ROAD METAL SUPPLY PLANT WILL SOON BE MADE LARGER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18640, 18 December 1928, Page 14

ROAD METAL SUPPLY PLANT WILL SOON BE MADE LARGER.

COUNCIL MAKES READY FOR ROADING SCHEME. The Works Committee of the City Council has had under consideration for some time the question of making provision for the increased supply of metal required in connection with the carrying out of loan works and at the same time providing for continuous supplies should a serious breakdown occur at the existing quarry, where a single unit plant is operated. The committee reported to the council last night that it was anticipated that an extra quantity of 25,000 cubic yards would be required in order to cope with the loan works, and this would mean that the output of the quarry would have to be increased up to some fifty-nine or sixty thousand cubic yards per annum. Several alternative proposals had been considered with a view to coping with the position. which were briefly outlined as follows: (a) The development of the existing quarry by opening up the small quarry adjoining the farm situated on the east and north sides of the present quarry. Estimated cost £15.000. (b) The purchasing of the whole or part of the above-mentioned farm and erecting a separate plant. Estimated cost £11,250. (c) The acquirement of a privatelyowned quarry at present under offer for the sum of £7OOO. (d) The utilising of crushed grevwacke or other metal from local suppliers or the provision of the extra plant for crushing greywacke at convenient points, thus using our own supplies of this material and calling upon outside suppliers as the exigencies of the work may demand. Estimated cost of providing plant £6OO. The City Engineer reported that in standard tests greywacke showed less variation of texture than that of volcanics and should give more uniform results under the action of traffic. Examples of modern roading carried out in asphaltic concrete and Portland cement concrete where greywacke crushed shingle had been used could be seen in Riccarton Road and the Main North Road. The metal could be obtained from several of the pits at present owned by the council and, when this was worked out, the crushing plant could be moved to portions of the Waimakariri river-bed, where an ample supply was available. After giving the matter serious consideration the committee was of opinion that proposition (d) was the most economical and practical of the schemes submitted, and therefore recommended its adoption The recommendation was approved. In reply to Councillor C. L. Carr, the Mayor said that the adoption of proposition (d) meant that the council would provide a plant for crushing greywacke.