MOA ROAD BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 301, 17 June 1912, Page 6

MOA ROAD BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of tho Moa ' Koad Hoard was held at the Board's office, fnglewood, on Saturday, when there were present: Messrs. Trimble (chairman), llopsoh, Lawrence, Corkill, Williams, Bridgeman, Bishop and Collingwood. DURHAM ROAD WEST. Messrs. H. Trimble and A. E. Law- I rence reported that the new metalling at the upper end of the road had been carried out, but was four chains short of what was expected to be done, and the balance of the loan money would not complete more than a further two chains. They recommended that when the road was dry the new metal should be properly finished off; and that sufficient metal for two chains should be left at Mr. Olivers' gate. They also recommended a bonus of £2 to the foreman. The excess of boulders now being carted out should be charged to the ordinary account and used for repairing the road near the new work, as it would probably break up a good deal owing to the firewood carting, Steps should be • taken, if possible, to prevent any firewood carting over the new metal this winter.—The report was adopted. Mr. Bridgenian remarked that settlers on the Durham road greatly appreciated the action of Mr. A. E. Lawrence in laying off the work for the expenditure of

the loan monev. KING KOAD. The chairman and Mess Colliugwood, Williams and Chard repoi.. lon the King road, which they stated was in fair, order as far as Mr. Bishop's. They did not think, however, that there was the slightest prospect, with the funds avail- ! 1 able, of making it suitable for wheeled traffic for a distance of a mile and a half, from Bishop's to Longstaff's. The King road was formed to within a few chains I of the property from the other side, and | a comparatively small expenditure would j probably enable vehicles to be brought i up from that side. If Mr. Longstaff's I rates were paid to the County Council I that body might assist. It was resolved { I that the committee meet Mr. Longstaff again on the matter, | MONTHLY STATEMENT. ■ The monthly statement showed receipts to have been £56 '6s lid, and expenditure £149 14s 6d. The bank balance showed credits as follows: Loan account £156 4s 2d, general account £l7Ol 17s 3d.

LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES

Mr. W. Hatha way, chairman of - the Stratford County Council, notified that he had interviewed the Minister with other delegates to the conference, but the Minister had replied that he could not give the local todies much hope of obtaining advances for .some time until the position had been reconsidered. Mr. H. Okey, M.P., notified that he had laid the matter before the Minister and Mr. J. B. Hine also stated that strong representations would be forwarded to the Minister protesting against such action. Mr. A. M. Myers, Minister of Finance, wrote that although it was the desire of the Board to assist local authorities as much as possible there should be no real cause of complaint, seeing that the Moa Road Board had had either in actual grants or engagements no less a sum than £4855. The demands on the Department's resources had been so heavy and numerous that already the sum of £2,000,000 had been exceeded, and at the present juncture, as there must be some finality to such severe pressure on the funds available, it had been deemed necessary to make the said limit. PIPE-MAKING. The chairman reported that the pipe moulds, as altered, had come to hand from Messrs. Okey and Rollo, and a trial had been made of various sizes, fifteen pipes having been made. Some of the smaller moulds required alteration, which would be attended to. The report was adopted. Mr. Corkill expressed satisfaction at the success that had attended the manufacture of the pipes. Undoubtedly, he said, it would save the Board a great deal of money.

Later in the afternoon the members of the Board paid a visit to the pipe works, and expressed appreciation at the class of pipes turned out by Mr. Ward. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman Williamson reported that the Dudley Road, west, required patching and attention to water-tabling, etc. Bedford road, in common with most of the other roads, also required attention. The swing bridge on the Bedford road needed repairing, .and he suggested a concrete wall, about 1% chains long, to divert the water. Metal was required as follows: Kapu road 30yds., Hursthouse 35yds., and Upland road 20yds, The foreman was instructed to attend to various repairs. Foreman Jonea had put 18 chains of metal on the loan job at the Durham road. He had also used pipes on this job. Various contracts had been completed. An old culvert on the Norfolk west road had fallen in, and required 24 feet of 2ft. pipes. Foreman Knofflock reported that he had been cleaning water-tables, raking up and banking up on various roads. Work was also needed on the Lincoln and Bristol road west. Various contracts had been started.—The foreman was instructed to attend to work on the Bristol W., Kaimata N., and Lincoln roads.

Foreman Bennett had been working on the Motukawa, Ratapiko, Mana, Kainiata, Kupara and Toitoi roads. He was instructed to attend to various work on the Salisbury and Ross roads. GENERAL RATE. On the motion of Messrs. Corkill and Hopson it was resolved to levy a rate of 2-3 d in the £ for the ensuing year. An amendment by Messrs. J. Williams and Lawrence that the rate be the same as at present, viz., %d,was lost, as it was pointed out that under the new valuation the 2-8 d rate would produce more than the %d rate was now producing. The chairman gave formal notice to move at next meeting that a 2-3 d rate be struck. GENERAL. The Board decided to renew its accident insurance with the Ocean Accident Company. Mr. Broadmore drew attention to the rough state of the, Dudley road.—The foreman is to attend to the matter. The chairman's action in letting a contract for supply of gravel on the Lepper road to Clough Bros, at 6s per yard was confirmed. Accounts were passed for payment as follows:—General £177 19s, loan £27 16s M.