MOUNTAIN METAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1919, Page 6

MOUNTAIN METAL.

FOR TARANAKI LOCAL BODIES. Mr, Campbell, representing the Eltham County Council, waited on theHawera County Council at its meeting on Saturday in reference to the question of inducing the Government to open up a quarry for road metal at the Mountain". Mr. Campbell, who had. with him a sample of the stone .available, said that fin inspection had been made by the Eltham County Council and Stratford County and Borough Councils. The stone which they wanted to get, and of which there were unlimited quantities, was not the class of stone that had previously been sent to loeal'bodies. The rails had been laid to within three miles of the quarry, and the whole of the formation work of the line had been done. There was a crushing plant at flie site which was worked by water power. The cost of opening the quarry ( had amounted to £70,000, and the expenditure cjf a further £IO,OOO would complete the work and make good metal available. Part of the face had already been stripped, and it was surprising that the quarry should have been closed. They wanted to bring pressure on. the Government with ! a view to a renewal of operations. The j engineers for the county councils who had { examined the stone had considered it | quite satisfactory, and it was equal to | the best river stone. To get at it it [ was only necessary to strip about three i or four feet of scoria. The machinery | and the crusher were in good order. The | railway line was absolutely straight, and ' the steepest grade did not appear to be j more than one in twelve. |

Mr. Hawken (chairman) said that the Hawera County would, no doubt, be willing to join with othc local bodies in an effort to induce the Government In open the quarry. They needed metal, and the quality of the stone produced seemed good.

. Mr. Campbell said there was no ques tion about the quality.