ENGINEER’S REPORT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 76, Issue 6533, 30 June 1948, Page 7

ENGINEER’S REPORT

WORK IN OTOROHANGA COUNTY PURCHASE OF TRUCKS The report of the engineer (Mr B. McKenzie), as submitted to yesterday’s meeting of the Otorohanga County Council, stated inter alia that maintenance work during the month of May included the grading of roads in the various ridings. In the Honikiwi Riding 518 cubic yards was handled; in the Mangaorongo Riding 72 cubic yards; in the Te Rau-a-Moa Riding 154 cubic yards; in the Waipa Riding 349 cubic yards; in the Wharepapa Riding, 69 cubic yards, a total for the county *of 1162 cubic yards. The following roads were graded, the hours being set forth:— Honikiwi Riding: Honikiwi M.H. 25 hours, Otorohanga-Pirongia 10 hours, Turoto 31 hours, Waitomo V. 6 hours, Mangamahoe 11 hours, Ouruwhero, Strawbridges 1 hour. Mangaorongo Riding: Mangaorongo M.H. 40a hours, Awatane 61 hours, Cherrys 11 hours, Puketarata 10 hours, Kio Kio Station 10 hours, Blacketts 31 hours, Rangiatea 25 hours, Scowns 3 hours. Te Rau-a-Moa Riding: PirongiaNgutunui 30 hours, OtorohangaPirongia 18 hours. Waipa Riding: Te Kuiti M.H. 11 hours, Puketawai 7 hours, Mangawhero 5 hours, Whawharua 3 hours.

Wiharepapa Riding: Wharepuhunga M.H. 341 hours, Settlers 4i hours, Taupaki 21 hours, Waikeria 6 hours, Ngaroma 581 hours, Tolleys 7 hours, Puketarata 4 hours, Pukewhau 9 hours, Aotearoa 21 hours, Arohena 171 hours, Gallaghers 3 hours, Kahorekau 8£ hours, Karaka 161 hours, Ngahape 12 hours. The report further stated:— Bridges: The deck of the Waipa Bridge, Honikiwi High Way, has been resealed.

Crushing Plant: The crusher is being overhauled but should be in running order shortly. Scoop: At Collinson Smiths 70 c. yds of shingle was scooped for Turitea Road dnd 65 for Pirongia-Ngutu-nui. The plant was then shifted to Lakes where 195 c. yds was scooped for Honikiwi M.H., 50 for Ouruwhero Road, 95 for Kio Kio Station Road and 75 for Otorohanga-Pirongia. Office Heating: Prices have been obtained for “Jeunesse” heating stoves for heating the office. These are entirely enclosed easily fitted and very economical in fuel. Four stoves of suitable capacity would cost £ll6, fitting approximately £l4 extra. No quotations have yet been received for central heating or air conditioning. Scrub Cutting: A gang has been employed for the last two months cutting scrub on roadsides all over the county but there is still a good deal to be done.

Union Membership: The case against the council for employment of non-unionists was heard at Otorohanga Court, but judgment was reserved. Loaderdozer: A T 6 International tractor with Hamilton loaderdozer has been received and will be put into operation when a defective balancing spring has been replaced. The price was £1994 at Otorohanga. County Engineers’ Conference: The first meeting of the newly-formed County Engineers’ Institute was attended at Rotorua on 14th and 15th of this month. All County Conference remits of an engineering nature were fully discussed and recommendations were made to the County Association executive. In addition many other county engineering matters were discussed, including loads and speeds of heavy traffic, plant operation and hire, and road and bridge design. Building Blocks: Next month it is proposed to commence making concrete building blocks for the construction of the garage and tool shed at the county yard. Reinforcing steel for the formation is on hand.

Quarries and Shingle Pits: The quarries and shingle reserves being purchased or opened up will cost a considerable sum of money. Although much of the metal will be used on main highways, no contribution to the capital cost can be obtained from the Main Highways Board. It is proposed therefore to open a metal account to which will be debited the costs of purchasing, roading, stripping, scooping, quarrying and crushing. Where royalty is payable that also will be debited. All metal or shingle used on main highways, county roads or sold privately will be charged at prices to be fixed from time to time and the proceeds credited to the metal account. It is hoped thus to be able to balance expenditure and receipts and avoid any call on the general account for purchase of reserves. Plant Account: The receipts and expenditure of “earning” plant for the year ended 31st March, 1948, are shown below:—

Crusher and compressor, expenditure £123 7s 2d, receipts £752 4s 6d, nett earnings £628 17s 4d; graders, expenditure £1142 4s 7d, receipts £3036 6s sd, nett earnings £1894 Is

lOd; scoop, expenditure £164 18s, receipts £231, nett earnings £66 »2s; trucks, expenditure £2272 3s Id, receipts £3274 18s 6d, nett earnings £lOO2 15s sd; vans £970 16s sd, receipts £1363 10s, nett earnings £392 13s 7d; tptal expenditure £4673 9s 3d, total receipts £8657 19s sd, total nett earnings £3984 10s 2d. Purchases of New Plant: Trucks £lO2B 2s, hire purchase M.H.B. £382 17s 4d, vans £1126, compressor £335; total £2871 19s 4d. Sales of Plant: Graders £2OO, Ford truck £2O, compressor £80; total £3OO. Plant on order (or received since 31st March, 1948): Loaderdozer, £1994, delivered; Caterpillar 212, £2BOO (approximately), ordered August, 1947; Ford truck, £l2OO (approximately), ordered May, 1947; scoop plant, £1000; total, £6994. Trucks: Nett earnings of trucks are £660 less than last year and some of the trucks are costing more to run than they are earning. Orders were placed for two in May, 1947, but only one has been received. The five sixcylinder Fords are nearly four years old. Two more should be obtained as soon as possible. One should be a 5-ton truck with long wheel base for transporting the loaderdozer and should have a 3 c. yd body; the other should be a 4-ton with c. yd body. An option has been secured on a 5ton Commer truck for immediate delivery. This is a British truck of very sturdy design with 165-inch wheel base.

The price quoted is: Chassis and cab £1144, heavy duty hoist £145 10s, 3 c. yd body £144 10s, total £1434: less allowance on Ford truck £450; total outlay £984. A 4-ton Commer truck would cost about £l3O less. Vans: Three of the vans are 1937 models and if opportunity offers, one should be replaced this year.