£22,000 SAVED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32629, 3 October 1945, Page 5

£22,000 SAVED

MANGATARATA QUARRY VALUE TO PLAINS COUNTY QUESTION OF FUTURE SUPPLIES That the Mangatarata quarry had saved the Hauraki Plains County Council in the vicinity of £22,000 in 8} years was disclosed by the county engineer, Mr E. Hazledine-Barber to the September meeting of the council when he reported on the need for the survey regarding the future supply and activities at the quarry. The engineer’ Mr E. HazledineBarber reported on the Mangatarata quarry as under:—

“During the last few meetings there seems to have been a misunderstanding in, regard to the preliminary survey work at Mangatarata quarry for future metal supplies; also at the last meeting the point raised by the chairman asking for authority to make a survey for other sources of supply. '“Gentlemen, the position is as follows :—

. “ At our present rate of output, I estimate that we shall run out of good metal during the year 1946. To be on the safe side, we should endeavour to be in a position to start crushing metal obtained from a new face, either at the present quarry at a lower level, or a new location, about the middle of 1946, say 12 months from now. “Before commencing any work or estimating for any work I think you will agree that it is first necessary to make certain that we have the necessary stone required both in quality and quantity. Cost of Drilling “Last M'arch meeting, before the estimates were brought down, I reported that I had obtained a quote for a drilling machine for making a survey for future quarrying operations. The machine referred to was, at the time, at Thames and could have been procured almost immediately. It was decided at that meeting that the matter of drilling be deferred for six months. This same question was again brought up at the June meeting by Cr. Pinchess and I was instructed to commence operations towards locating a future metal supply.

“At the August meeting, I reported that I had nothing definite in regard td hiring a drilling achine -and then reported verbally that I had been in contact with a contractor and should be in a position to start drilling during the month. The chairman asked for authority to make a survey of other locations if considered necessary and this request raised the question of the cost of survey and no provision being made on the estimates. My first estimate for drilling was between £4OO and £soo' and unless we get very unfavourable results, I still consider that we. can do all the work necessary for this amount. New Plant Required

“The above is all that has been discussed in regard to our future metal supplies, but I consider that it is now time to point out that if it is the intention of the council to continue with the quarrying of their own metal in preference to buying from outside, there is no time to be lost in establishing a new plant. “This does not mean any immediate expenditure beyond survey work as it will take several months to prepare proposals with plans and estimates for your consideration. A very conservative estimate .of the saving by running our present plant instead of buying from outside sources is £l2OO a year and this does not include any profit made by the quarry but is simply the difference in rate between the price we supply and that at which we can buy. “ A low estimate of the saving to the county since the installation i of the quarry 81 years ago, is I £22,000 made up as follows:— Actual profit £12,000 [ Difference in cost, from ' quarry and buying out- ■ side £lO,OOO Total £22,000 “Test bores have been drilled at our present quarry site, during the month and have been made of 100 ft., 146 ft., and 70ft. respectively.”