THAMES NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 243, 14 October 1929, Page 18

THAMES NEWS.

REOPENING OF BOROUGH QUARRY. £ THE PIPIROA FERRY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) . THAMES, Sunday. The recent slip of loose earth and rubble at the Thames quarry, about a mile and.a half up the Waiotahi Creek, exposed a large block of good blue metal estimated to contain at least 2000 yard 6. ( Tho, .council's, .immediate metal requirements are- for -1500 yards, and it is estimated that this amount of metal can be placed on 'the borough streets at a cost of 9/ a yard. The new road now being constructed at Totara cemetery will require about 800 yards of metal, and it is proposed to use the Waiotahi metal for this work. The Thames fishermen operating in the Hauraki Gulf have had very large hauls of schnapper and flounder during the last fortnight, most of the large seine net boats drawing weekly cheques from £90 to £130. The extra large quantity of fish has made the local works very busy, long hours being worked and extra hands employed. The fish are large and in good condition. Keen disappointment was expressed at Thames when it became known that the Hauraki Plains County Council had refused to find its quota of the cost of replacing the Pipiroa Ferry with a bridge. The ferry crosses the Piako River about five miles from Thames, on the main highway between Auckland and Thames, which carries a considerable amount of traffic. The business people of Thames consider the construction of a bridge so vital to their interests that they have promised to subscribe £750 towards the cost, estimated at £16,000. The Public ■< Works Department is prepared to proceed with the construction of the bridge as soon as the Hauraki Plains County Council will guarantee its quota of the cost.,. about . £5000. The council is at present clearing £900 a year on the ferry, and the traffic is rapidly increasing.