MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 155, 18 November 1912, Page 6

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual meeting of the Moa Road Board was held at the Board's office, Itiglewood, 011 Saturday, when there were present: Messrs. H. Trimble (chairman), O. A; Bridgeman, A. Chard, J. Collingwood, ,T. Williams, W. B. Bishop, A. E. Lawrence. M. llopson and A. Corkill. TENDERS. Tenders were received and dealt with as follows: Bristol road, 320 yds. broken stone, C. H. Lawrence. 7s Od (accepted); Rowan and Thomason, 120 yds, 7s Od, and 200 yds. at 8s; A. ,T. Douoh, 8s Od. 150 yds. boul'ders, Dudley West, Swan and McGee, 2s 5d (accepted); A. J. Douoh, 2s Gd; Broadmore Bros., 2s Gd; Rowan and Thomason, 2rt Ud. 150 yds. boulders Durham East, 13. A. Lawrence, 3s lOd (accepted); A. J. Doueh, 3s lid; Rowan and Thomason, 4s id. 250 yds. 'boulders, Durham West, E. A. Lawrence 3s !)d (accepted); Rowan and Thomason, 3s lOd; A. J. Douch,- 3s lOd. 150 yds. boulders, Egniont South, A. J. Douch, 3s Od (accepted); Swan and McGee, 4s lid; Rowan and Thomason, 5s 2d; J. T. Thomason, 5s od. 50yds. broken stone, Kaimata North, Rowan and Thomason, 8s (a?cepted); W. H. Julian, 8s; C. IT. Lawrence, 8s Od; A. J. Douch, 8s 9d. 200 yds. -boulders, Kaimata South, A. J. Douch, 5s (accepted) ; Rowan and Thomason, ss; C. IT. Lawrence, 5s Id. - 40yds. .boulders. King. Swan and McGee, 6s 2d (accepted); J. T. Thomason, j Os fid, Rowan and Thomason, (is Gd. j 30yds. boulders, Lepper South, Rowan and Thomason, 4s Gd (accepted); Swan ! and McGee, 4s 9d. IBOyds. boulders, Mangaotea, A. J. 1 Douch, 4s 2d (accepted); E. A. Lawrence. 4s sd; C. H. Lawfl-ence, 4s Gd; Rowan and Thomason, 4s Gd. 80yds. iboulders, Mangaone, Rowan and Thomason. Ga Gd (accepted); C. H. Lawrence, Gs Bd. 250 yds. broken stone. Motuhawa, Rowan and Thomason, 7s Gd (accepted); A. J. Douch, 7s Gd. 100 yds. boulders. Norfolk West, E. A. Lawrence. 3s lid (accepted); A. ,T. Douch, 4s 2d; Rowan and Thomason, 4s 2d.

100 yds. boulders, Norfolk .East, A. J. Doufc'h, 2s lid (accepted); Rowan and Thomason, 3s Rd; J. Butler, 3s Gd. 50yds. boulders, Ratapiko, D. Farier, 7s.fid (accepted); Rowan and Thomason, 7s lid; C. H. Lawrence, 8s fid; A. J. Douch, 8s Bd. 200 yds. boulders, Ross. Rowan and Thomason, 4s Id (accepted); A. J. Douch 4s 3d; E. A. Lawrence, 4s 3d; C. H. Lawrence, 4s 7d. 100 yds. boulders, Rugby, A. .T. Douch, 3s 8d (accepted); Rowan and Thomason, 3s lid; E .A. Lawrence, 4s. 100 yds. boulders. Surrey, D. Favier. 3s Bd'(accepted): E. A. Lawrence, 3s Bd. 200 yds. boulders. Suffolk, W. IL Julian, 3s fid (accepted); C. H. Lawrence,-3s 7d; Rowan and Thomason, 3s 7d; A. J. Douch, 3s Bd. 200v<ls. boulders, Upland North, A. J. Douch, 4s 2d (accepted); Swan and McGee, ss; J. J. Thomason, 5s 3d. 42yds. boulders, Upland South, J. T. Thomason, 5s 3d (accepted); Swan and Mefiee, 5s 4d.

72yds. gravel, Upland J. T. Thomason,' 7s 5d (accepted); Swan and McGee, 7s Gd. 50vdr?. boulders, Windsor, Swan and McGee, 2s 5d (accepted); A. J. Douch, 2s Gd; Broadmore Bros., 2s Gd; Rowan and Thomason. 2s 10rl. (tOvds. broken stone. Wortley, W. H. Julmn. 7s 9d (accepted). The lowest tender was accepted in every case, save when there waa a tie, and Hie matter was decided by lot. MOTUKAWA ROAD. Six settlers on the Motukawa Road asked that any money available should be spent on metalling, beginning at the Junction Road end. Mr. Gorkill said that he had written to Mr. Standish and offered to meet tbe settlers and discuss their requirements prior to the meeting of the committee appointed to arrange the metal, require-; ments for the year. They had not taken advantage of this, and he thought that i the resolution of the committee for which tenders bad been called should be adhered to. There was a good deal of the road level that required no metal, but other parts required it badly. After tenders had been accepted the matter was further discussed, and it was | decided that it was now too late to alter as "tenders had been called for delivery at certain places. KAII'I ROAD.. Mr. Berrv waited on the Board, and referred to the disgraceful state of the Kaipi Road, to which he alleged the' Board .paid practically no attention, the surfaceman having been on it about two days in the last three years. He stated J that one of the County ratepayers who used the road informed him that the Taranaki County Council would contribute £2O, whilst the settlers who-had on various occasions put in several days work would .also contribute £lO. Providing the £3O i* contributed as above mentioned, the Board will make a contribution of £lO. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman Ward reported that a ton of cement would make 52 9-irich pipes and 50 12-inch pipes. During the month he had made 42 12-inch pipes and 36 0-inch pipes. He had repaired the bridge on the Bedford Road. When the old one was pulled to pieces it all fell apart being so rotten, necessitating v extra timber. The 200 pipes required would be cornallowed to purchase six 9-inch pipes and aq 0} pajjsu an ■sXiq) moj v ut also to be allowed to use tbe casing of the 12-incli pipe to make a roller.

