METALLING THE BUCK BLOCKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 424, 20 December 1911, Page 5

METALLING THE BUCK BLOCKS.

OF METAL QUES-

TIONED

A HONIKIWI DEPUTATION

At the monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council on Monday evening a deputation of settlers from the Honiki'.vi district waited w the council with respect to the -metal which was being placed on the roads which are being metalled in the Honikivv'i special rating area. The deputation which consisted of Messrs Rattray, Budden and Osborne, was introduced by the riding member, Cr Gregg. Mr Rattrny said the deputation was the outcome of a meeting of settlers he ; d in the district when it was decided to protest again3t the quality of the metal being used. Samples had been brought showing the state of the metal when broken out and the state it became reduced to after a few weeks' traffic. Thi ( s was in reference to Mr Rothery's contract. The settlers had been told the metal was the same as the Te Rau-a-Moa metal, but this was not so. They would like an expert opinion on the subject. They were protesting to ihe council and if the matter was not adjusted would be compelled to protest to the Public Works Department.

Cr Hoffman said the settlers need have no fear; the metal was all right. Similar metal was on the road near Pio Pio, and it was found to be greatly superior to limestone. Cr O'Dwyer said if it was the same as that on "the road near Pio Pio the settlers need have no fear. The Pio Pio metal had been down six years and made a splendid road. Mr Budden referred to the matter of culverting the road before the metal was put down. The chairman said that the necessary pipes were on order and would be on the ground as soon as possible. Mr Osborne spoke on behalf of the settlers on the Teraumaku road. He understood there was only 29 chains of metalling to be done. The settlers had, in the original scheme, been allotted £4OO, and if only 29 chains were to be. metalled they were not satisfied.

The chairman said the engineer had provided cor about 59 chains of metalling on the road in question, and this should satisfy the settlers interested. Referring to the contract on the Tapuae road on wlrcb Mr Cameron had the contract, the members of the deputation said the stona being used was valueless as metal, and protested against its use. It was suggested that river shingle should be used. . It was stated that the settlers understood that shingle had been decided upon. Cr Hoffman said he was quite with the deputation in this instance. The stone was absolutely no use a3 metal and he had asked the contractor, Mr Cameron, to discontinue putting it on the road.

Mr Cameron who was in attendance, said he had entered into a contract to put the stone on the road and could not hang up the work as he had alreany lost a great deal of time through the weather. In any case he would have to ask for an extension of time for the contract. The chairman said the matter was an engineering question, and both the engineer for the council and the Public Works engineer had tu be satisfied as to the material used. The council was bound to accept the opinion of the engineers, but would be careful to safeguard the settlers' interests in every possible manner. It was resolved on the motion of Crs Berry and Were that the chairman and member for the riding, together with the engineer should visit the work and adjust the matter.