WAIHIRERE METAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2194, 25 September 1907, Page 2

WAIHIRERE METAL.

REPORT BY MR. G. GRANT, C.E. HIGHLY FAVORABLE. Mr. Geo. Grant, C.E., in compliance with tho Borough Council’s request, made an inspection of Waihirere Quarry on the 13th inst. to report on (1) the available amount of stone there, (2) quality and suitability for Borough streets, (3) cost of delivery at Gisborne railway station. His findings, reported to tho Borough Council last evening, are as follows; (1) I have no hesitation in reporting that there is an almost unlimited supply. The outside layer, or cap, is of poorish quality, very easily broken', would probably make excellent footpaths, etc. Of the main reef, the quality appears to be fairly uniform; the same reef shows at waterfall, some fifteen chains further up the stream. I had many stones broken and selected samples, two of which, marked W., I send for your inspection, also a piece of the best Patutahi metal I could find, for comparison (marked P). It seems beyond doubt that at the face exposed by your Engineer and within a radius of a few chains, enough stone, of the quality marked W, could be obtained to metal all the streets in Gisborne. (2) As to its quality, etc., I do not think it is as hard or as dense as the best Patutahi, but I am convinced that it will form excellent macadam, properly laid. (3) Cost. —My previous estimate was only approximate, as you are aware, not having data sufficient for an accurate one. ■ The following may be taken as one framed to meet a

delivery of from 50 to 70 cubic yards a day, broken. As I pointed out previously. Is lOd a yard for carriage from Waihirere to Gisborne seems an excessive rate, and would probably be largely reduced.

ESTIMATE. Length of tramway, 1 mile, 70 chains, 2ft 6in gauge, 201 b rails. Land. —100 chains tramway, 10 acres, quarry say 10 acres, total 20 acres, at £lO, £200; expenses, survey, fencing, etc., £150; total, £350. Formation.—l mile at 10s a chain, £4O, 70 chains at 20s, £7O; ballast, 2568 cubic yards at 3s 6d, £449; sleepers, 3750 at 2s, £375; rails, spikes, fish-plates, etc., 44 tons at £9 10s, £418; bridge and three stone open crossings, £100; loops and sidings, say, £200; labor and contingencies £200; total, £1852. Plant.—Hoppers, two, say, £4OO : trucks, ten, £120; crusher, £500; engine, etc., £350; sheds, two, i.'lOO; horses, £120; tools and sundries, x/~5 • total, £1765. Daily Expenses of working Quarrv with an output of 50 to 70 cubic yards would be roughly as follows; Ten men £ : 9s; fuel, powder, repairs, horse feed etc., £1 7i 6d; inter >st, viz., 5 per cent on land and 10 per cent on £3617, £1 5s 3d; total (daily), £7 Is 9d.

This with an output of'so yards is 2s lOd a yard at Waihirere; with one of 60 yards is 2s 4£d. The present carriage from Waihirere to Gisborne would increase these amounts respectively to 4s 8d and 4s 21d a yard. It is probable, as Gisborne grow: that a considerable demand for tliit stone would ensue: the Borough would naturally make a small profit on it, and if the breakwater, now agitated for, is proceeded with, the stone apparently must come from Waihirere.

You will gather from this report that I am still of the opinion that the stone is good enough for the purpose, and that the town must look to Waihirere for its supply. Also that if it is determined to use this quarry the sooner steps are taken to acquire the land and lay the line, etc., the more of the ratepayers’ money will be saved. Cr. Sheridan said the Council must accept the Engineer’s judgment. .The Council should acquire the land and make a start. The Mayor said the mutter of tin relinquished title was not cleared up yet. An offer would require to coin from the natives as a body corporate. Cr. Bright 6aid tho Council had dallied with the metal question long enough, though in the absence of a better source of supply it had not been their Siult altogether. In view of such advice, the Engineer’s report meeting with full confirmation in every particular, there could be no ground for further delay. He moved: “That tlie Borough solicitor be instructed to take necessary steps to acquire under tho Public Works Act such area of Waihirere block, embracing the quarry, as in the opinion of Mr. Grant and the Borough Engineer is desirable.”

Cr. Williams, in seconding, emphasised the necessity for getting the quarry into working order as soon as possible.

Cr. Whinray was against hasty action. The area to be secured if possible for a scenic reserve, he presumed, would also bo available - for metal purposes. (“Question.”) Well, that should be ascertained. As to

tho samples of stouo submitted, lit was still of opinion that there War no great quantity of it. A Councillor: Wliat would convince you ?

Cr. Whinray: You will probably see later on wliat I my is correot. If I am convinced beyond a, possibility of doubt about Waihirere I would welcome it.

Cr. Bright: You won’t bo convinced while you live. Cr. Whinray said tho Council at least should await the report of the County Engineer.' Cr. Somervell said it had not been

proved that stono existed in any quantity at AVaikirere. Until it was proved by boring or driving he would opposo any steps to acquire the land. Cr.. Mann supported the motion. There had been ample expert evidence to satisfy him. The Mayor pointed out that the scheme would cost- about £4OOO.

Cr. Slieridlln : This motion is to get the land, costing about £2OO. The Mayor: But you don’t want to keep the land lying idle. Cr. Sheridan: Got the laud first, and then see about nnauco for the other.

The Mayor thought the Council had sufficiently heavy undertakings this year. The quarry would not move off if the Council delayed.. AATiy not got the scenic portion first? Cr. Sheridan : It has nothing to do with tho metal. The two things are quite distinct, The Mayor: We might very reasonably wait until tho County Council has a report on the quarry. AVe have entered into engagements foi Pututahi metal for-this season, and the Council cannot . undertake everything at once. Cr. Bright: And let the County Council get in beforo us at AY<aihirers,

The Mayor: I don’t think they would take it. Cr. Sheridan : They would be fool* ish not to, if they got the chance. Cr. Williams was against mixing tho two matters of a scenic reserve ■md a quarry reserve. It was a question oven if tho old title held good, whether the Council could have used the reserve, formerly held; for quarrying purposes. The Council should not run any risk again, but should have a quarry proclaimed. Cr. Bright said that every time the question wps brought up a section of the Council seemed determined to block it. All sorts of difficulties were raised by them, first the quantity of me'jil, then the quality, then the title, and so on. Let the Oounml take some definite action. Councillors were not entitled to sit there month after month and do nothing at all. The evidence before them was enough to satisfy any man who did not pose as an expert. The motion to acquire the arai was carried, only Crs. Whinray and Somervell dissenting. Cr. Bright further moved: “That tho Borough Engineer be instructed to prepare specifications of a tramway line to connect the proposed Waihirere quarry with the Government railway line, also for such plant as is requisite for obtaining metal from that source.” Cr. Pottie seconded. Cr. Somervell said he would move as an amendment that the Engineer takes steps to prove the place—he would not call it a quarry yet—by meins of boring or driving. Cr. Whinray remarked that the Council was “putting the cart before the horse.” He supported the amendment. Cr. Williams said the specifications would cost very little. He could not understand why certain councillors objected to information being obtained. „ Cr. Sawyer would Like to see the quarry proved, as suggested, but he was quite- in favor of acquiring the land even in the absence of metal. The amendment was defeated on the voices, and the motion carried.