SCORIA-PIT PURCHASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19255, 18 February 1926, Page 10

SCORIA-PIT PURCHASE.

1 DECISION BY TAKAPUNA. MATERIAL FOR BOROUGH WORKS SUPPLY FOR THIRTY YEARS. A protracted debate took place at last evening's - meeting of the Takapuna Borough Council on the question of the purchase of a scoria-pit to supply material for municipal, works. For some time negotiations have been in progress with the Hon. E. W. Alison with .respect to acres of land at the corner of Northcote Koad and Taharoto Road, under which there is a deep deposit of friable scoria. Offers and counter-offers have been made, and Mr. Alison's final statement of price was £4250. It was stated that shafts sunk by the council's engineering staff through the bed of scoria had shown the existence of material of high value to the borough, to such a depth as wquld supply ■ the needs'of the municipal works for at least 30 years; that 'the council's expenditure upon the purchase of scoria in the last two years alone had been in the vicinity of £2000; that extensive scoria-consuming works were in hand or contemplated,, vitally in connection with drainage; and that neighbouring local bodies would also be ready customers tor surplus material. The borough engineer, Mr. A. Slinger, strongly recommended the puchas3 as being in the public interest. Another fact mentioned was that under the terms of an option which had been secured, but technically had expired, the payments could practically be made otit of the value of the output Of the pit as it was worked, subject to an interest charge in the meantime. Eventually the council decided to close the transaction at Mr. Alison's price, and the chairmen of the council's three executive committees were appointed to arrange definitely with him the detailed terms of payment.