MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 18 December 1911, Page 7

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. !

The monthly meeting of the Moa Road Board' was held at Inglewood on Saturday, when there were present.:—Messrs. H. Trimble (chairman), G. Bridgenuin, R. T. Williams, J. Collingwood, J. Williams, A. Chard, A. E. Lawrence:, A. Oorkill, and Anderson. DAVIS 1 ROAD.

Mr. W. B. Fiissell, clerk to the Waitara West Road Board, forwarded the following resolution passed at the last meeting of the board: "That the Moa Road Board he informed that on receipt of a; detailed statement of expenditure on the Davis Road proper (such statement aiot to include cost of administration), this board will contribute half cost each year, provided' such amount does not exceed two-thirds 01 the amount of rate collected by the board from the sections interested, which would be £ll. ,12s lOd." He also pointed out that there was a mile of road in the district that had to be kept in passable order, and his would take the 'balance of the money.

The chairman moved that the Waitara West Road Board be informed that this hoard think it would be better for each board to contribute half cost of maintaining Davis Road. Mr. Lawrence seconded this.

Mr. Oorkill said that the matter had been before the board' for several months past, and he 'would like to see finality arrived at. He suggested the appointment of a committee to meet the board. The chairman said,that he had met the board, and thought the' matter had been setlted on a 'basis of half cost being paid .by each board. Now they were placing limitations.

It was pointed out that the Waifcara West Road Board were willing to expend up to £8 in any one. year, and it was askedi, would they be agreeable to the money 'being spent in the ensuing year, provided all the money was- not expended this year? After some discussion, it was aigreed to add to the resolution the words, "and that they be asked to appoint a committee from this board." This resolution was then adoptexL Messrs. Corkill, Lawrence and the chairman were appointed the committee. KAIPI ROAD. Mr. Chard .referred to the Kaipi road, which was the only outlet of a number of county -settlers, who paid no rates, 'towardl.-* its upkeep. He suggested that'the County Council should be asked for a contribution; in fact, they should not need to be as.ked; they should offeri an annual contribution. —It was resolved to adopt the suggestion. UPLAND ROAD. The chairman stated he had authorised a deviation of this road near Mr. Belts'. This would take about £6O, in addition to the £ 1500 loan already applied for, and it would probably be necessary therefore to raise the additional 10 per cent., which could be done without altering the rate already struck. The chairman'* action was confirmed,, on the motion of Messrs. Lawrence and Chard.

Mr. Bishop's offer to fence the deviation through Hurfetone's at !)s per chain was accepted. On the motion of Mr. Chard, it was resolved to call tenders for 25 yards of metal for the top end of Upland road. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Mr. S. Oi-bell, engineer, reported as follows.—

Bristol road bridge: Owing to the w-fet weather and tho scarcity of labor, *e have been unable to complete the approaches. The stripping of the bridge was completed last Tuesday, and a start was made with the filling, which should be completed within a few days. I

Bristol road (metalling): The contractor has opened up the pit and obtained al)oiit 60 yards of metal. On Monday last he was carting metal on to another road. He has not nearly enough mem employed to complete: in contract time.

Upland road: The formation of the deviation through Mr. Hurlestone's is. completed, and the contractor for forming and metalling is also making good progress.

Kohttte road bridges: I forward estimates for rebuilding two small bridges oil' this road. They cannot be built of iron/bark any cheaper than concrete. ' The scttlters are to be informed of the> state of the bridges and the engineer's report, and that it is advisable to go in for a loan. •FOREMEN'S REPORTS/"

Foreman Knofflock reported that he had been patching, forming, and cleaning water-tables on Kairmtta North and Maragaone roads. L. Bishop had started his job on Kaimata North road. A bridlge on this iroad was dangerous and some decking required renewing at once, as it was dangerous. He considered a danger board should be erected at once He also would like the services of a man for a few weeks.—Consideration of the latter request was held over.

Foreman Stachurski had spread 64 yards of gravel on Egmont North, and 19 1 yards of metal on Hursthouse road. He had repaired a bridge 'on Bedford roajd. A bridlge on the Upland road also required repairs. He had also repaired Upland: road south amd Dudley road west. Work was required on Dudley West and King road. Work to be done as suggested. Foreman Jones reported l that he» had patched parts of Surrey, Durham West, Norfolk Bast and Rugby roads. Norfolk East was now in good order. He had put up marks on roads where stone was to be flipped. L. Bishop had pulled out CO yards stone on Durham West road. Furtbcir work was required on this road, audi also on Durham East and, Norfolk West roads, where he had a few loads of stone left.

■Foreman W. Bennett had been attending to water-tables, formation and, patchin? on Motmkawa, Ratapiko, Kaimata and Mana roads. He had tested the Ratapiko road, which he found not suitable for tunnelling. Work was required on the Rotate, Ratapiko and Mana roadls. ':

The foreman was authorised to take 1 delivery of 200 yards of metal on Motukawa road. i MONTHLY STATEMENT. I

Tlifi monthly statement showed that rates had; teen received amounting to £152 9s Id. The ■expenditure had been £127 5s 7d (general) and £l4O 18s 9d (loan). The bank balance showed credits as follows: General account £603 2s sd, loan account £.1090 10s sd. RATAPIKO ROAD. The chairman pointed out that it was found impossible to put a tunnel through this road, and that meant a concrete culvert. To erect this a loan was necessary. Accordingly Messrs. Lawrence, Anderson and himself had attended a meeting of ratepayers interested. Owing to the wet weather there was not the requisite number of settlors present to make it certain that the loan would be carried, but all were agreed on its necescity. The culvert was absolutely necessary, as otherwise the road niight he blocked at any time bv the present bridge collapsing. He 'thought thev should take; preMmimwy steps to apply for a loan of £l5O for the work, and also authorise the engineer to proceed with the work. He moved in this direction.—Seconded by Mr. Anderson, and carried. DURHAM ROAD. The chairman announced that provisional consent had been received to the

Durham West road loan of £l5O. The j rate of interest would be 3% per cent., I instead of V/., per cent.; with sinking } fund it would he £5 Is, instead of £4j 17s (kl per cent. The rate of l-18d al- j ready struck would cover this.—-.Tenders will be called for this work to close at! next meeting. GENERAL. I Mr. A. F. Wilson, inspector of rabbits I and noxious weeds. Stratford, asked to be informed of the noxious weeds that had been declared by the board up to date. The chairman reported that Mr. Tippins had made further complaints about wandering hulls on the Mangaone road, and he had given instructions for a prosecution.—The chairman's action was unanimously approved. A draft of the lease with Mr. Tarry for the pipe shed site 'was submitted and approved, and the chairman was appointed to affix the board's seal.

Mr. A. McL. Mcßea, Waiitui, wrote pointing out that the road beyond Mr. Hunter's was in a very bad condition, and as it was his only outlet to Inglewood, he asked that something might be done to it.—Resolved to 'inform him that the road will receive the foreman's attention during the summer weather. Tenders were accepted as follows: MotuKawa road, 180 yards metal, L. Bishop, (is 4d; Bristol' West, 60 yards, 6»5d.

S. Lowe's tender for supply of 50 yards broken stone in Davis pit at 2s 9d per cubic yard was accepted. Accounts were passed for payment as follows: General £139 12s ffd; loan, £207 2s Od.