WAITAKERE LAND PURCHASE

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 January 1916, Page 3

WAITAKERE LAND PURCHASE

AND QUARRY SCHEME

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —Will you kindly ailow me sufficient space to reply to some of the statements made by Mr Jas. McLeod in his letter which appeared in your issue of January 6th., upper the heading of "Blue Metal Quarry."

In regard to this quarry, Mr McLeod says : "We (meaning the County Council) have not so far as I know, been able to discover a metal quarry within the County that is accessible for use, and for many years the Council has, from time to time, talked of the advisability of procuring their own quarry."

Now, it is fairly well known that this quarry was discovered many years back. Our engineer (Mr Jackson) knew of it,. and many others, including the late Mr John O'Neill (who so worthily represented the ratepayers of the Waitakere Riding). The late Mr O'Neill was well known as a man of sound judgment, and realising the difficulties and expenditure involved, he would not entertain any proposal that would- involve risking the ratepayers' money in trying to get this metal out. It is considered by many ratepayers that any scheme such as the Waitakere Quarry, when only a few ridings are interested in it, should be left for a private company to undertake, it being simply a speculation. As for getting a quarry that will suit the requirements of the entire County, it is absolutely impossible, as some of the ridings are situated on the East Coast and some on the West, while others have sufficient local stone which can be utilised very much cheaper than bringing it from Waitakere Ranges. I never imagined (seeing that four ridings were allowed to drop out, one riding not being anxious for it and Kumeu and Kaukapakapa protesting) that efforts would be made to compel us.

The Kaukapakapa Riding has not for many years used the blue metal from Morningside quarry. When we do use blue metal, we find it more profitable to use local stone which often can be found near where it is to be used. In proof of this I may say that a contract has just been let to break and spread 130 yds of blue metal, and we are letting another contract for carting and spreading over 200 yds of river shingle, and under, two miles from the' railway line, which Mr McLeod says goes through the district, even though the good, hard, machinebroken scoria can be delivered at the station for less than 4s per yard.

Re the cost of acquiring and opening the Waitakere quarry.—Mr McLeod makes it appear that the total cost wil amount to £1000 ; he distinctly includes cost of purchase, branch line, and stonecrushing plant, and remarks : " Not a very great item." Just so, but it so happens the engineer's estimate is £10,000, which I consider a very low one, taking into consideration that it includes atunnel 68 chains in length and 8 chains over y± of a mile. Mr McLeod is only a £9000 wrong.

Re notice of motion.—lt is quite understood that the standing orders are not to be acted upon to the very letter at all meetings, but they are there if the Chairman or any councillor insists on it, and it is a good provision made, so that a councillor can demand notice of motion and so prevent resolutions being rushed through, to the the detriment of, and without ratepayers having a chance to have a voice in thee matter. I was quite in order in insisting on notice of motion in this instance.

Re the Chairman getting befogged.— I conside?" this remark quite uncalled, for, 'as he oould not, under the circum- j stances, give any other ruling than lie did, as the standing orders could not be suspended unless all the councillors present were unanimous, which was not the case, Mr McLeod tries to put the blame on me, in place of those responsibw, for the expense of the special meeting. There was no need for the quarry syndicate to insist qn a special meeting, as the deposit on the 200 acres purchase was paid and the land secured, and ho could easily have stood over till following general meeting1 As a matter of fact, jit is noi 'low any nearer being, finally settled than it was at that meeting Mi; McLeod calculates the expense at £15— -wrong again, Th,e actual travelling expenses of the councillors present jat the special meeting were, J am in- | formed, £7 2s 6d, and as the meeting ! took less than an hour, the clerk's and ! engineer's time could not bring it up to I anything like £15. « ! Re that point .which is not clear to IMr McLeacl—l may say I was authorr. i ised precisely in the same manner, as Mr McLeod was when he went to the Cqunty solicitor for advice concerning his riding, and which the ratepayers I had to pay for.

If Mr McLeod and his ratepayers wish to go into this speculation, I do not desire to stop them, but because that is so, the Kaukapakapa ratepayers cannot understand why they should be dragged into it against their, wish. They haye no rates to spare to pay ir.tov.ost on land deals, tramways, tunnels, and quarry schemes. 'Kaukapakapa is a very small rjding, and the expenditure of some of

the larger ridings is from six to. t-p,r\ times greater than the oqr,nl.v,- expenditure for this riding. The X ai'ikapakap.a Hiding, roads on which metal oqukl be car-ted frqni lh« vail way, will, I hopo, ho completed long before the Waitakere quarry is opened, jjocal deposits of stone are constantly being discovered. The Kaukapakapa ' Riding is now opening up one of these

quarries about four miles from the station, and close to where the metal is needed. As for the concluding remarks in Mr McLeod's letter, they are simply on a par with his other statements. —I am, etc., Frank Dye. Kaukapakapa, 15th Jan., 1916.