$180,000 Grader for County

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 14, 6 September 1983, Page 15

$180,000 Grader for County

On Tuesday, 30 August, Waimarino County Council took delivery of a new road grader. Purchased for $180,000, the Caterpillar Field Chief grader replaces a previous, smaller Caterpillar motor grader that the county council has been using for 27 years. "If the new one lasts as long as the old one, we'll be well and truly served" said county councillor John Martin. "The graders are our most essential pieces of plant and we've had a wonderful run out of the previous Caterpillar grader." The new machine arrived on a large road transporter. The one that it replaces was driven all the way from Auckland to Raetihi by Bill Herewini. Weighing 1 1 tonnes, the new machine is the smallest of this model of road grader. Its size is particular-

ly suited to many of the back roads in the county, said overseer Colin Trow. And although the machine is small enough to handle narrow back country roads to carry out maintenance, it is heavy and powerful

enough to also be used for construction work. If you think the purchase price is high, consider that a licence to use the grader costs some $700 each year and a new tyre costs about $1,300. Articulated just under the drivers cab, the new machine has extremely good manoeuvrability with a 22 foot turning radius — less than many cars. The driver, Don Hemopo can also "crab" the grader, putting the front wheels and blade off the road to work but, at the same time, keeping the 4 rear driving wheels out on stable ground.