MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81848, 17 September 1906, Page 2

MOA ROAD BOARD.

The Moa Road Board met at Inglewood on Saturday. Present: Messrs Trimble (chairman), Corkill, Charaney, Laurance, Turner, Marsh, Hoby and Kenwood. TOE-TOE ROAD. The Chairman reported that since last meeting he had authorised the solicitor to take the first steps in the matter of acquiring land for the deviation of Toe-Toe road. Considerable discussion ensued upon the motion to approve the chairman's action.

Mr Chamncy urged that the necessary steps be taken now to raise the loan for the bridge on the Toe-Too road.

The Chairman thought it premature to take steps to raise a loan before the land was actually taken. Mr Chamney said he did not want this road to be placed in the same position as the Everett road, where the Board had to beg the settlers to raise funds after the work was done.

The Chairman said that the delay mentioned was attributable to the Waitara West Board. But it was unwise to proceed in this matter until it was seen whether or not any objection would be lodged. The ratepayers wou'd be put to considraWe expense, perhaps for nothing. The Chairman's action was approved. Mr Chamney moved that the Board raise the Toe-Toe road loan at once, and that no more money be spent on the road until the loan is raised. Mr Laurance seconded.

Mr Chamncy emphasised his point that there was danger that the ratepayers as a whole would have«to pay for the work. The motion was lost. HURSTHOUSE ROAD.

Mr O'd, spokesman for a deputation, asked the Board to repair the Hursthouse road. The settlers had raised a loan some years ago, but the bridge provided out of loan money had collapsed right away, and the cost of replacing it had plunged the road into debt. Tho engineer was Mr Davics then. Settlers had given free labour worth more than ,£IOO.

Mr Henwood said the road was abominable, and the settlers were doing well in clearing off their indebtedness. Mr Cbamney considered the Board had erred in keeping the engineer after such an occurrence. This road had been robbed, and something substantial should be' done to put it in decent order. Mr Turner said the road had been metalled with bad stone. He moved that the Board spend there, and that the settlres be reepjested to assist. Mr Chamncy seconded. —Carried. CLOSING A ROAD . The Department of Roads forwarded an Ordnr-in-Council, closing the Suffolk road through sections 61 and 62, Block vi. lluiroa.—Application will be made to the Taranaki CountyCouncil to sell the closed road. FOREMAN.

The Board went into committee to consider applications for the position of foreman, and on resuming- it was reported Mr Ralph Jones had been appointed. EVERETT ROAD LOAN. The YVaitara West Road Board forwarded a cheque for £t)b io/, being the Everett road loan of ,£ioo, raised by that Board, less £3 10/, cost of procuring the money. ROAD ACCOUNTS.

Ratepayers on the York road forwarded a petition asking that the Board separate the York and Lincoln road accounts, and offering to grant a percentage of their rates to Lincoln road' account.

Mr Yeates attended in support of the petition, and denied the rumour that he wanted all the roads in that district amalgamatd. The amalgamation of the two road accounts had been carried out without the major- 1 ity of ratepayers interested knowing anything about it. Mr lioby: At whose instigation are these people waiting outside the office ?

The deputation: At Mr Henwood's, I am told. The Chairman checked this little aside, whilst Mr Kenwood was deny, ing the imputation,

Mr Hoby moved, according to notice, that the resolution authorising the amalgamation be rescinded. Mr Chamney, in seconding, said he. with other members, had voted for the amalgamation on the understanding that the settlers had signified their acquiescence. Mr Menwood opposed, and said the petitioning settlers had, a few years ago, declined to pay anything towards the upkeep of the Lincoln road, their main road to Inglewood.

Mr Moby gave this statement a flat contradiction, and said the sett'ers »! the back (the petitioners) were willing to raise a loan, bin the "front" settlers objected. The settlers had eontiibuied in actual cash. Mr Hcnwood: 1 challenge that statement. Mr lloby: It is true. Mr Hcnwood : It is not. The Chairman opposed the motion, and considered dm Worthy, Richmond, York, and Lincoln road revenue should be pooled. The ratepayers had nothing to do with die Board's book-keeping. If they did not like the Board's action, let them turn the members out. The motion was carried bv five to three. ■' The Chairman immediatelv gave notice to move at next meeting (hat 50 per cent, ot the rates on the Wortley, Richmond and York roads be de ducted for the upkeep of the Lincoln road. THE I'TNANCK. The monthly balance sheet showed the genera! account overdrawn 19,', and the loan account £736 15/2 in credit. Accounts were passed, and the Board rose,