MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1916, Page 2

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING, The. ordinary meeting of the Moo, Road Board was held at the Board's office, Ingiewood, on Saturday, when there were present: Messrs H."Trimble (chairman), A. E. Laurence, ,T. Williams, J. Hucker, M. Hopson, G, Clough, Geo. Capper, and W. E. Shoemark. OVERSEER'S REPORT, The overseer reported that the roller had arrived and had been put together, and seemed to work very well under steam. By some mistake the scarifier did not arrive with the roller, and he refused to take delivery until this docs arrive. Had it been possible to use the borough scarifier -'"• this roller, lie would have taken delivery. The crusher had arrived from Messrs. Cellet and Co., and was ready for use. He had arranged witli Mr. C. Laurence to supply 10 cubic yards of metal on Dudley Road East, so that members could see a trial of the, machinery when the scarifier .; me to hand. The water tp.nk hose and pump, and a truck of Newcastle coin had been procured. Plans for the Koliiti Road bridge had been approved. The timber and ironwork hn.l been ordered and would arrive in three weeks' time, when the work would he put in hand. Fair progress had been made, with th,e pit metal and boulder contracts, but Man gaotca, Dudley East, and Hnrstbouse Road* were yet to be done. Tn the former the contractors'were waiting for the crusher, and on Dudley East the contractors were requiring new erusher jaws.

(twins to the dry weather and high winds the metal on'the roads had lifted, and it bad been necessary to have the loose stone raked up and the metal blinded on tho Upland South, Upland North, Egmont North, Egmont South, Norfolk West, Johns, Durham East, Durham West, Bristol, Dudley East, Lincoln, Kaimata North, lfimutautelta, Mangaotea, Ratapiko, Ross, Salisbury, and Mana Roods. He had been authorised bv the chairman to procure tho borough roller, if possible, and re-coat the Lincoln Road, but the work had not yet been put in hand. Metal contracts had been completed on Upland South and Lepper North Roads. S'i;: chains of formation had been completed on the Norfolk West Road, Messrs Kelly and Dnchet having given free labor. "On the Bristol Road, (i;l yards of metal had been laid down, Kaimata North, Hairs, Rimutautckn, and Mangaotea Road metal contracts were completed. The offer for digging a drain at Koliiti was accepted, The action of the chairman in arranging for the Borough roller was confirmed.

I.F.PPF.R ROAD 1/1 AX. Tim State Advances Department noti fiod tliat tlio Board's application for a loan of £:j,:!oft for forming and metalling Leppcr Road South had been entertained. The currency would be for •Ifil years and the rate of interest 4£ per cent. A deputation comprising Messrs. ,T. Schneider, .(. Hinz, Alleman, Schicker, J. Gopperth, J. W. Collingwood, and I Zimmerman waited on the Hoard. The. chairman stated that the ,C530(1 provisionally granted would make the road 12ft wide. Before going further he wished to know whether the ratepayers required a 10ft or 12ft road. There was a £IOO grant available for the road and lie suggested that the settlers should petition the Government for a further grant, pointing out that the road would be used considerably by tourist traffic. The ratepayers stated that they were unanimously in favor of a 10ft road. RAKGER. The Tnglcwood Borough Council wrote .suggesting that the Board, Taranaki County Council, and Tnglcwood Borough Council should co-operate in the matter of securing a suitable person to act us ranger. By acting in conjunction a sufficient salary could be paid to an energetic man. The chairman, Messrs Laurence and Hunker were appointed a committee to confer with committees from the other bodies interested. Mr. Hopson voted against the resolution. He did not favor the idea, as ho considered that sometimes the cattle did good on the road.

NGATORO BRIDGE. The State Advances Department notified that it liad decided to grant the Board's application for a loan of £IOOO for tho Ngatoro Bridge on the Bedford Road. The chairman was authorised to sign the debentures, and tenders will be invited at once for the erection of the bridge. GENERAL. Mr. Tarry notified that the section leased by the Board as a pipe depot was not for sale. The chairman and the overseer were authorised to arrange for a site. The Public Works Department notified that the plans and specifications for the Koliiti bridge, in connection with the £ for .- grant-up to £4O, had been appro\ •'d. Mr. Minrpe, resident road engineer, wrote that he hud been advised by the head olliee I hit the balance of the Egmo it Road (upper) vote was not available for issue to the Board. Mr. Drosdowski asked that live chains of drain should be made on the Johns' Road near his entrance gate. In reply to a question, lie said his son would assist, providing he was paid. Left in the hands of the overseer to attend to. on (lie understanding that (he work will not be done unless Mr. Drosdowski is prepared to assist. The monthly statement showed receipts to have amounted to £SB,"> 14s 2d (rates .'.'872 Ills 4d). The expenditure was .E!)(i3 4s 7d. The bank balance showed a debit of £(ifl l(i s lid. Accounts amounting to £470 8s Id were passed for payment. On resuming after lunch, a strong deputation from Lepper Road South waited on the Board and considerable conversational discussion took place between members of the deputation and the Board, and eventually it was decided that the road be metalled for a width of twelve feet with' a depth of nine inches. The two special orders for separate rates on the Rugby and Norfolk Roads were duly confirmed.

The question of appointing a clerk in succession to Mr. Buckley, whose resignation takes elfect from March 31, was then discussed. The chairman suggested calling for applications from a person qualified to hold both positions—clerk and overseer —and hoped Mr. Davis would see his way to apply, in which case he would suggest that Mr. Davis be appointed without incurring, the expense of advertising for applications. An irregular discussion took place, during which, in reply to questions, Mr. Davis expressed his doubts as to com-

bining the positions being satisfactory, especially in view of the arrival of the machinery and its early working. Mr. Lawrence thought such an arrangement would work very well, and ho hoped Mr. Davis would see his way to accept the position. Mr. lTucker was afraid such an arrangement would not be found to wsrk well, for, as the clerk, he would be expected to keep the office open two days a week, no matter what special work was required overseeing on the road. Mr. Capper said he thought one man could fill both positions, and he moved that applications be called for the dual position of clerk and overseer. That Would leave it open to Mr. Davis to apply for the position.—Mr. Tlopson shrouded the motion.—After further di--eussion it was decided that the <-}!;*•<-- man should prepare conditions of t!-e dual service and report at an e-.u-i: meeting of the Board, to be called i'i.:' the purpose.