PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1916, Page 8

PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Parihaka Road howl Was held at Rnhotn yesterday, when there, were present: Messrs. Jas. Young (chairman), Geo. Holmes, T. Harvey, and S. ,Willou°hby. FOREMAN'S The foreman (Mr. G. P. Kennedy) reported that on the Upper Kalmi Road the river bank had been cut through where recommended, to prevent further encroachment on the road. The whole of the water was now flowing through the cut. Two and a half chains of fencing had been erected on the roadside to protect the traffic. Half a mile of water tabling had also been <.n.™in+<> ( i nn this road. On the Te TVVn Road, pipes had been put in and outlets formed Formation on the lower portion would be completed in a few days. Rcnairs to the Lower Kina Road were completed and are now in progress on the Opua Road. The cost of work required on the Tauriu Road would be £10; both Messrs Baker and Geo. Horo would "wat in this. Sixteen chains of (he Stent Road had \><~«v formed up to over ..Oft wide. Ploughing on the Saunders Road had been done gratis by L. Fischer. Formation would be completed in the course of a few days. T n company with Mr. Holmes he had been over the. top portion of the upper Arawhata Road. Two new pipe culverts were required, as well as other work, at a total cost of £2O. Mr. Holmes had promised his team, free, for a day to cart material. Oi Hm lower Arawhata Road. Mr. Maefie had asked for i swampy hollow to be filled, about two mains, near hi 3 gateway. Including a set of 18-inch pipes, the cost would be £lO. A new pipe culvert had been placed on the Bayly Road. He had been over the top portion of the Ihaia Road, and found that there were some very bad parts that required attention before the bad weather set in. To make it fit for horse and cattle traffic, he would ask for a grant of £l2. The wire fences across the road hi»d not yet been removed. The Rahotu Road was now being used for carting flax. This [road was not put down for such extraordinary traffic. During the month sixteen 18-inch, eight 12-inch and eleven 9-ineh pipes had been sold or used. Work will be done on the Taurua Road providing the assistance offered is forthcoming and also on the upper Arawhat and t „...-.. Arawhata Roads. In connection with the Ihaia Road, the chairman said that if the work was delayed until the expiry of the notice to remove fences it would be impossible to do the work and the r6nd would be impassable, whereas now it could be done cheaply. It was accordingly decided to proceed with the work at'once. BLOCKED OUTLETS l The foreman referred to the iw«; «.i„tt there were several bad outlets on various roads and unless the owners of the adjacent land cleared them there was a possibility of damage being done to the roads in case of flood. He understood that the Board intended taking legal advice in the matter. The chairman considered that no damage could he done by flood waters if the road was metalled. PUNGAREHU ROAD. Mr. A. H. Johnstone reported that he had received a letter from the Public Trustee stating that" there were no powers under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act granted to the Public Trustee to give effect to the suggestions made regarding closing the road, but he would give every assistance to have the matter completed and obtaining Judge Jack's assurance in writing that it is the wish of the Native beneficial owners that the hmd be purchased and that they are prepared to deposit in this office the amount of the consideration on coming to an arrangement with the Parihaka Road Board. Mr. Harvey considered that the land was only growing noxious weeds. The chairman said that they had already been to considerable expense over the matter and he thought that it would be better to drop it. The position was that the natives wished to purchase the land, whereas the Public Trustee was putting obstacles in their way. Deferred till next meeting. NATIVE RATES. Mr. Ernest Barns, reserves agent, notified that in July last the vouchers for rates claimed by the Board were sent to the head ofifi"" '— payment, hut were retimed with a memorandum stating that the lands had been partitioned by the Native Land Court and the rates were payable by the Native owners. In September, the vouchers were returned to the Board with a memorandum advising the position. Mr. Harvey said that he had been informed by Judge Jack that the rates on Native lands were now collectable. There was a lot, of valuable land between Pungarehu and Newall Roads. The chairman considered that they were getting nearer the time when the rates could be collected.

-3ENKRAL The c'erk intimated that a cheque had been received for the Oanui Dairy Company for formation and metalling of road alongside the Oaomii factory. The clerk stated that rates amountinn; to £"2 HO were still outstanding from Isurope:ins. The foreman (Mr. J. P. Kennedy) asked the Board to take into consideration the building of a cottage in Opunake for his use. He was prepared to pay rent. From a business point of vie.«\ the chairman considered that it won\l be it good proposition, especially ns tie ft.rem.in would be paying 10s or Jls per week Moreover, the pipe making p'ant would not be interfered witli.—lVfrrrod till next meeting. The I.'gmont County Council asked the Board to contribute half th.) 'ost of a !)-ineh pipe culvert across the Namui Road at (lie junction with the Main Road.—lt was resolved to point out that as the drain would be of no benefit to the Road Board, the Board could not accede to the request. Accounts amounting to £l5O were passed for payment.