MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1916, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD.

$ . MONTHLY -MEETING, The monthly mooting of the Moa Road Board was held at Inglewood 011 Saturday, when there were present: Messrs. 11. Trimble, A. E. Laurence, J. Williams, ■I. Hucker, M. Hopson, F. S. Bowler, J. P. Harrison, A. Corkill, and J. VV. Henwood. This being the first meeting of the new Board, the clerk called for nominations for chairman, Mr. H. Trimble was unanimously re-elected, the mover (Mr. Laurence), stating that all were aware of Mr. Trimble's ability. The chairman, in returning thanks, trusted that with the assistance of the members, the Board's business would be satisfactorily carried on. The chairman formally welcomed Mr. J. P. Harrison, a new member. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer (Mr. R. VV. Davies) reported as follows: — Crusher—l9s3 cubic yards of boulders has been put through the crusher since we started crushing, and with the exception of a- few bolts breaking in the elevator buckets and a link in the driving chain, everything is going well. As mitt-h as 88 cubic yards (without screenings) had been put through the crusher eight hours on the Dudley Road. Free Labor Work on Dudley Road. — Owing to so much wet weather) the work has been delayed considerably. The following 'work has been completed between the Mountain Road and Windsor Road; 057 cubic yards of boulders have been crushed, 76i chains have been recoated, rolled in, and screened; between Parlies' Creek and Windsor Road, 17J chains lave been scarified, strengthened with 14 cubic yards of metal, and rolled in, also lfil chains of water-tabling had been done, 23 chains 17 feet between Mr. Frost's and Mr. Todd's, have been scarified, raked in, and rolled, ready for recoating. The engine and crusher are now set at the Ngatoro River, waiting for fine weather to complete the above work. There are about 400 cubic yards of boulders at tin's site to crush, and another 200 near Mr. Codd's. Mangaone Road- —During the last storm the water-tables blocked and the water ran over the pipes at the outlet of a 3ft culvert and washed the earth away from them, doing damage to the extent of about £2. The work of repairing the damage was in hand. The timber for the bridge near Darnell's, on Bedford Road, north of Dudley, has been ordered, but is not yet to hand. A small bridge on the Motukawa Road, near Mr. Hogan's required a number of the deck planks to be replaced, also a wooden culvert near Mr. Chumney's needed replacing with 9-inch concrete pipes. The timber and the pipes had been sent out and the work will be attended to as soon as possible. While rolling the road near Mr. Haverbier's, a tile pipe culvert broke in, and a tile pipe culvert near the Windsor Road collapsed. Both have been replaced with 12-inch concrete pipes. Mr. J. Wisnewski has completed the fencing of the pipe debot (length, Schains 22ft.), and has delivered two gate posts, A culvert near the school at Ratapiko, which consists of tile pipes at the end and slabs in the middle ,required renewing with 18-inch concrete pipes as the slab portion had started to fall in. Ivohete Road. —The deviation of the stream in connection with the new bridge had been 'finished and the bridge built, the work of pulling out the old bridge and pitting in filling will take another five or six days, weather permiting. Owing to illness, Foreman Bovett, of Mo. 3 division, is under doctor's treatment, and it will he a few days before he can resume his duties. Eighteen 9-inch, 15 12-inch, and 10 3-ft. pipes were sent out of the depot during the month.

The report was adopted. t THE KOHETK ROAD. The Taranaki County Council notified it was prepared to pay half the cost of improving the junction of the Tariki and Kohete Roads, providing the Board would pay half the cost. The county foreman estimated it would require six chains of 3 ft. drain and 40 18-in. pipes. The overseer stated he did not think that 40 pipes would be required. Mr. Laurence considered the Road Board should not be responsible for half the cost of the drain, and, after a little discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs. A. E. Laurence and .T. Hiickcr. that the Board pay half the cost of the pipes and one third of the cost of drain.

REMUTAUTEKA ROAD. A. McL. Mcßae wrote asking why the road workmen never came up to his end of the Remutauteka Road. The workmen always stopped where the metal road ended and never did anything to the mud road. The road had been in fairly good order, and would be now if a Utile patching was done, and this, as ratepayers, he considered they were entitled to. Mr. Hopson said a good deal of money had ben spent on the road during the past year. As it was considered the present was not the time to work on unmetalled roads, no action was taken.

A RATEPAYER'S PROTEST. On behalf of the settlers 011 the Ngaio Koad, Mr. F. Gladding wrote protesting against the striking of the ex'tra 2d rate. The Ngaio Road was put through by the Government, and the cost of metalling was added to the capital cost of the section. Since the road had been rolled by the Board with a subsidy from the Government, it had not cost anything like the present rate to maintain. On the road there were nine settlers, each paying £4 10s or upwards in rates, and they failed to see where any extra rate was to maintain twenty chain of unmetalled and 80 chain of new metalled road, as well as the Ross Road, for which they paid a special rate. His own rates, on SGJ acres, unfenced and no buildings were £4 13s Od to the Moa Road Board and £(i 0s lOd Taranaki County Council rates, besides dog-tax and tolls, of which they paid a lot, as Stratford was the main market town. He asked consideration for new settlers who were struggling to keep their heads above water in face of difficulties in the way of increased prices for everything required.—No action taken.

