MAUKORO QUARRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4738, 15 August 1924, Page 2

MAUKORO QUARRY.

- • TRANSPORT OF METAL. ENGINEER’S REPORT SUBMITTED. Several question in connection with tlie proposed metal quarry at Maukoro, beyond Patetonga, came before the Hauraki Plains County Council on Tuesday last but were deferred until a later meeting. The engineer reported as follows : MAUKORO TRAMLINE. “I have made an engineering survey of the proposed tram route at Maukoro, commencing at the Piako River and running along Maukoro Landing Road for 126 chains, through the corner of Mr Poland’s property,' across the Patetonga Hill road, through a small corner of Mr G. H. Mayn’s property and through Mr Buchmann’s for a distance of 42 chains, and then for 58 chains through the council’s property to a point where a good quarry can be opened. The total length of the line is 250 chains. Longitudinal and cross section plans are sufficiently advanced to enable an estimate to be made of quantities and cost of construction, I have been in touch with the owners of the properties through which tlie line passes, but could not come to terms with Mr. Buchmann. However, the original owner of the propei ty, Mr Hobday, has stated that when particulars of the proposed route are forwarded to him he will act fo. Mr Buchmann. “The line cuts a corner of about 4-% chains off Mr Polland’s property, for which he asks compensation at the rato ot £5O an acre ; the council to erect the boundary fence. The price for tht land appears high, but it must be considered that it is cutting away a corner of his best night paddock, which is part of his frontage. Mr G. H. Mayn’s case is somewhat similar. He has three-quarters of an acre cut off ths front corner of his farm. In either case, however, if the land is acquired it will come in handy for -i holding paddock for horses or a site for the workmen’s huts. “The grades over the .first 145 chains vary from level to 1 in 41, and the remainder from 1 in 51 to 1 in 20. Tlie 1 in 20 grade is too steep for a tramway, although it will be returning empties coming up, and for this reason I have gone into the question of an aerial ropeway, which I shall deal with later. • I aiso made an alternative survey which forms a loop in the line described, but the plans are not yet far enough advanced to give an opinion as to whether it is an improvement on the first. In any case is can only ; show slight advantages, and will not materially affect the position. “I nave met Mr Campbell, of the Landis Department, in regard to getting the department’s dredges to excavate the cut alongside the Maukorb Landing road and to obtain spoil to form thettramline and roadway above flood level. . The length of the cut would be approximately 40 chains, and the estimated cost is £lOO0 —the money to be provided by a free grant from the Public Works Department. Mr Campbell went into the matter in a whole-hearted manner, and he said he would put a dredge on to the work in abcut five months’ time. Although his department’s dredges are all fully occupied, he is prepared to go into the matter again and endeavour to free a dredge at an earlier date if the council cannot wait the five months. The estimates for the tramline are : Forming, bridging, and culverting 210 chains 10ft wide at £7 a chain, £1470 ; constructing 40 chains with dredge, £lOOO ; sleepers delivered, 5000 at 3s 6d, £875 ; ballast, 250 chains at 70s, £875 ; rails, plates, and bolts (on hand), £2OOO ; labour, laying tram, 250 chains at 17s 6d, £2lB 15s ; compensation for land, £5OO ; total, £6938 15s. “TJiis estimate is higher than the original, as on survey the route has proved longer, the Maukoro embankment was not included originally, the sleepers were estimated split—at about half the cost of tlie present ones —and the excavations on the surveyed route are much heavier than was anticipated in tlie first case. The cost of hoppers is not included here, but it will be necessary to add the cost of an elevator at each end, should the. tramline be adopted. AERIAL ROPEWAY. “During the time at my disposal 1 have endeavoured to gain all the information possible regarding an aerial' ropeway to take the place of the tramline. I have been in touch with Mr E. F. Adams, of Thames, and Mr W. P. Gaucain, of Auckland. Both these gentlemen are familiar with the construction of new plant since the war. Judging from pre-war costs, however, the cost of construction would be about £3700 a mile, and the cost of a ropeway from the quarry to the river would be approximately £11,500, on to which would have to be added £3OOO for gearing, buckets, motors, etc., making a total of £14,500, 1 have a le.tter from Mr Gauvain on the matter which I shall, file for future reference. “According to" Kemp’s Engineering Directory the cost of constructing aerial tramways in England since the war is £2600 for the first mile, £3900 for two miles, and approximately £5500 for three miles of ropeway with a capacity of 20 tons an hour. These costs, however, would be considerably exceeded in New Zealand. “On going carefully into the matter of grades and costs of transport I feel sure that the ropeway is workable, and it will easily beat the tramline for the top mile. It has many advantages over the whole' distance, except ihat the initial c.ost will be heavier. “I have gone carefully into the cost of transport, and I think it is safe to say that in this particular case a saving of 2s a yard can be made by adopting the aerial ropeway. I would recommend that quotations for the ropeway be obtained from firms who supply and erect ropeways, and that my successor, Mr Basham, take the matter up. I would further suggest that he get Mr Adams on to the

ground, as Air Adams has constructed no less than live ropeways in the neighbourhood and his services in the matter should be invaluable.” ELECTRIC POWER. • The Thames Valley Power Board wrote advising that the construction of the line to Patetonga had been authorised subject to the consent of the Public Works Department. The council would have to supply a motor for its quarry at Maukoro or ask the board to indent one. The cost of energy would be about £lB a month when the motor was worked and about £9 a month when it was idle. The cost of the pole line would be £4 a chain, and would have to be paid for by the council. FILLING FOR ROAD. The Chief Drainage Engineer, Mr' 0. N. Campbell, wrote asking that detailed plans of the proposed dredging of the channel alongside the Maukoro Landing road for the purpose of utilising the spoil to form the. road for the tiansportation of metal to the banks of the Piako River be submitted to him, so that an opinion could be formed as to whether the work could be done by one of the depart-*-ment’s dredges. At present no dredges were available, but No. 1 would be available in about six months. The plans have since been submitted by the engnieer. ROYALTY AND COMPENSATION. Mr H. Hobday, Christchurch, wrote asking that the proposals relating to the quarrying bf stone at Maukoro and the transportation through certain farnns, and particularly the royalty or compensation proposed, be submitted to him.—Referred to the en-> gineei.