MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 265, 19 April 1915, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD.

j MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Moa Road Board was held at Inglewood on Saturday, when those present were: Messrs H. Trimble (chairman), AL Hopsen, A. E. Laurence, G. A. Bridgeman G Capper, W. D. Shoemark, A. D. Beauchamp and J. Williams. THE BELGIAN RELIEF FUND. The Government's circular regarding the Beiglan Belief Fund was read, also a letter from the Mayor of New Plymouth (Mr. J. E. Wilson), stating that it was proposed that all contributions be forwarded direct to the Under-Secre-tary for Internal Affairs.—Left in the hands of the chairman to deal -with. OVERSEER'S REPORT. ~""""

The overseer, in his monthly report, stated that several culverts had been put in on various roads and others yet required renewing. Water-tabling had been done on the Hursthouse road. About 100 chains of the Upland road had been blinded and the road generally cleaned up. Several chains of Dudley Road West had been re-formed, and in this connection the overseer 1"'. with the chairman's consent, allowc; ...;: contractors to deliver 150 cu'„:e yards of boulders in place of shingle, as first arranged, at 2s 9d per yard, and the boulders had been delivered. A distance of 33 chains of this road had been patched. On the Surrey road 4fl chains had been re-coated and 191 chains scarified and rolled. A wooden culvert on the Lepper Road South, opposite Mr. O. Shrader's, required renewing. Mr. Butler had offered Mr. B. Laurence 21 yards of screenings at 2s 6d per yard, and as the offer was a good one he had accepted it and used it to blind 22% chains of new metal. Mr. Rudkin requested that the Board do the metalling and rolling in front of his shop and he would pay for the work; this was done. The work on Surrey road had left the formation with two ridges, one on each side of the metal, which Bhould be removed as soon as possible to allow the water to get into the water-tables. General maintenance work' had been done on 47 chains of John's road, and the work of the roller on that road would be dealt with next month. There was a dangerous place on Norfolk Road East at the culvert near the tunnel, which required attention. It could be remedied by filling, in a hole at a cost of 30s. Sixty cubic yards of pit metal had been placed on the Rimutauteka road, covering a distance of nine chains. General work had been done on Mangaone road, and timber had been sent out to repair a bridge on this road. The work would be done as soon as possible. On the Mana road 08 yards of metal had been placed, over a distance of six chains. The 56 yards of metal for the Kupara road had been put on a length of four chains. While the roller was available work had been done on the Ross and Ngaro roads. Grylls and Lawrence had completed their contract for 100 yards of boulders on this road. A quantity of pipes had been made at the depot. Two chain? of formation had been done on the Windsor road. It was decided that the chairman's action in accepting the offer of boulders at 2s 9d per yard on the Dudley Road West be confirmed. Mr. Laurence said the roller was a very economical way of scarifying. The I roller would do as much as twenty men, but he thought the cost of rolling, •£3 4s per day, was somewhat costly. ■ Mr. Bridgeman said that was his last meeting, and he would like to say that he considered that the time had come when they should secure their own machinery. They should have a crusher. Mr. Laurence pointed out that the ridge at each side of the metal on Surrey road would have to be removed. The dangerous place on the Norfolk road should also be attended to. Members generally agreed.

EVERETT ROAD LO\N. In answer to Mr. Copper, tlie clerk «aid those concerned had reached a decision in connection with the proposed Everett road ban. BEDFORD ROAD. Mr. Beauchamp said the bridges on the Bedford road were in a very had condition, and certainly needed attention. In answer to the chairman, he said they required all the grant for metalling. The overseer said they would have to drive piles for both the bridges on th's road. The matter then dropped. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The Government's circular re noxious weeds was Tead. Mr. Hopson proposed that the Department of Agriculture be asked to pvt the Act in force locally in regard to blaelv-

berries and ragwort. They woald le driven off their land soon if tli9 matter were not attended to. It was a s h.uae that they should all suffer for the fault of a few. Mr. Williams seconded. It was a matter that should be dealt with at once. Mr. Capper supported the motion. and blackberry was all over the place. Milk had been returned from the factory because it tasted of ragwort. The regulations should be stringently enforced. The chairman questioned whether it would be effective. Mr. Capper said that it was chiefly the leaseholders that were to blame. The regulations should be strictly enforced or not at all. _ Mr. Bridgeman also supported the motion. If everybody let their weeds grow it would greatly depreciate the value of the land. They could not afford to allow the nuisance to continue. He knew men that had freehold property who did not realise the danger of the weeds. Mr. Laurence considered that the Government should appoint inspectors and the local bodies also appoint inspectors of their own. The district the present inspectors were asked to cover was too large. They'could not do the work properly. The resolution was carried unanimously. GENERAL. The Inglewood Borough Council wrote thanking the Board for allowing their overseer, Mr .W. Davis, to undertake the supervision of the work of repairing and strengthening the Council's electrical dam, which work was carried out in a very satisfactory manner.—Received. Mr. Beauchamp said he had decided to retire and not to Btand again as a candidate for the Board. He had not the time to devote to the work. He would do all in his power to assist the Board, and to promote the county scheme.

The monthly statement showed a credit balance of £1420 Is 6d. Accounts to the amount of £3Bl Os Sd were passed for payment.