Gravel Pit at Terrace End

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 6

Gravel Pit at Terrace End

PROVIDING SUBSTITUTE SUPPLY WOULD PROVE COSTLY. "With a view to the opening up of a new gravel pit for railway require ments, I have examined several properties in tilie vicinity of the railway line adjacent to the gas works and electric power station, as this appears to me to be the only locality suitable for the purpose," stated the city engineer, Mr J. R. Hughes, in a report presented to the City Council last evening.

"I have been informed by the department that the metal from the present pit is only used for the maintenance of roadways to the station and yards in this district, and for repairing wash-outs on the Foxton branch line. The quantity of metal in site at the existing pit is approximately 60,000 cubic yards. The area which it is suggested should be handed over to the council at the southern end comprises practically half the area of the worked out portion. This, if the council so desired, could be taken over and planted at any time. The annual requirements are, comparatively, very small and it would, therefore, bo many years before the whole pit is worked out. Any new pit opened up in the locality above referred to will involve the stripping to a depth of about eight feet of clay overburden, and before any metal is available a good deal of expense would be involved.

4 ‘The cost of siding, which it is expected the council would pay for, would depend on tho distance from the main line; this can be put down at £3OO initial cost, plus a cost of £2O per chain of track laid. Assuming that d sixfoot face of metal was worked on, the area of land required to give the same quantity of metal still available at the old pit would be about seven acres. 4 ‘The approximate cost of acquiring land and providing siding, I estimate, would be in the vicinity of £I3OO. If the council was called upon to remove the overburden the cost would be increased by at least £3000."