THE ROAD ROLLER

Southland Times, Issue 19434, 24 December 1924, Page 6

THE ROAD ROLLER

THE CORPORATION’S PURCHASE QUESTIONS IN THE COUNCIL Questions respecting the efficiency of the steam roller recently purchased by the Town Council for use in connection with its road improvement policy were asked at last night’s meeting of the Town Council by several members of the Council, and the as-, surance was given by the Mayor that the roller had carried out its trials satisfactorily, and in compliance with the conditions laid down in the contract. REPORT BY ENGINEER. A report from the Town Engineer (Mr T. O. Fox), was also placed before the Council, and read as follows: — “I have to report that Messrs Andersons, Ltd., of Christchurch, have delivered the Aveling and Porter steam roller according to the specifications and conditions of the contract. ‘The specifications called for a weight, in full working order, of not more than 8 nor less than 6 tons —the roller weighed 7 tons 14 cwt 2 qrs. A speed of four miles per hour had to be maintained on a level macadam road for a period of 20 minutes when burning a lignite coal of a certain calorific value, namely, 10,000 B.T.U.’s. This was varied slightly, at my request, and coke used instead of coal, as its heating value is practically the same as the better clas.; of lignites, and, moreover, coke is the standard fuel for both the other rollers. “In the speed test, 106 2-3 chains had to be traversed in 20 minutes. The time taken over this distance was 16min 43sec, or an average of 4.78 miles per hour, and in 20 minutes the distance covered was 126 chains all but two yards, which works out at an average of 4.72 miles per hour. As is was impossible to get a perfectly level stretch of road of this length, the test was carried out in Yarrow street, which necessitated using three’ reversals of motion, and owing to the driver being unused to this particular type of steering gear, the steering was rather erratic and added to the distance travelled. On two occasions, also, traffic had to be avoided. “These difficulties more than counterbalanced any possible gain from the use of coke instead of coal, and I consider the machine more than fulfils the requirements of the specifications. “I might add that, during the test, the fire received no attention whatever, yet a fair head of steam remained when the engine was stopped.” INFORMATION SOUGHT. As the Mayor was about to move the adjournment of the Council, Councillor Boyes asked if the Mayor would give the Council any information about the roller. The Mayor: So far as I know, the roller has carried out every condition provided for in the specifications, and in some respects has done better than was required. The Engineer has informed me to that effect, and you will see that that is so from his report, which is before you to-night. I know you have heard a good deal from those gentlemen representing firms which did not get the job. Councillor Ritchie: Yes, some of them approached me, and I am told that representatives of other firms were invited to the first trial and not to the second. I think that they should have been informed that the second trial was going to take place. I understand that the trial took place in Yarrow street, and in order to get the required speed the roller had to be allowed to run down the incline in Yarrow street. The Mayor: If you want any information in this respect you should ask for it in Committee. It is not right coining here and making allegations such as you are doing now on information supplied by an outsider, or, what is more correct, from a defeated contractor. That is what it really amounts to. I had one at me and I told him plainly in the presence of Councillor Meek what I thought. We have got no need to consider such men when testing any apparatus. The Engineer assured me that every test was carried out satisfactorily, and as he is the responsible officer, that absolutely satisfies me. So far as the statement made by Councillor Ritchie that the test was made downhill, it is incorrect. Councillor Meek: Have we taken delivery ? The Mayor: Yes. I know the firm that has been causing the present trouble, and it is a strange thing than on every previous occasion w’hen we have procured machinery, we have always been told that the wrong make of machine has been purchased. The representative of the firm saw me recently and raved away about it. I told him he ought to go and see the Engineer before he started complaining. Councillor Miller: How are Councillors to get information any other way than from outsiders ?

The Mayor: You have the right to ask for a report. If that does not satisfy you, then you can ask for further information. I do not think it is right for any Councillor though to accept a statement from an outsider, especially a defeated tenderer, and use it. Councillor Miller: I think it would have been only fair to have invited the Councillors on the Committee to the trials. Councillor Glass: You may know something about a horse, but not about a roller. The Mayor: Our Engineer is responsible for making the tests, and we rely solely on him. I am quite satisfied that the roller has done all that it was asked to do on its trials.

Councillor Webb: I would suggest that we get the roller out and put it under test again and let everyone be present. A Councillor (jocularly) : Why not have a race meeting? Councillor Webb: I was shown a letter from the Marshalls Coy., one of the largest engineering firms at Home, in which it was mentioned that no road roller of the type chosen could carry out the conditions laid down in the specifications. The Mayor: It is a funny thing that all the road makers in the United Kingdom use the same make of roller as we have purchased, and that they do not use Marshalls’s rollers. The discussion then terminated and the Council adjourned.