PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 274, 11 April 1913, Page 7

PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Parihaka Road Board was held oil Thursday, when there were present: Messrs J as. Young (chairman), T. Harvey, G. Holmes, M. Hickey, J. Ducker and I'. Willcox. FOREMAN'S REPORT. Mr. J. P. Kennedy (foreman) reported that he had received 100 yds of crushed metal from G. Vickery, which had been spread on the Opua road, from the main road to Mr. Cross', and also 14yds, which had been spread on the Te Narnu road. The horse team and men had been engaged in blinding for one day. Mr. C. Humphries had cleared 17 Va chains on this road, towards which the Board were paying Is fid per chain. Three sets of pipes had been placed on the Gregory road, which was now open for cattle trallic. About 14 chains of forming and other repairs were required on the Lower Kina road.. Something like llftOyds of metal had been placed oil the Upper Kiiia road, which was now completed. An accident had occurred on this road, a cow of Mr. Barrett's having fallen into a new pit opened on his property. They had since fenced the pit, and also another on Mr. Coombes' property. Forming and metalling on the Bayly road would be completed in a few days. He asked for a progress payment of £ls on boulder stone to .1. Mitchell, for the Ngariki road. Work authorised on the top end of lhaia road had been completed at a cost of £l2. Donations as agreed to had been paid, whilst Mr. Holmes supplied the bullock team free of cost for all .the carting. About five chains lower down required attention, and two settlers would assist. Seven IKiiu pipes and 22 I2in pipes had , been sold.

It was resolved to grant up to £5 towards repairs on the Ihaia road. Mr. Willcox, asked why 1100 yds had boon placed oil the Kina road in place of 600 yds as authorised.—The chairman explained that a new pit luid heen opened, enabling the metal to be put 011 much cheaper, and a good job had accordingly been made. OPOURAPA ROAD. Mr. Symons waited on the Board and asked that something should be done to the Opourapa road, which was almost impassable in places. As this was the last meeting of the present Board, and as the staff were fully occupied at present, it was resolved to - leave the matter over until next meeting. The chairman pointed out that the rates would hardly keep the metal in repair. It was impossible to do ainy fresh metalling without a special rate or unless the settlers interested went in for a loan. WAREA ROAD.

The question of providing metal on the Warea road, in response to an offer to supply boulder stone at Is fid per yard, was discussed. It was pointed out that this road was heavily in debt, and the chairman stated that the settlers had not helped themselves as much as might have been expected. Mr. Ducker said that the responsibility was 011 the Road Board to keep the roads in repair and charge the ratepayers with the cost.

After further discussion, the matter was left over for the new Board to deal with. NEWALL ROAD. Mr. Julian waited on the Board, and stated that a considerable amount of traffic was now taking place on this road, as the sections wcye opening up. The settlers were prepared to help themselves. and he asked that about l'/ 2 chains of drain should be put in a swampy place, at a enst of 30s. He also asked for two days' work 011 another bad place. Several settlers had promised to assist, and he would be satisfied if the Board granted £2 10s. This would save a long length of the Warea road—Granted. UPPER KAIIUI ROAD.

The foreman reported that twentyfour settlers on the Upper Tvaliui road had agreed to donate £l7 10s towards the cost of repairs to this road, and lie had other settlers to interview.

The question of the expenditure on this road evoked sonic discussion. Mr. Willeox stated that in addition to the £l7 Ills cash promised, labor would lie given, raising the value to, £2O. He moved that the, Board make a grant of £4O towards the road. The Kahotu ward was .17 in credit now, and this £4O only represented about one-third of the year's rate accruing to the road. It was pointed out that there were 4y 3 miles of other metalled roads which would require about £3O for maintenance.

Mr. Ducker considered that the state of the roads should be the Board's first consideration. If the rate were insufficient. settlers on the road should pay a higher rate. Mr. Harvey stated that although the Board could spend the rates from the ward on any road in that ward, it was not advisable to use that prerogative. Mr. Willeox stated that the Upper Kahili road was used as a main road for firewood, posts, etc.

Mr. Ducker seconded the resolution. Mr. llarvey moved that £ for £ be granted—Seconded by Mr. Ilickey and carried.

Mr. Willeox criticised the voting, stating that roads in other wards in a more financial position had received better treatment.

The eha irman commented on this. Mr Ilickey characterising it as an insult.

CLOSED AXD CXUSED ROADS. The foreman reported tliat the following roads wore closed Lower Kina road, 40 chains through European property and the balance through Maori property; Uahotn road, about miles to the sea; Wander road, about 20 chains; Beach road, from Witiora to Manila roads and from Pungareliu to Puniho road. ilr. Harvey thought that the Board should not interfere with the Beach road, as they were not asking for any expenditure, Members were of opinion, however, that some valuable land was enclosed, which it would be better to sell and ulili.se the proceeds on roads in the district which were living used.

The matter was left over for the new Board to deal with. VALEDICTORY. The chairman thanked the Board for the courteous manner in which members had treated him as chairman during the past year. The roads, be said, were hi a better condition now than they were 12 months ago, and the finances of the Hoard were such a bad condition. Personally he did not intend to seek re-election, if another candidate was forthcoming from the ward, and intended to call a meeting for that purpose. Til conclusion, he congratulated the clerk (Mi 1 . O'Brien) for the able maimer in which he had attended to the Board's affairs and also the foreman (Mr. Kennedy). Mr. Willcox endorsed the remarks re the state of the roads. GENERAL. The foreman was authorised to secure five tons of ebail' for the season's horse feed. ft was resolved to write and inform Mr. Fleming that the Board does not n;ai:e a practice of improving roads

which are fenced. It was also decided to ask those settlers who have fences across the Opourapa road to remove same. Mr. M. Barrett vraited oil the Board and claimed £0 compensation for a cow, which had been killed by falling into a metal pit opened by the Board on his property. Tlie Board unanimously agreed to pay the compensation, which was considered very reasonable. It was also decided to allow Mr. Barrett £1 for fencing the pit. The question of fencing other dangerous pits was left in abeyance. The Werekino Road Board wrote agreeing to spend £5 on the Puniho road, as asked by Mr. W. Old, but stated that the majority of the settlers considered the money would be better expended elsewhere. The Lands and Survey Department forwarded an account for £1 lis 3d, for examination and checking in connection with opening the Wataroa and Parihaka road. The clerk will enquire, members considering that the coat should be charged against the land, from which they could collect no rates. It was resolved to draw the ranger's attention to the straying cattle nuisance. Tuesday, May 0, was fixed by the Board as the date for the election of the now Board.

Accounts amounting to £2Ol were passed fpr payment.