MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 155, 22 June 1908, Page 4

MOA ROAD BOARD.

The lloa Hoad Hoard met on !nU*.!"- j day. Present: Mes>is. 11. Trimble j (chairman!, I'hard, Chamncv, Capper. Curkill, I'obv, Lawrence, Sutherland and Young. THE KATE. The chairman moved to strike a rate of 2-3 <»l afU'Uiiv in the C on the lateable value of the ilistrltt. In doim; su Mr. Trimble -aid that when the valuation of the di-trut was increased tw ( "' years ago the rate was reduced to a half-penny ill the t, but the amount raised proved to lie insufficient to keep the OJads in order, lie requested members to ask themselves whether their action in cutting down the revenue had proved of benelit to the roads, ami V was quite eertain that if tliev aiMvernl honestly the reply must lie in the ne«a-

live. They all knew the increasing number of applications for road repairs, applications that had to lie clei lined for want of funds. The result was that the roads suffered. Members who pissed a rates insufficient for the needs of the district were not fulfilling the duty for! which they were appointed. Mr. Sutherland seconded. Mr. Chamney moved to continue L o levy the half-penny rate. He was sorry that his sense of duty seemed always Id plaoe him in opposition to the chairman on the question of rates. The settlers, in his opinion, were rated quite heavily enough already, and he thought settlers ■with extraordinary needs should (fx themselves with a -pceLil rate until th: y got their roads into good order. Mr. "\oung seconded the amendment,

and said that if lie and others in his' district were on a metalled road he would have supported the motion. As they were now situated the settlors would not get value for their mon,?v. Even now they were paying general and special rates up to Is ltd jkt aero on ti" valuation of £ti ss, and Mr. Trimble's proposal wtJuld mean another penny an acre.

Mr. Capper said that settlers in tins district considered they wcro alrea.iy sufficiently rated.

The amendment was put xnd los£. Ayes: Messrs Chamney, Capper, Corkin, and Young: Noes: the chairman. Messrs Lawrence, Chard, Sutherland, and Hobv. The motion was then put and carried. UNPAID KATES. A discussion concerning unpaid rates followed. The clerk said there was a very small Bum in arrears, and this would be collected in the next few weeks.

Any rates unpaid at the end of June will be placed in the hands of the Board's solicitor for collection. NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Mr. Chamney moved that pennyroyal be declared a noxious jveed in the, district.

■Mr. Hoiiy seconded. M.\ C'orkill said there was lie doubt, that pennyroyal was spreading. and li, had been credibly- informed that it was. a very difficult weed to eradicate. The chairman said he didn't think tint scheduling these weeds and fining a fenpeople would ever eradicate thom. The inspectors were increasing, but the weed? continued to increase, too. He woul'fl like to know what means could "00 Adopted to kill this weed. That seemed to him a more important matter. The motion was carried. 1 li'> I'hairn;'!!! dissenting as a protest against the principle, explaining that in his opinion thev were working along wrong lines. Several members spoke cf the sucoersful treatment of ragwort. Mr. Capper, said he could carry all his ragwort ,11: his back, whilst a year or two ago drays would not have been sufficient. ' PROPOSED XF.W IJItIDOK. Mr. A. Leech waited on the Board and presented a petition asking the Board fo raise a loan of £I3OO for the erect;,-sr. of a bridge over the Manga mii mi the BrMol-Kverett road. He explained '.ln; tlii> would not be a sufficient amount, but the settlers hoped to make outgood ease for a Government subsidy. Jt was probable, too, that another 'loa'.n would have to lie raised immediately 'n: metalling, but there was a chance of some of the settlers on the Ingletvood side of the stream supporting this 'at--1 ter.

After a lengthy discussion it was cided to make application for a Govern ment subsidy. FOREMEN'S REPORTS.

I'pon the reading of the foremen's reports, repairs were authorised to the Bedford, Norfolk, Dudley. Egmonl. Windsor, Upland South, and Raima'., roads, and to call tenders for 50 vsi rd of stone on Durham road east. GENERAL.

It was decided to applv lo the Wnitara Road Board for a refund in conn ection with expends for the Davi- road. The chairman gave notice to consider at uert meeting the question of purchasing a grader for road work. _ A rpeeial order was made, 011 the motion of the chairman and Mr. ('hard, to raise the additional ten per cent 011 the Jo'ins road loan. The question of the cost of the burial of a dead beast was discussed at some length, and the matter was left in th.' sands of the chairman lo deal with. Mr. A. E. Surrey, mill-owner, wa,-. wanted permission to lav a tramway across the Everett road, the work to be done to the satisfaction of the Boards orerseer.

It was decided to applv to the Wsiwakaiho, Road Board for the metal lvin» on the Upper Oarrington road. Accounts amounting to £lol' 35 «d Were paswd for payment.