MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 231, 18 February 1913, Page 7

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MOXTiII.Y M^FTIXtt. The ordinary merlin; 1 ihe Moa Road Board was heid at the i. ii'd's office, Inglewood. on Saturday. wnen there were present: Messrs. 11. Trim 1)1 o( in the chair). A. Corki]]. \V. li. Hishop. A. J. Bridgeman. .1. C«>Uiii«\vr»o(l. ,\. t'lnml, A. K. Laurence. Williams and M. 1 lopeon.

VORKMKX'S REPORTS. Foreman A. Wilmshurst reported that he had completed instructions with the exception of Lepper Road South, and the nine-inch pipes for culvert on the. Kgmont Road Xorl.ii. which were too close to the surface. Owing to heavy motor traffic there was a lot of loose metal on Egmont South Road, where they were at present engaged water tabling and blinding. The new inetal on the Upland Road Xorth required another coat of 1 blinding. All roads were badly in need of ralcing and blinding, and this with water tabling made progress very slow, lie also asked for three wheel barrows. He also wished the Borough ranger to be notified of horses being turned out on the Junction Road Saturday nights, which strayed on the Lepper Road Sundays doing damage, and not encouraging settlers to keep their cattle off the. roads. He had had considerable trouble finding out names and henceforth intended to give no further warning. Some metal contracts had not yet been commenced, whilst on others the breakers had started on the heaps. Two wheelbarrows will lie supplied, and the ranger's attention will be drawn to the nuisance.

Foreman R. Jones bad been engaged repairing Surrey and Johns roads? had to employ a man on the former. He had also attended to the bridge on the Rugby Road. Stona on the Surrey Road had been broken. The road between Mr. Taylor's and Derby Road was very rough and Mr. Martin wished something done while the weather was fine. He also complained of thfi manner in which a stone breaker had carried out his work, having thrown away into ditches and hedges a considerable quantity, and he suggested that something should be deducted for the cost of 'gathering these lip.

Foreman Knofflock had been employed on the Rimutauteka Road formation., where lie had put in 4 sets of pipes. He had also attended to the Bristol and Kaimnta North roads. Work was necessary 011 the Wortlev. Kaimnta North and Rristnl Tio'ids. A bridge nn Bristol Road East by Fortran's was jetting dangerous for heavy traffic. The foreman was instructed to report fully on the bridge. Foreman Bennett had been engaged at various work on the bnry, Ttoss, Mana, Kaimata and Motuliawa Roads. Rowan and Thompson liad carted 200 yards on Ross Road. <3O yards at Mangoatea. and had men in the Motuhawa pit ready to start Two sets of nine-inch culverts were required on the Motokawa Road to replace wooden culverts.

EGMONT ROAD OR A XT. Mr. G. T. Murray. Resident, Roads Engineer. asked the Board to submit proposals for the expenditure of the £SO Government grant on the Egmont Road. He suggested improvement in metallin" at the flat half a mile below the radius line, and at the part never yet metalled, about one and a half miles np from Egmont Village. Mr. A. L. Humphries, secretary to the New Plymouth Tourist and Expansion League, asked the Board if it eould see its way clear to have the road temporarily improved by removing tho excessive loose metal, which is at present a menace to motor traffic. He pointed out that the League had expended a great deal of money in advertising the district, with a view of attracting tourists to this part of the Dominion, and thev felt that if successful it would at least be beneficial to the whole of the residents this side of the Mountain. Already results lwd far] exceeded expectations. The League felt too. that if tho "Hoard would 00-operatol with it, that by united efforts they might eventually get a special grant to put the road in a thorough state of repair. The objects of the (League were to further the interests of the" district in eierv respect, and bv acceding to th° request the Board could rest assured that it would have their hearty support at any time, when approaching the Government for the assistance above mentioned.

It, this resolved to break down the boulders oil the unmet ailed portion of the road and ropaii- (he metal half a mile from the sate. BEDFORD ROAD BRTDOE. The chairman reported that lip had arranged with Mr. 0 oiler to make the neeossary n, P !ti, ' s at tlio Bedford Road bridge. TTi> had put in a concrete foundation under the old pier, and had diverted (lie river to tho south side. As soon as the wire netting- which had been ordered arrived, he would proceed to male" a boulder bank, with boulders 'h N'onhl he taken out of tho river c o as to further divert the water LOAX MATTERS. The Advances Department notified that, the Board re-jrettcd that it must decline liip Moa, Road Boards application for ail additional 10 per cent on the I pland Road loan of floOO. i.e.. floO. The fdork wrote fo tin 1 Advances "Board point"is out that £75 was needed to complete the work. The Moad Road Board had a supply i„ hand on the Bristol "est and East loans, which was to he returned, and he asked if the Board! eould use the amount 011 the Upland Koad. A reply was received that this could not be allowed, and that the unexpended balances must be lodged to the credit of the Department at the. Post' Office. With rejrard to the Upland Road loan the Board would not commit itself to nny further extent. The chairman remarked that this loan tv.nl been provisionally Approved. Some of the member- were of opinion f |( ' Board should apply again, as now that the loan had crone through money should be available. Tt was resolved to return the surplus oil the 1111 expended loans as requested MOXTTir/V STATEMENT. The monthly statement showed that, leeeints bad amounted to £02!) lis. of which rates accounted for £O2O 8s fid. Expenditure including Treasurv interest in'-i t s :nl. totalled £OBI 8s !)d. The i.ink showed credits to loans account of I IoT oll ' l " ??iloVal ;ln oUl|f £i >fi4

OEXERAL. , M'See. wlm lias taken ovi'i' metal eomracfs ,„i tli<- Poland mid TTsnumt ns!;(,| l the I'ikil'd t,, send its foreman to specify where file metal iva< rerpured. Tile Crown Lands Hoard notified (hat it was intended to discontinue ilie praetiee hitherto in vo<r,i<. ,if omiplvin" of land sold. Tt was derided to speed-up all eontr.-ie-tois. \vli° were nor making ;.vood progress, ami- that an\- mil whirled within a fortinfill siioiild In l foi'lCit(m|. Tile Board decided to i-aiirel l'avier'.« metal contract „ n (lie "Ratapiko TJoad and to forfeit the deposit. Tlie chairman was authorised to arrange with some other oonfraefor io earrv'onl the Tvork. Accounts anionnl 111 lt to £2f»n 12s Id were passed for payment.