DISTRICT NEWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4804, 30 January 1925, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

TURUA. ROADING WORK. The work of laying down the roads in the Turua Town Board’s area by the N.Z. Roads Co., Ltd., is proceeding steadily, good progress having been made since Mr J. McConnell assumed control. On Thursday about 18 chains of the Turua-Netherton road was sealed bringing the completed portion to near the saleyards. Everything is now working smoothly, and this rate will be maintained if weather, permits. The second course of metal is laid almost to the school boundary, and a start has been made laying the first course on the road to Orongo.

Seven or eight puntloads of metal are arriving at the Turua berthage weekly, and this is being dumped on the concrete-road. From there it is transported to the road by motor trucks and trailers drawn by tractors. A tractor with a shovel attachment is used to load the vehicles. This implement usually takes 2% minutes to load a two cubic yard trailer. In contrast with the type of bitumen heater used in the southern area the N.Z. Roads Co. is using a portable tubular boiler of the type recommended to the County Council oy the county engineer some time ago. This machine is capable of heating the bitumen very quickly, and for fuel uses only the staves of the bitumen barrels. The council's old motor road roller has been lent for this job, and is being operated by a certificated engineer in the employ of the con-, tractors.

The council’s road-making gang which laid down the southern area bitumen roads is now employed in laying down narrow shoulders af 'metal to protect the sides of the bitu-men-sealed Turua-Netherton road. The new road roller has completed werk on Orchard East Road and Hamilton’s Road, and will next be employed rolling the metal shoulders on the southern area roads.

to open up the cross-cut. ‘■‘Our manager, Mr J, Bunting, is a practical miner, and is thoroughly acquainted with the Imperial ground and the Karangahake mining district generally, and his knowledge and experience should prove of value to the company.

“Mr M. Paul, mining inspector for the district, has been good enough to take an interest in our efforts, and has offered to assist us in every possible way 1 with his knowledge of mining operations generally. Mr Edward Shaw, who is one of our shareholders, and a practical miner and engineer, has also offered to help us with his services and advice, and I feel sure shareholders will appreciate thes* offers.

Mr C. McDonald, of Pio Pio, while in Paeroa, paid a visit to the mine in company with the mine manager, secretary, and myself, and by the method of divining gave us some very valuable information regarding the reef, system on our properly. Should his deduction be correct a reef system should be met with, but whether of a payable nature or otherwise is problematical. Mr McDonald went out to the property with us at some inconvenience to himself, and gave us his services free, and to him we extend our thanks.

“Though the company is largely local, it is pleasing to note that we have a number of shareholders both from Thames and Te Aroha, who are taking an interest in this venture. Although tire welfare of the company for the ensuing twelve months will lay chiefly with the incoming directors, they will require your active co-operation and support, and every shareholder should realise that should we be successful it will not only affect Karangahake, but will probably give ,a new leave of .life to the whole of the goldfields.’’