STRIKING THE RATE. In moving that a rate of Id be struck, the chairman stated he had looked into the question of striking a special rate lo provide for the cost of the machinery. There wag no advantage in doing this, save that it made the position a little clenier to the ratepayers, but on the otfi?r hand he pointed out that if the 54d was struck separately it would reduce their overdraft limit to a considerable extent. Actually, ha pointed out there would be %d increased rate to expend on the roads, and thouph in tl; caee of road? like toe j&oad tl;

[ might not be necessary. He thought the majority of the roads would benefit from the increased rate. Mr. A.. E. Laurence, in seconding, pointed out that the majority of the roads were metalled out oi' loan money, and a small rate had been struck for their maintenance. This proved sullicient while the roads were new, hut when they commenced to wear out, the rates were not .sullicient to tnainliiin them. It was a mistake to make Hie rate too small, liven if a road was now in good order, it would not stiller from the high rate as long as the present system of road accounts were kept, because its accrued rates would be available for expenditure when required. Mr. Henwood thought it unfair that settlers on unmetalled roads should have to be rated to pay for the plant. It should be paid for by the settlers who lived on metalled roads and used the plant.

Mr. Corkill, while not objecting to the high rate, did not think it fair that roads not benefiting by the plant, should have to assist in paying for it. The metalled roads would have the advantage of obtaining their metal cheaper and so should be better able to pay for the plant, so why not unmetalled roads 1 He opposed the rate on that ground. Mr. Hopson pointed out that settlers on unmetalled roads must use tin metalled roads at times.

Mr. Harrison, who lived on an tin- I metalled road, said he hoped that this would be metalled some time. Moreover they had to travel over the metalled roads and in helping them were helping themselves. After further discussion, (he resolution was carried, Mr. Corkill dissenting. The chairman then moved that an account be opened to be called the plant account to which shall be charged all ■ capital expenses in connection with the purchase of road making plant, and also in connection with the acquisition of the site for the pipe-making plant, and the erection of the buildings, etc. Seconded by' Mr. A. 15. Laurence and carried.

On the motion of the chairman and Cr. Laurence, it was resolved to credit |/ s d of the general rate to the plant account. ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS. In accordance with notice of motion, the chairman moved that the resolution passed on November 15, 1912, constituting the bridge fund be rescinded, and that the rates accruing from sections abutting wholly on the county road be placed to the credit of a special fund, which shall be used to provide all culvert pipes and also to repair and paint any bridge on any road, to pay onethird of the cost of replacing any bridge or damage done to any road by jlood (a maximum amount of £2O being fixed), any balance which may remain to be paid to the credit of the plant Recount. Seconded by Mr. L. Tucker. Mr. Corkill did not consider the proposal was fair to roads that hud paid for their own pipes, and he move.! as an amendment, that all roads be charged for their pipes and the money be credited to the plant account. This failed to find a seconder, and the resolution was carried.

REQUEST FOR COUNTY SUBSIDY. Mr. Henwood brought up the question of applying to the county for a subsidy on the roads in the district, the settlers on which did not use the county roads. He pointed out that the settlers in his district paid over £l2O rates per annum to the county, and did not use any of the county roads. Some years ago the county had been approached and liad given them subsidies of £3O and £25 on two occasions. He moved that the Board apply to the Taranaki County Council for subsidies towards the Lincoln, York, Richmond, Wortley, and Windsor Roads. Seconded by Mr. Huckev and carried, Mr. Hucker protesting; that if granted the subsidy wsuld merely mean taking the money out,of one pocket and putting it in another, as one set of ratepayers i aid. PROPOSED MERGER. It was resolved to ask the Taraunki County Council to accede to the request r.f the ratepayers on twelve sect ; om of

the Waitara road district who had petitioned to be included in the Moa Road District. GENERAL. Mr. J. Morrison wrote that as the Government had stated that there would be no money voted for new works on roads U is year, it would be advisable to allow the petition asking the Government for a grant of £2OO for metalling the Knpura Road to stand over until after the war. The Rrestry branch of the Agricultural Department notified that with a view to encouraging tree planting it was prepared to supply farmers with trees. 1 lie monthly balance showed receipts to have totalled £53 5s 10s and the expenditure £294 14s lOd. The bank balance showed an overdraft of £550 0s ?d. Formal resolutions were passed in connection with the overdraft. The chairman and Messrs Hopson, Bowler, and Laurence were appointed to sign cheques, and the chairman and Mr. Hopson to sign the rate book. Mr. Buckley was re-appointed clerk and treasurer. Accounts amounting to ; £933 4s 4d were passed for payment.