The Daily News WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1921. POUAKAI METAL SUPPLIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1921, Page 4

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1921. POUAKAI METAL SUPPLIES.

The location of what is described as an inexhaustible supply of boulders of a granite nature in the Pouakai ranges, at the head of the Kiri stream, has opened up the solution of more than one problem in which the Prisons and Public Works Departments, the local bodies, and those concerned in the protection of the foreshore at New Plymouth are all largely interested. The failure of the Mt. Egmont quarries to provide suitable metal for road work, and the great expense entailed in working those quarries, resulted in the decision of the Government to close them down, and to work the limestone metal deposit at Te Wera, which, although suitable for railway ballasting and light roads, will not stand heavy and fast highway traffic, so that some local bodies deemed it better policy to continue to obtain metal from the Belmont quarries at the Upper Hutt, at twenty-four shillings per cubic yard, than use the limestone product at a much lower price—a decision that may be regarded as thoroughly sound. A new factor that should exercise an important influence on the Government relative to developing the Pouakai stone is the necessity that has arisen for providing work for the prisoners at the New Plymouth gaol in order, as far as possible, to continue to make the prison self-supporting, the quarry there, which has hitherto furnished remunerative labor, being almost worked out, and unless other arrangements can be made it will probably be necessary to close the local gaol. Manifestly the r ocess of distributing the Pouakai metal will need railway facilities, and it so happens that the New Plymouth - Opunake line fits into this important link in the chain most satisfactorily. With so many interests concerned in an undertaking that must prove of the greatest service to the whole of Taranaki, it should not be difficult for the Government to evolve a scheme whereby all the interests can be promoted. The only matter that presents any real difficulty is finance. It may /airly be claimed that the development of the Pouakai metal deposits is, under the circumstances, not a mere local affair, but a matter of national importance, and therefore may properly be regarded as justifying the raising of a loan sufficient to cover the cost of new prison quarters as well as the requisite railway construction. How far the local bodies can help, should it be deemed necessary, need not be considered 1 at the present stage. It would, however, seem advisable that the various authorities concerned should take practical steps to ascertain approximately the extent and cost of their respetive requirements as a guide for the Government experts who may be called upon to devise a practical and economical scheme to enable the Prisons Department to work the quarries, crush the metal and distribute it at the lowest possible cost. If the plant, both transport and crushing, now useless for the Egmont quarries, is transferred to the work connected With Pouakai metal, the cost, of the latter undertaking would be materially reduced. The first step is a detailed survey and estimates of cost. When it comes to the question of providing the money, there should be no difficulty in raising the amount required.

Where there’s a will there’s a way, so that, if the Government can be convinced that the project is not only required for urgent needs, but will be a payable proposition, no time should be lost in taking it up and carrying it through. The Egmont* quarry railway would always have been useless except for the transport of metal, whereas the New Plymouth Opunake line, which would carry the Pouakai metal, will form part of a, Taranaki passenger and goods transport system that will assuredly prove a remunerative investment.