NEW WEED BUCKET

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4341, 9 October 1950, Page 5

NEW WEED BUCKET

RAPID PROGRESS MADE LOW OPERATING COST HELP FOR DRAINAGE BOARDS “The Ministry of Works is making good use of the board’s weed bucket in the clearing of glycerin aquatica and silt from the Pirko river,” said Mr C. Davies, chief engineer to the Hauraki Catchment Board, at its September meeting. Mr Davies explained that the bucket was being handled on a 30-ton Bucyrus dragline which was practically heavy and powerful enough to lift even the weed bucket f ull. The operator had used , patience in acquiring the art of sliding 'it out with its full load and on ione occasion during an inspection on September 19 he brought in ones drag the equivalent of three normal bucket loads. The progress of the work was so rapid that the moving of the machine forward on its mats had become the hardest part of the work. The board should seriously consider the question of acquiring an eight foot weed bucket, continued Mr Davies. That particular size of bucket was fitted to a standard three eighths cubic yard dragline. “Many drainage boards will want this coming season the use of our 19RB dragline to do maintenance and light reconstruction work with our weed bucket on account of its relatively, cheap cost of operation. Our dragline is likely to be tied up with heavy excavation work with its standard bucket or possible difficult streams with the weed bucket and some provision should be made if posible to meet what will be the increasing demands for a weed bucket by the drainage boards. “These demands could be met in part if an eight foot bucket was purchased by the board and lent on reasonable hire rates to those who had a suitable dragline to use it. There are at least eight machines in this catchment area which could handle such a bucket and it is known that these machines are most of their time on drain maintenance or light reconstruction work.” The board authorised the purchase of an eight foot bucket.