MOA ROAD BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 74, 18 September 1911, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. < The monthly meeting of the Moa Road 1 ! Board was held on Saturday, when there were present: Messrs H. Trimble (chairman), Brhlgeman, K. T. Williams, A. Chard, A. E. Lawrence and C. 11. Anderson. ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES. The chairman said that when discussing the rate, he. had stated that the percentage deducted from the rates tor administration expenses could be reduced. He had since gone into the mutter, and found that 12 per cent, would be sufficicnt. This would be a reduction of 2 per cent, on last year, and as the subsidy received on account of rates was 1214 per cent, this year, as against 11 pei cent, last year, it would be seen that they were in a much better position. In fact, the whole of the rates could he expended on the roads. He therefore moved that 12 per cent, he deducted this year for administration expenses.—Carried unanimously. A COMPLAINT.

Foreman Bennett appeared to answer a charge preferred by Mr, -Simons, ol liatapiko, to the effect that he was not putting in full time on the road's. The evidence of Mr. and Mrs. »Simons was taken last meeting, at which Mr. Bennett did not appear, as he luul not received the letter notifying him of the charge. Foreman Bennett denied the charge in itoto. He said that lie arrived at work on the Mangatea road at a.m., and had "knocked off" at 5 p.m. He always worked eight hours, according to his own watch, and not according to anyone else's. His conscience wa3 quite clear that he worked the full eight hours each day, and he pointed out that the work which he ha<l done to repair the road after pig-rooting had taken three days six hours, and he would challenge Mr. Simons to do it a day and a half, as he stated he could. This only showed his ignorance of the matter, as the road was in a disgraceful state with pig-rooting. Mr. Anderson had told him he was surprised it did not take six days to repair. He considered the complaint arose out of spite on account of the pig* incident. The statements were unfair and incorrect.

Mr. Lawrence pointed out that Mr. Simons did not complain of the price charged for repairing the road after tlu« pigs, but his complaint was that the foreman was not giving the ratepayers value 'for their money. Foreman Bennett said he was quite satisfied that lie had wanked hi.-* full eight hours, but if the Board were not .satisfied with the work he was doing, they were at liberty to dispense with his services. He did not care, as he felt he. had done, his duty. After some little discussion, it was resolved to inform Mr. Simons tliat the Board were satisfied with the foreman's explanation. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. S. Orbell (engineer) (reported that the Bristol road bridge had how been completed about a fortnight, with the exception of removing the boxing, which would be done as soon as the concrete had been sufficiently set A. survey of the Upland road deviation through Mr. Ilurlstone's property had been made, but plans were not yet complete. The engineering work'arid"plan's'of 'the road to lte metailed were completed, and tenders had been called for the earthwork. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman .Stachurski (No. 1 Division) reported that he had spread 70 yards of metal on Dudley road west, prepared 23' yards in the Jlursthousc road pit. which | the settlers had refused to cart lie had also done some work on the Bedford road. Work was also needed on the Kaipi and Kgmonl south xoadx

It was resolved that the foreman arrange for carting metal on llursthousc road. Jn 'response to a request from settlers, broken metal will be used on the Dudley road instead of gravel. The foreman was instructed to level some lumps on the hopper, road. Foreman T. Knoliloek reported on work done during the month on Kaimata North, Lincoln and York roads. About 50 yards of metal was required on Bristol road East • A side tilling o.n the Lincoln road required fencing, ius cattle were destroying it by climbing up and down. Some pigs on the Kverett road had rooted the banks into the watertables He had interviewed the owner, who promised to repair the damage and shut the pigs away.The clerk is to notify the ratepayer re straying -pig*- .jThfi;.,a/stion of the chairman in blinding metal on Bristol road was continued,. Foreman .Tones reported that lie had repaired Bugby road, which was now in fair order. On • Johns .road the metal had been bunked up through the swamp, and about HO chains .at the top had been picked in. Parts of the Durham Fast road had been repaired. He was now working on the Norfolk West road, after which he would attend to the Durham West road.

Foreman Bennett reported that he had been attending to water-tables at Kaimata, Boss and Kolietc raids. L. Bishop had completed his contract for the delivery of 150 yards of boulders on Kaimata South road.' Watei-tables on the Kapara, Motukawa and Toi Toi roads required attention. A bridge on the Kohete road . was dangerous for heavy traffic. A committee, consisting of the chairman, Messrs. If. T. Williams and Lawrence, was appointed to inspect the .Kohete bridge and report at nest meeting. BALANCJC-SHKF/T. The monthly balance-sheet showed that receipts 'had, been £l5B IS' Id (rates £(il lis Sd) and expenditure (J14,") 4s The bank balance -bowed credits as follows:—.Loans account £11215 Its lid, •rcneral account £4H2 5s !)d. DAVIS BOAD.

! Mr. W. B. Fussell, clerk to the Waiturn West Road Hoard, acknowledged receipt of the Hoard's letter re apportionment, of the up-keep of the Davis road. He stated that his Board would like to know how m'ucih of the £4 lis 4d had been spent in surfacemen's wages during the Inst two years The information has 'been forwarded. HIRE WORKS. The' committee -appointed to arrange re manufacture of concrete pipes reported that they had arranged with Mr. Tarry for a site-at .-the. Njratoro. and would proceed with the erection of a shed and ordering of moulds at once. The chairman gave notice to move at next meeting that the cost of the pipe works he charged to the bridge fund. (.iKNKRAL. Messrs. Corkill, Laurence, R. T. Williams and the chairman were appointed to operate upon the Hoard's loan account at the I'.ank of New Zealand. I Mr. I'. Marsh waited on the Hoard land asked for some pipes so that lie jconid put in a culvert on his property, Upland road, across some water hacked up by a lilling that the Hoard had made. —The chairman pointed out that this filling »;ii done about U> years ago, and lie thought the length of time that had elapsed without any claim having been made practically prevented it succeeding. If he made an application in writing, it would he referred to the Hoard's ' solicitor. j It was resolved to credit the Bristol

road west with £5 from the Bristol road cast loan on account of damage done to the road through carting bridge material. It was also decided to refund .Cllb Ms Cd to the general account 'from the loan account. Tenders for work on the Upland road were dealt with as follows: —Caddy and Hurlstone £155 0s and pipes 2s 3d per foot (accepted); J Swan, LliOG 17s (id, pipes (is 4d. Accounts were passed for payment as follows: Genera! £134 18s, loan £2!>B 5s lid.