AFTER ROAD METAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 42, 8 November 1912, Page 4

AFTER ROAD METAL.

Mr Motion's Quarry.

The negotiations for a metal quarry on Mr I. A, Motion's property were idvanced another stage at Wtdnesday night's meeting of the Borough Council. Mr Motkn wrote:"With reference to the iitervitw 1 had vsit.i yojr Council, I row beg to inform you that 1 am prepared to enter into an arrangement with your Council un the following teimi:"1. Your Council t> he entitled to take such road metal ai it may require for use un its roads from my pioperty within the borough, paying to me a royalty of GJ per cubic yard. . ; "2. Your Council to accept Dedication by me of a road running though such property in the position already pointed out by me without any expenditure by me en such road, provided that 1 shall do all necessary fencing. "4. Your Council not to nKerfcie by its operations with tha working of the hydraulic ram at pre:ei;t supplying the water to my farm fiom the falli on my property, or iaerfere with the flow of wattr en such tails. "4. To have 15 yards uf nuta! per annum at cost price. "5. A proper agreement embodying the airai gemen s made to le prepared by my solicitor at the Council's expense, and to be executed tefore your Council move my nmtal.'' Consideration of these conditions was deferred until the Council has decided what it will da about the quairy PROPOSED TRAM LINE.

An engineer's revert was received upon the cost of constructing a tram linn on the route propos:d by the Council. The approximate l.ngth of the main siding is 36 chairs, loops and bacK 38 chains. The total estimate of a 27-inch gauge track was £355 2s 6d The rails in this estimate were 40lbs (3rd cVitß), 30 to s at Bd, cr £240.

"It might b3 pcssible," said the engineer, "to procure a lighter second-hand rail than 401bs" (which is the lightest sold by the Railway Department), thus reducing present ccst under tnis head. Maintenance charges are, however, considerably increased by using tuo light a rail. Cr Comrie said there were two other methods by which the metal could be got out of the gully. The first was bv having a tramway straight up the hill, winding the metal up and crushing it on top. This would be much cheaper, and would net cost one-third as much as ihe j.ropoped line to build. There was a siding that hoppers could be built on. He was inclined to think, although he would like to see the ground Pgain Lefore giving a definite opinion, that a etill better way will be to employ a traction engine. From 10 to 15 yards of metal could be taken at a load; the engine would run to the top of the hill and the load, by wire ropes, be drawn up after it. Cr Comrie explained his icUas, but said that what was meant would be made much clearer if the Councillors visited the ground together. Th 3 Mayor did not think the traction engine a practicable idea; he thought the use ot a wire from the top of the hill the better of Cr Comrie's proposals. Cr Pollock said Cr Comrie's suggestion to cart tre spawli on to the roadside wss the best thing that could oe dene. Cr Johrs favoured the tram, as they could then get the metal out at any tims. It was decided that the Council meet at ths quarry on Thursday afternoon to further consider the matter.