Foreman .Tones hart raked and Winded metal on Norfolk East Road and, had levelled the lower part near Mr. Ryan's. TTe had put in a culvert, using six 9-inch pipes, but required two more to make a niee job of it. TTe had patched the Durham West Road, and at the top end of the Norfolk Road had filled in the mud holes with rushes. There was no maintenance metal on the Bedford Road, hut in a few days a man could break a few boulders in the pit, which were badly needed for repairs. No metal would be available for this road out of the 100 yards '/rented to Norfolk West.

Foren j:i Tiennett had been employed at various work on the Mana, Ratapiko, Kaimati' Knnara and Kohili roads. He !>■),! ;i1- - been repairing the wing-wall of the br'' on the Motukawa Road. The cln.v port-ion of the Kaimata road required attention as did also the Kupara road.

Foreman Knoffloek had obtained 38 vard* of metal out of Leech's pit, and bad put it on the Bristol Road, east and "•est. A bid hole on the Richmond Road had been repaired with 6 yards of inetnl. y-tnirsiono Road had aiso been attended to. Julian had finished his Suffolk Road contract. The work for next; month included formation and metalling Suffolk Road, also maintenance work 011 the York, Bristol, and Mangaone Road bridtres.

Foreman J. Williamson had been attending to necessary repairs on the TT "Ttlio'.i?e, Frrmont Smith, Dudley, Lepper South, Bedford Fast. Bedford West, nnd TTpland North Roads. He had also nut pegs where the boulders were rennired. Some metal was also required for patching the Lepper North Road 'i '.n' TTm-Mumso Road, whilst pipes and '"Hal wore required on the Bedford West, Bedford East, and Dudley Roads. TTo had also put in pipes 011 the Upland North Road. About 10 yards would make the road at Waiongona passable for a time, lmt about three chains of jjend was almost worn out. He suggested that the Moa Dairy Company's suppliers should he asked to assist with

labor. He also asked if the Board would authorise him to employ a man at 9s per clay, as he could not get one for 1 (WS. The foremen's reports were adopted and various works authorised. THE WACES QUESTION. Considerable discussion took place on (he question of wages to be paid to foremen and casual "hands. The question was introduced by a letter received from Foreman Jones, who tendered his resignation, giving as his reason thai, he considered ilie wages received not sufficient. He was .willing to continue oil in the Board's employ if they could see their wav to pay him Os per day wet and dry. Failing this ho would like his resignation accepted from date. The Board at present pay their foremen Os per day, actual time worked, and their casual hands Ss actual time worked. Mr. Collingw ood said if one foreman's wages were raised, the others would have to be, and some were not worth it.

The Chairman to place something before the meeting, moved that the resignation be accepted. He admitted that Mr. Jones was .a good foreman, hut he did not like the tone of the letter, it was too much like holding out a pistol and saying "give mo the money or I'll go." Mr. C'orkill said they had been warding off the wages question long enough. They should have to give the 9s wet and dry, but then they could command good men. He certainly 'believed Jones was worth the money, but they had employed men who were not. Finally, on the motion, of Mr. 1.-uir-enee, seconded .by Mr. Chard, it was resolved that in future the Board nay its foremen 9s per day wet and dry,' and that all the present foremen he given a month's notice terminating tjheir Engagements. Applications to he called at next meeting to fill the vacancies, all the present foretnen to be eligible to apply for re-instatemcnt. Foreman Jones will be asked in the meantime to hold his resignation over pending the reorganisation. Two foreman' also icomplained that they could not get casual labor for 9s per day, and asked to be allowed to pay 9s. 1 ' After some discussion it was resolved that casual labourers should be paid 9s per day, foremen to obtain the hest available. Mr. emphasising the fact' : that boys or "hobble-de-hoys"; should not be engaged. GENERAL; ' W. Eaton, Palmerston North, wrote asking; if the Board intended to continue the formation of the Norfolk Road up towards the Mountain Reserve this summer—To be informed that there is only motfejr available for maintenance, i ")Ir. Okcy, M.P., forwarded a copy of the County Telephone Lines Act. ' The Chairman reported re the Kin" Road deviation, that he had bought the necessary land from Mr. Jordan,—Action confirmed and vote of thanks passed to \ the Chairman.

Mr. Longstaflf is also to he notified that if he does not proceed with the work at once the Board will withdraw its offer, viz.; to allow him to make the J King Road passable for Jiim for £lO. The monthly statement, showed that receipts amounted to £44 Is lid. of which ; the principal items wore .rates? £3O 0s '[3d; Stratford County Council, £l2. Expenditure was £los'.lPs lOd. The hank ) balance showed ■ credits ■to general acj count £4lO 10s 3d, and loans account j £124 3s Od. I Accounts amounting to £lsl 10s Id were passed for payment. '