HIKUTAIA METAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4675, 17 March 1924, Page 2

HIKUTAIA METAL.

INSPECTION BY COUNCILLORS. An inspection of the Hikutaia quarry anil of a dump of Hikutaia metal at the Towers’ Landing, Turua,. was made by the members of the' Hanraki Plains County Council otr Thursday last to investigate complaints made by Cr. Madgwick that only fifth rate road making material was being supplied. The dump was first visited, Cr. Madkwick pointing out the deposits of what he termed muck. He alleged that as it contained earth it would not make a satisfactory road and that the council should not accept it as it was paying for crushed metal. ~ The other councillors admitted that in the place indicated there was a lot of fines, but contended that.there was no earth, and proved their contention by washing a sample in water. The metal would make a better road for having the fines mixed, as it would bind. Further, the council was not losing on the quantity of metal supplied. as the fines filled the crevices. They stated that if a yard of the metal under inspection was thoroughly screened and the stone measured there would still be a yard of metal. The council was therefore getting something for nothing. The fines conld only be separated by putting in a grizzly. The metal supplied was what could be expected from the plant installed. There was always the likelihood of getting bad patches, as the fines tended to accumulate in the chutes and corners of the hoppers and to come down in a run. However, the ratepayers could be assured that the Public Works Department would not pass a road unless it was up tospecifications. The quarry at Hikutaia was then visited. The council own a hill of metal, work having been commenced, near one end. At present there is a dr've about 110 feet long into the hill behind the crusher, at the end of the drive being a rise opening out to a fuurel. shape at the top where the metal is l being quarried. As the metal is broken out it falls into the funnel and is trucked out the drive to the crusher. The metal is of splendid quality, and there is a huge quantity in sight. There is an overburden of soil, good stones, and soft stones, this in the past being stripped off and tipped down the hillside. It has been .suggested that the drive be continued on through the hill so that the fact on that side could be worked, and that the stripping coui>’_ be trucked out that way and dumped.

The contractor stated that it was not possible to get absolutely clean stone from any quarry, but denied that he had ever brought down soil. He contended that there was not a cleanei quarry in the district, but as the stone was so hard a big quantity of explosives was required, with the result that some of the stone was shattered. The Tararu quarry required less explosive as the stone broke more easily. | There was not an abnormal ambiivt of. fires in the Hikutaia quarry, but th® peculiar construction of the chutes, etc., tended to cause fires ro accumulate, particularly in wet weather

The councillors then inspected the re^t. of the property, several drives in the hillside showing splendid metal near the surface.