THAMES COUNTY QUARRY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4820, 9 March 1925, Page 3

THAMES COUNTY QUARRY

£BOOO MORE REQUIRED* •LOAN DECIDED UPON. A lengthy'- report on- the Thames Com.tv Council’s quarry scheme at Mitatoki was submitted to the council by its engineer, Mr J. Higgins, on Thuisday. Mr Higgins stated that he had perused the report submitted by Mr Powell, and although he did not see eye to eye with him, it was some satisfaction to know that the council had an independent report. He thought it unnecessary to report in detail on all the recommendations, seeing that the council had decided on a scheme by which the commercial aspect of .the project should remain in abeyance until some future date. Seeing, however, that the matter of transporting metal by rail might crop up in the futuie, he would like it placed on record that he was strongly opposed, to toy scheme that would necessitate any bt oak .in the journey between the quarry and the railway, being of opinion. that the correct site for Lite breaking plant was on a site at the i ail way siding near the Matutoki star Lion. He contended that Mr Powell = not gone far enough in providing for an outlet of 200 yards a week, and considered a plant of double that -capacity was necessary. Two rakes of trucks were not sufficient. He would recommend three rakes, and some extra trucks, and a Fordson loco, instead of horses for the haulage. .. • ■ The additional requirements to Mi Poweli’e scheme were 12 trucks; a granulator, and a shed, estimated to cost* £930. To provide for an output of 120 yards for an 8-hour day should not cost more than a further £BOO.

His estimate-for erecting the hopper on the site chosen bj the council was £7165, and contingencies and the first year’s interest and sinking fund at 7 per cent, brought L e total to .':8132.

Cr Cribb said that tlie type of crusher required should be decided upon and ordered. This would pr-.it)-abiy absorb all the funds available, and il it was decided to go to the rater paye.s for a further loan no tiims should be lost. The piaat would not arrive in time to do any work before nex - . spring.

The type of crusher netessary was discussed at length, the engineer recommending a machine capable M crushing 12 yards an nour, and a Second one for use at rite same time •vnc’i a larger output, w.s desired.

Cr. Cribb moved that the engineer be instructed to' call lenders for a crusher and such other .appliances as necessary.

Ci. Cox questioned the wisdom of spending the funds in hand before go- - ng to the ratepayers for an additional loan.

The chairman said that the eall ’ig of tenders would save iirr.'.’. He was in favour of taking the ratepayers »t>.tJ the council's confidence, as it was übyiov.-- that over £BOOO w.is necessary t<> complete the job, aii'l only abuit viJOl'O was in hand.

Cr. Cribb urged expending the money because if the rate;.;. yers tuned the loan down the c'.uncil would liave an asset that coui-i be . taken into consideration.

Crs McCormick, Cox, and. Lowe advoca.ed approaching the ratepayers before the money in.hu - ) i was spa it. The council had already spent £7OOO, and hr.d little to show for it. Cr. Cribb said that the ratepayers knew the position, and would not vote for the second loan, seeing that the council bad not spent the whole of the first lean.

The chairman said t'.at he hud when addressing ratepayers, stated that by an expenditure of £lO,OOO a f.mmcrcial quarry woull be obtained and tl ey would not be called upon f>r one p* nuy of rates. Now it was known that by an expenditure of £15,000 a quarry suitable only for f t>e councils, rcquiri-n’f.its would be ci,sained. Aftji further discusson it was decided to approach the rat'.payers for the rn’.ra loan as soon ac possible