PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1915, Page 7

PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

I.—.i. m i MONTHLY MEETING. Th« ordinary meeting of the Parihaka Road Board waa held at the Board's office, Rahotu, yesterday, when there were present: Messrs J. Young (chairman), A. Castle, T. Harvey, M. Hickey, S- WillougUby, and G. Holmes. FOREMAN'S REPORT. The foreman (Mr. J. P. Kennedy) reported that the work on the top portion of the Opourapa Road had been completed aa far as the property of Mr. Symona, who waa thoroughly satisfied with the work done by the staff, and had greatly helped by supplying a team and man free of charge. Forming and metalling of the Oaonui factory road would be completed in a few days. Repairs had been effected to the whole length of the Lower Waiteika Road. The top portion of the Newall Road from Wiremu Road to near the sawmill, which was in a bad state, had been repaired, and was now in good order. The Upper Kahui Road had been improved by having a bad hiil cut down. He recommended that the nine-incli pipes placed at the boundary of Messrs Willcox and Morrow's properties, Lower Kahui Road, be replaced by twelveinch pipes. On the Upper Kina Road two broken-down wooden culverts had been replaced with pipes. General maintenance work had also been carried out. The road lower down would be attended to in a few days. A few chains of drain had been made through a swamp on this road. On the Arawliata Road, he had examined inlets and outlets to culverts. These required cleaning out.' Two were partly blocked owing to timber being placed under the wires. During the month twenty-one 30-inch pipes had been aold to the Egmont County Council, and sixteen 12-inch pipes had been used on the Upper Kina Road. KAWEORA ROAD LOAN. The chairman Btated that as the tenders for work on the Kaweora Road considerably. exceeded the £6OO loan money, the committee appointed had not accepted any tender, but had suggested to the settlers interested that they should arrange for an additional loan of £3OO for the work. He pointed out that the overseer, in drawing out the plans, had reduced the cuttings as much as possible. Despite this, the money was not nearly - sufficient. The settlers', he understood, were willing to raise the additional money. The clerk stated that the Advances Department had notified that they would consider application for an additional loan of £3OO, but that steps would have to be taken de novo. He had, therefore, asked if application could be made for 1 a loan of £IOOO, and the former loan cancelled, and the Advances' Board had agreed to consider this, DEPUTATIONS. Mr. C. Sole pointed out tliat the Stent Road, near his property, was almost impassable in winter. He asked that, 14 or 15 chains should be formed and metalled. —It was estimated that this would cost £4 per chain.—The overseer to report on the matter at the next meeting. Mr. T. Julian asked that some work should be done 'on the Newall Road. He stated that he had kept that portion of the road in repair for several years, and waa prepared to find teams to do four or five chains of necessary filling. The work would coat £l4 or £ls, and he asked that the Board should find him two men for a week.—Granted, cost to the Board not to exceed £6. PUNGAREHU RIVER EROSION. A committee consisting of the whole Board visited the site of the erosion of the Kahui Road by the Pungarehu River. The foreman's recommendation that a cutting of about four chains should be put through to straighten the river found general favor, though one member favored taking steps to protect the road by a groyne on their own property. It was finally decided to consult the Board's solicitor as to the legal standing in the matter, and the overseer will then prepare plans and specifications with a view to calling tenders at next meeting. i NATIVE RATES. In returning to the Board a number of vouchers for Native ratea due by Native occupation licensees, the Reserves Agent" notified that the Public Trustee

informed him that there were no funds in hand to pay them. Moreover, the lands had now been partitioned by- the Native Land Court, which imposed the liability of payment of rates upon the i Native owners, so that now it would be necessary for the Board to obtain payment from the Natives themselves. The clerk stated that last year he received a cheque for £9O from the Public Trustee for Native rates, and expected a similar cheque this year.' Members briefly discussed the matter of the difficulty of collecting the rates, but no action was taken. GENERAL. 1 Mr. Willoughby was instructed to interview the ranger on the ranging question, as it was stated that the ranger had apparently given up the position, he having accepted weekly work elsewhere. The chairman suggested that the ranger might possibly be able to do the work occasionally. The clerk to take the necessary steps to raise the loan as soon aa consent is received from the ratepayers The action of the committee in authorising work on the road required by the Oaonui Dairy Company was confirmed. It was also decided to forward the Company an account for the work, the money to be refunded when the road is gazetted a public road. It was pointed out that the road would benefit three ratepayers. It was resolved to accept the offer of £4 from the Egmont County Council for work at the junction of the Main South and Oaonui factory roads. The Board resolved to pay £2 per annum towards the cost of the clerk's telephone in Opunake. It was resolved to appoint Mr. Geo. D. Gow (Mr. McDavitt's successor) solicitor to the Board. Mr. O'Brien, clerk to the Board, was granted a week's leave of absence. It was agreed to grant the permanent hands a rise of Is per day, dating from last meeting. Accounts amounting to £l9B 5s lOd were passed for payment.