MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1916, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary ; meeting of tlio Moa Road Board was held at Inglewood on Saturday, when there were present Messrs. 11. Trimble, (chairman), \V. <!. Shoemark, T. S. Bowler, H. W. HenwooJ, I M. Hopson, J. Hucker, J. Williams and A. E. Laurence. ELECTION OP CHAIRMAN. The returning officer notified the result of the election, and then called for nominations for chairman. Mr. H. Trimble was re-elected on the motion of Messrs. W. G. Shoemark and A. E, Laurence. The chairman, in returning thanks, said that the position of tlie Board would be a difficult one for the next year or two in regard to finnance, but by exercising care and working together, there would be no difficulty in carrying on. He welcomed the 'new members of .the Board, two of whom, Messrs. Henwood and Corkill, had previously served on the Board. Mr. Bowler, the only new member, should prove a_ very useful member, on account of his close touch with so many farmers. The new members returned thanks.

PROPOSED WAITARA WEST MERGER.

Mr. Harrison waited on the Board on behalf of six settlers on the Richmond Road, who were desirous of merging into tlie-Moa Road district from the Waitar* ■West district. He said that the Waitam West Road Board had now agreed to the proposal. The settlers interested wished to go in for a loan to have the road metalled. Their interests all lay this way, and it was only right that they should pay toward? the up-keep of the road. • .

The Board was favorable to the proposed merger, and on the matter being placed in proper form will approach the Taranaki County Council with a view of having it effected. THE MOA MERGER.

The Taranaki' County Council notified that the Council had passed a resolution in pursuance of Src 16 "Road Districts Act" dissolving the Moa Road Board as from June 5, the date of the confirmation of the special order. The fresh election had been fixed for June 28, and the Board's clerk (Mr. Buckley) had been appointed returning officer.

A further letter asked the Board to appoint a committee to adjust accounts.

The chairman coundered that the special order was bad, as under the Road Boards -Act the Board could not be dissolved from the date of confirmation of the special order,- but only from the date that its confirmation appeared in the Gazette, or some subsequent date that must be mentioned in the special order, Proceedings might possibly have to be commenced de novo.

Mrssrs. Hopson, Hucker and the chairman were appointed a committee to adjust accounts. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

Mr. W. R. Davies (overseer)' reported that large stones had been blown oui at the top of Dudley road west,,-and the road had been rounded up for four chains. Culverts had been attended to near Parli's, also on the Durham road west. General maintenance work has i been effected on the Rugby road for a distance of 99 chains. With Mr. Shoemark's sanction, he bad granted permission to Mr. Peters, chairman of the Hall Committee, to clear timber and rubbish from the front of the Kaimiro Hall. On the Lepper road south, an undevstrut brjdge near the Kaimiro creamery required ittention, as it was very shaky. A bridge on Bedford road, south ,of Lcpper road south, also required some new decking, and a culvert required replacing with For a distance of a third of a mile there were no culverts to take the storm water and if two were put in it would save the road considerably. A nine-inch culvert at the junction of Suffolk and Junction roads had given way and was being repaired. The Taranaki County foreman would help Foreman Evett to put the pipes deeper, as they were too near the surface. The deviation of the stream in connection with the Kohete road bridge was progressing slowly, owing to flooding. All the pipes required for the work authorised on Mana road have been sent out, the work being well in hand, and when completed, the mall bridge on Kohete road would be commenced. The plans of the, Ngatoro road bridge were still in the hands of the engineer. He had granted the Taranaki County Council the use of the roller to crush the necessary metal for the umnetallcd portions of the Mountian road improvements. The Council paid all expenses and allowed 3d per yard for the use of the .crusher. The road was now completed. In its unfinished state it was difficult to get their roller to the Surrey road work. The settlers on the Dudley road wished to know when the plant wouid be available. The settlers intended to cart out houlders free of charge and help with the, work,, provided it was put in hand during .Tune, after which month the farmers would be too busy. The plant.would.be finished on Surrey road.; weather permitting, on Thursday-or Friday and he would like to complete th;e work on Rugby road before shifting 'the' plant. During the month, nine 3-feet, two 30-inch, three 18-inch, twelve. 12-inch and seven 9-inch pipes had been manufactured. Work had been carried'.out on Dudley west, Surfey,.Korfolfe;Rugby, ''Durham east, Bristol, Ratapikb, Kaimata south and Mana roads. The ' £SO voted by the Stratford County Council for expenditure on the Mangaotea road had been expended on extra metal, while the plant was there, and as a result 22fl yards had been put on, covering 13 chains, at a cost of £lO2 7s Gd. -

The various matters recommended by the overseer, .will be attended to. The' Taranaki County Council will be charged half cost of pipes, etc., for the Suffolk-Junction road junction. The overseer's action in connection with allowing the County the use of the crusher was confirmed. The matter of work on the Dudley road was left in the overseer's hands. PIPE DEPOT. A letter was received from Mrs. E. H. Tarry complaining that the Board's workmen were, infringing on the conditions of the lease of the pipe depot. The chairman stated that he had arranged to purchase from Mr. Wisnewski an area of land on the opposite side of the 'river-'for a pipe depot, and his action was confirmed. -' GENERAL. ..Messrs. Anderson, Ltd., forwarded invoice, for the eight-ton Avcling and Porterroad roller. This, with scarifier complete, had amounted to £B3B 5s 7d.. The usual resolutions in connection with the bank overdraft were passed, and Messrs. Laurence, Hopson, Bowler and the chairman were authorised to sign cheques. ■;'"■.;■'■ The arranging of charges for use of •ilie crusher will be discussed at the next lneetirigv Members were'of opinion that earih. road,that. use,s the crusher should xiav it*, share' of depreciation. J •;■ V :

The chairman and Mr. Hopson were appointed to sign the rate roll. ' The special order'in connection with" the raising of loan on the Lepper road was confirmed, and a formal resolution passed levying a special rate. Tlie monthly balance sheet sliowed receipts to have been £l3B lis lid (rates 11,'10 :!s Sd). Expenditure had amounted 1,0 '.'i':!") 15s Id. There was now a credit balance of 1-7S:> Hs L'd. The chairman was authorised to take legal proceedings in connection with the collection of outstanding rates. Accounts amounting to £1297 14s 5d were passed for payment.