WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 September 1920, Page 3

WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL

PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

At the last monthly meeting, the engineer reported on the matter of acquiring an up-to-date plant equipment for the county as follows : —

I have spent some time in investigating road making machinery and submit my report herein. First and foremost in the Council's requirements is a roller and scarifier. If, in your opinion, the time has arrived when our antiquated method of spreading metal on the roads and leaving the traffic to either consolidate or scatter it, should be abolished, a roller must be acquired and a scarifier and watercart must go with a roller. The question of a steam or oil-driven roller is one for serious consideration as both classes of fuel are expensive and difficult to obtain, but all things considered I favour the oil-driven type; the cost of either ts about equal, and would be approximately £2000, with scarifier extra. I would recommend a detached scarifier.

Re Motor Lorries —I do not recommend the purchase of any heavy lorries, as the initial cost and running would be very high, but I would recommend the purchase of two or three 30cwt. Ford tip waggons, which cost about £375 each, for use on short runs. Heavy carting on long runs should be done by means of tractors and trailers. The tractors would be used for ploughing, grading and scarifying as well as hauling, and would drive a stone crusher in winter, There are several kinds of tractors in use and all seem to be giving satisfaction. A portable stone-crusher should also be acquired and a caravan. I give a list of what should be a reasonable equipment for the Counoii, with approximate cost : £ Roller ... ... 2000 Scarifier ... ... 250 Watercart ... ~, 200 2 Ford lorries, V/i c. yds. oapaoity ~, ... 7^o 1 Tractors .., ~, 1100 4 Trailers, 2 o.y. capacity... 350 1 Portable stonecrusher ... 1000 1 Caravan ... ... 100 2 Sheds for storing implements ... ... 300 £6050 The daily cost of running either a roller or tractor at the present price qf oil would be about £4, including the wages of a driver, which in either case would be the county surfaceman. If a plant were acquired there would probably be some difficulty in working it amongst the several ridings, hut no doubt a scheme could be devised so that each riding would pay for the a.ctua.l work.