MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 122, 22 June 1909, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD.

■TIi e regular meeting of the above Board was held on .Saturday last, when there were present—Messrs. Trinibl(chairman), Corkill, Jones, Lawrence, Mundt, Stead and Williams.

MOTUKAWA TUNNEL.

The committee appointed to meet Mr. Orbcll to consult with him as to the condition of No. 1 tunnel on Motukawa Road, brought up their report. They had instructed. Mr. Orbell to have the inlet to the tunnel timbered, and to recommend to the Board to line part of the tunnel with concrete next summer.—Approved. EXIiUNEER'S rtiifOßT.

The engineer reported that the Motukawa tunnel was completed about a fortnight ago, but as the stream was very deep, and was subject to buckwater from the Waitara River m times of flood, it would settle considerably and would require to be made up ill about six months' time. Tne Jlana Road bridge building should be complct-. Ed about next Wednesday, file Davis Road fencing had been completed. ' In reply to a letter on the subject, the engineer reported that the cost of the tunnel on the Motukawa Roan «as £4B (Is Bd, which for a tunnel, 82ft.'fiin. long, 7ft. wide at the bottom,' and !Mt. wide 4ft. from the bottom, and 10ft. flin. high, and allowing Is per yard for 1110terial in approaches, left the cost of the tunnel Is lid per foot. The filling, 1400 yards, had cost £4G 8s 7d, equai to 8d per yard. Some discussion took place on an item of £2 2s charged ay Messrs. OrVII and Mackay for bridge plans. The chairman had issued the cheque, which was held for consideration of this £2 2s, and he explained that he had spoken to Mr. Chamney about it, but he held that it was intended that the Board should not be called on to pay that amount. Later, however, he, saw Mr. •Lawrence, and they thought the amount should be paid, in the hope of better treatment from Mr. Orbell in the future. The clerk was instructed to write to Mr. W. Lcccß and ask him for the ' £2 2s, the liability having been incur- 1 red at his request.

TENDERS. The following tenders wen.' accepted for gravelling and metalling work:— Durham East. W. H. Stephens, 2s 3d; Durham West, J. Rowan, 2s lid; Dudley West, J. Tarry, 4s; Lcpper South, J.' Swan, Us !)d; Egmont South, G. Swan, 4s (id. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. The foremen's reports were then read, and the following works author;i.scd:—Dudley West: See to rcpiirs when opportunity occurs. Suffolk road: Vut in pipe enlvert and write to Butler ve carting the pipes. .fnhns road: Kcndrick to make the drain. Toi 'J'oi road: Alterations to lie made under direetion of Mr. Corkill. Tenders to l>e ealled for 40 yards or boulders for fiata|iiko road, to close on Wednesday, Till .lulv, the eliairman, Messrs Corkill and Lawrence to he a- committee to open' and deal with same.—The cleric was instructed to write to Mr. Musemann re sledging on tlie road, and to M. Marsh, re new culvert. STRIKING' THE RATE. The chairman said this was the meeting at which they had to fix the rate for the current year. Last year they had increased the rate, from %(l to 'two-thirds of n penny, wliidi had ■riven them .C4OO more to spend on the roads, and the result "had been very satisfaenrv, as they not only had the roads 'in lietter order, lrat they were also financially sounder. There was no doubt that manv of tire roads were very Imd vet, but he hoped in time these would lie improved, and for taat reason lie thought it was advisable to keep flic rate up to the same as last year, at'anyrate for this year, as under the lower rate they could not keep the roads up. He thought to do the roads justice they ought to employ a tonrtn uerimwent hand; not just now,because this was a time of the year when they could not undertake any great deal ot work but from about October, Wiien the new rates began to come in, tie thoiK'ht it would be advisable to jmt on a fourth permanent hand. They would start their year in a very rnne.l better position, and he thought another year's rate like the last would make 'everything much better. He would therefore move, That the rate of twothirds of a penny be struck for the current vear." . The Board approved this, and formal notice of motion was given for next meetinw when the chairman will also move in the direction »f striking a special rate of one-sixteenth of a penny m the pound to pay interest on the general loan— Abridged from Record.