MATATOKI QUARRY.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16643, 13 November 1925, Page 5

MATATOKI QUARRY.

ENGINEER’S EXPLANATION. REASONS FOR DELAY. THE MONTH’S WORK. The Matatoki Quarry continues to interest County ratepayers, the representative of a section of whom recently asked the Engineer to explain ‘why metal from this source was not made available in October. ; , The information was supplied by Mr. Higgins at this week’s County Council meeting, as follows: — “I note my instructions to explain why metal was not available from the Quarry in October. 1 take it that the question is tlip outcome of a reply given by me to a ratepayer at Puriri in May last, when I stated that, provided I could get straight to work,, it would be possible to have metal coming, to hand in October. “In the first place, 1 would like to say that the question was put to me without a minute’s notice, and my reply, which was only an estimate, was given in a like manner. However, I don’t think it is necessary for me to go into every detail, but I would respectfully suggest that your Council carefully read what lias transpired at each meeting, and you will see that I had no control over certain delays, which took place prior to my getting down to a straight line of action after the loan was sanctioned by the ratepayers. I might easily, I think, exonerate myself from any blame in regard to the delay in getting the machinery on to the ground, as .records in the office will show that every order placed for plant had to he approved by the Council, and even in this connection delays have occurred, chiefly due, I understand, to shipping strikes and probably other unforeseen happenings. Drastic Alterations. “Delays have no doubt occurred in the construction of tcamliiKJ v and hbppers, and I regret to have to touch on the subject, but, being pressed for an explanation, I have •to/submit the following:— “1. When I received instructions..-to proceed, I found that the only data available in the office was a longitudinal s.ection, and there was nothing to show how quantities were arrived at, and I had no alternative but to make a fresh engineering survey and provide plans and specifications that would enable me to let coutracts. “2. The engineering survey and close examination revealed the fact that it would take double the work I anticipated to complete the original line, for the reason that the general character of the work was most unsatisfactory, and much against my will. 1 had to make drastic alterations; hence the delav in letting contracts. “3. At the time I made the statement already refered to, my instructions were to expect tlxe ci'ushing plant Oil or about the original site, hut fol lowing a .suggestion of mine that, seeing the plant could not be erected at the station, a road the full distance to the quarry face would be an improvement on the central site, your Council decided on the present scheme, wliich necessitated delaying the top hopper until the tramline was. com* pleted. , “In conclusion, I can only say that had the tramline been satisfactory and only one hopper to be erected midway to the Quarry, the hopper and trainline would be completed by now.”