. During the month there was a blockage in the water pipe leading under the chute to the engine. I instructed’ the contractor to cut the pipe at the top side of th? chute and got new half-inch pipes placed on the ground to replenish the supply. Owing to minor repairs tequired to the crusher I instructed Mr Judd, of Thames, to send a capable mechanic along to inspect and do the necessary work.” Messrs Bell Bros, waited upon th.? council and said that their contract for punting was still in force, but the contractor at the quarry was not turning out enough metal. They ha I nothing to do for a week. The engineer said that he could not suggest anything at present, an 1 he wished to know if he could legally dispense with the contractor. Mr Bell said that'since November they had never had more than three "punt loads a week, and the job was no good to them. It was decided that the whole Council vioit the Hikutaia quarry and the reads on which the metal was used to investigate the charges made by Cr. Madgwick in regard to the quality-of the metal. The inspection . will take place on Thursday next.