MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 20 May 1907, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD.

i The Moa Road Board met on Saturday at lngiewood. Present: Me-srs H. Trimble, A. Corkill, T. Chaliney, A. E. Lawrence, A. Chard, G. Marsh, U. Capper, I'. Hoby, and C. Young. APPOINTMENT 01' CHAIRMAN. The clerk took the chair, and called on the Hoard to elect its chairman for the ensuing term. Mr Chard moved, and Mr Capper seconded, that -Mr Trimble be re-elected Speaking to the motion, Mr Chain-

' ii'\v said tli.it ail the old members knew how; hard Mr Trimble had worked for | the Hoard, not only at the meetings, ! Inn at all times and in all places of trie | district, supervising work anil inspeet- | iug roads so as to be aide to report to | t!ie Board, lie considered there WiouM | be some means of m iking recompense for srvices such as these, and thought tjhe Act should be amend* <1 to give thai I power. | Mr Chard said he thought the I'.oaivl had power to pay expenses incurred between meetings. Mr "Marsh added his trihu;e to Mr Trimble's work, and regretted the 'J»oard had no power to vote him liis expenses or an honorarium. Mr Capper thought the remarks pointed to the necessity for forming the road district into a county, county councils having jnwor t:i pay the expenses of their chairman. Mr Corkill thought, U unfair til si the

chairman should have to act jn inspector and engineer without recompense. Mr Trimble was then declared elected, and thanked the members for electing him to the highest olTice it was in their power to bestow, and for their appreciation of liis services. LOAN MATTERS. The Treasury reported that the £llOO loan for Johns' road was now available; that the £250 for the. Bedford road, and £BO for the Mangaone load had been remitted to the Board's account.

It was decided to invite tenders for the metalling of Johns' road at the July meeting Messrs Henwood and Jordan presented a petition from 27 out of 35 fettlers interested, asking the Board to raise a loan of £3OOO for forming and metalling the Lincoln, York, Richmond, Wortley and Davis roads., to he spent on the different roads according to the vaiw atioh for rating purposes. The chairman explained that ihe Board's borrowing powers were, limited, and would only be able to raise .€0(10 of the loan this year. Jlr Young suggested that the Lincoln road should be metalled, and the remainder of the money spent on other roads.

Mr Ilenwood explained that in the opinion of the settlers the Lincoln road was a main road only as far' as the Richmond road corner; after tlvit it was on a level with the other roads. After some further discussion it was decided' to obtain a report from the Board's engineer. TOE TOE ROAD. The Treasury further notified that the £SO loan for Toe Toe road was available

Mr Chamney enquired why the Government grant of £SO, made two years ago, had not been spent, as authorised by the Board. The' road needed the money, yet only' £2O liad been . spent, and there was danger of the vote lapsing. The chairman explained that it had Bristol road from November to Janugrant profitably, so only £2O was spent and the remainder entered as a liability. The vote would not lapse. Mr Chamney considered ilie f lilure to spend this would jeopardise the Board's chances of getting any further assistance. He moved that the Board regrets tlie failure of the chairman and Mr Corkill to expend the grant. The chairman declined to accept'the motion, remarking again that all elforts to let tlie work had been fruitless.

Mr Lawrence thought the Board had "had quite enough of the Toe Toe road, and moved that any member unnecessarily introducing the matter be fined £l. Mr Marsh moved, and Mr Lawrence seconded, that the Board his every confidence in the action of the chairman and Mr Corkill. The motion was carreid. Mr S. E. Baigent sawmiller, forwarded details of timber carted over the Bristol road from November to January, ami enclosed cheque of £0 17< W, road levies. LEPPEH ROAD. The chairman reported that the contractor for work 011 Lepper road South had not commenced work, and he had arranged instead for the settlers on the road to repair it from end to a\n. He recommended that the Board make a grant of £ls for carting.—The chairman's action was approved, and . his recommendation adopted. DUDLEY ROAD. -Ml' Todd and three other ratepayers waited on the Board and complained of the stale of the Dudley road metal. They wanted to know it' the Board had any funds for expenditure 011 the road. Mr Todd mentioned that the foreman had done excellent work in water-tabl-ing, but the metal lud bc.'n neglected. The chairman stated there was about £2O to tlie credit of the road, and this would be spent. The deputation thanked the Board and withdrew. KAIMATA ROADS.

It was decided to grant £2O for re \ pairs to the Kaimatu, Bristol and llimutautake roads, provided the settlers contribute .€2O, or its equivalent in labor.—Mr Caper said that the Waitui settlers would probably not agree to this, for the opinion there was that the state of the roads was\lue to neglect of the foreman. The chairman explained to Mr Cip- ! per, as a new member, that the Board 1 ha\l been unable to obtain labor during tlie summer, and the foremen had boon taken from their ordinary work to spread metal on contracts. TKNUEKS. Tender* for stone were received- and dealt with: Bristol road—T. Nielsou (is (id per yard; K D. Stuart ."is 3d (accepted); li. Knollloek 5s lid; 11. Wilson . 5s lid. Kgmont road South —T. Swan .)« yd per yard (accepted). Maiigaone road— (J. Blackburn 3s 3d per yard (accepted); N. Villeger 3s 3d, T. Weliiim 3s 3d. GENERAL. The chairman and Messrs Young, Corkili and Jioby were appointed to sign cheijue;?. A ballot was taken to decide which members shall retire at the end of the first year, and the following names were drawn: —.Messrs Young, Corkili, Lawrence ami -Marsh. The Board went into committee to consider Mcßeth .and Co. s contract.— It was decided tit retain all moneys in hand.

A special cider, atithoriing the raising of 10 per cent on the Surrey road loan was made. It being reported that Bilslti had not finished clearing the s'iip on th..> Kuponga road, it was decided to giant a further sum of 7s for him to finish the work. .Mr IMarsh was authorised to have repairs done to Upland road. The Manga nui Road Boac! drew attention to the. need for repairs on ihc Ratapiko road. 'flie Kaimaia branch of tile Farmers'' I'nion asked for particular- of tlie of engineering and administration.—To l»e supplied.