ROAD MACHINERY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144051, 22 March 1913, Page 2

ROAD MACHINERY.

F.GMONT COUNTY REQUIREMENTS In ijis report to the modthly meeting of the Egmont County Council held last week, the engineer suggested the advisability of obtaining a grader, which could ho used to great advantage during autumn and early springe months, when tho engine would he available for haulage purposes. Tho cost would ho £7o at nearest railway station. Councillors would have noticed that during the recent wet weather a large quantity of water settling on tha roads, with no possible moans of getting away other than by soakage, and lowing a very destructive effect. The engineer gave details, showing the very great advantage of a grader over hand work. Ho would not say that a grader would give perfect roads, but he would guarantee hotter roads and better side tracks than the. council was putting up with, at a minimum of costs. The work done by a grader would cost Is lOd pms chain less than hand work, or on a week’s work a saving of £‘G, and as well as eliminating the risk of not finishing tho work. While on the question of road-making the engineer suggested the purchase of a road roller and scarifier. Tlie council had just recently picked up and relaid some 10 chains on the Eltham Hoad, the cost of which after allowing £5 for stone breaking was £2 tis per chain. Although the men had" done their best tho work was very costly lahourious and slow. A 71 ton compound engine with scarifier attached (costing £703), and allowing two hours per day for travelling, firing, and taking in water, etc., would loosen up 3J chains, 15 feet wide, per hour, or 12 chains a day, thus reducing the cost to one sixteenth less than hv hand labour. Or to put it more directly, hand cost sixteen times as much as it would cost by machinery.

Councillor Dudley (chairman) said he was in favour of procuring a steam roller, scarifier, and grader and that they should go to the ratepayers and ask them to sanction a. loan of £2OOO for this machinery. He was satisfied they would stand it because nearly every ratepayer ho Itad spoken to had said, “AVhy don’t yon get a roller and grader?” There would be.no rate as that could bo paid put of the general fund. They would soon save the cost in blinding alone. Tho engineer pointed out that there were miles of road which if scarified and broken down would carry tho traffic for several years.

Councillor Wilcox did not think the financial position ot the county warranted them going in for anything except a grader. Councillor Farquhar thought they should include necessary bridges in the new loan, and was prepared to move in Hint direction. He considered it was all right to build bridges out of loan, but did not approve of making roads out of loan.

On the motion of Councillors Hurst and Farquhar, it was resolved that a grader be procured, and that the matter be left in tho hands of the chairman and if a loan he raised for machinery that the coat of the grader be charged In it. On the motion of the chairman and Councillor Davoy, it was further resolved that the ratepayers be asked to sanction a loan of £IOOO for machinery.