MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1916, Page 8

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Moa Road Board was held at the Board's ollice, Inglewood, on Saturday, when there were present: Messrs. 11. Trimble (chairman), A. E. Laurence, J., Williams, M. Hopsou A. Corkill, T. Bowler, J. Harrison, and J. HuckcT.

OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer (Mr. W. R. Davies) reported that owing to the wet weather, the bridge en the Kohete road could not he finished. Foreman Bennett had been laid up for three weeks prior to August 14, when he resumed work. Foreman Bovett resumed work on August 17. Instead of having the metal at Rugby road creamery, the Midhirst Dairy Company wanted 30 or 40 cubic yards of metal crushed and the road strengthened and rolled. This could not be done at the first estimate for scarifying. The work of renewing the culvert at Bedford road, south of Norfolk road, had been done. The timber was to hand for repairing the bridge near Darnell's, on the Bedford road, north of Dudley road, and the work would be done as soon as possible. Rowan and Thoinasoii's contract on the Dudley road, 73 yards, had been crushed, and Grylls and Laurence's boulder contract for Bedford road had been crushed with free labor, 48 yards being received, in connection with the free labor on (lie Dudley road, 538 cubic yards had been crushed at the Ngatoro river and 300 yards at Mr. Codd's place. They had finished crushing on August 15, and had started'rolling in. If weather permitted they would be shifting early next week to John's road. The work had been delayed owing to wet weather. In connection with free labor a distance of 114 chains had been recoated, 80 chains strength-, cued, SO chains patched, 200 chains ef water tabling and basking metal had been done and the work of rolling in was Well in hand. Central maintenance work had been carried out on the Egmont, Dudley. .Norfolk east, Durham east, Surrey, Bristol, Dudley east, Mongaone, Kupara, Mana and Ratapiko roads. A tile pipe culvert on the Dudley road had broken, and been renewed, with concrete pipes. On the Bedford road, south of Norfolk oast, a culvert had been renewed, the bridge had been repaired, and a drain had been cut to take the storm water, the Single being placed on the road. During the month, 30 nine-inch, 15 twelve- inch, fl eighteen-ineh, 6 two-feet, 2 two-feet six inch and 9 three-feet pipes had been made. , The matter of crushing motal at Rugby road creamery iy%? left in the hands of the overseer.

THE MERGER ADJUSTMENT. The chairman reported that a committee from the Board had met a committee from the Taranaki County Council re the adjustment of a'ceounts in connection with the merged portion of the Road District, but that they had been unable to arrive at an agreement. The matter would now be referred to someone to be appointed by the Government. 'A CULVERT REQUIRED* M. W. H. Morine, Bedford road, asked the Board to consider placing a culvert in place of a small bridge on Bedford road, which wa s unsafe for horse and dray traffic. Mr. Laurence movedjhat the inspector rtport at next meeting. If a bridge was required it would be necessary to raise a small loan. The chairman considered that a special rate would be required, as only one or two used the bridge. . „ T he motion was carried. RIMUTAUTEKA ROAD. Mr. A. McL. Mcßac wrote that he had read in the Daily News a report of the Moa Road Board's last meeting, in which Mr. Hopson was reported to have said that a good sum of money had been spent during the year on the road, so he would like to know what amount bad been spent on the mud road. He asserted that not one penny had been spent on the mud road in the line specified. No road workman had done anything to it, and only for Cooper's and the writer's sons repairing the worst patches they would sometimes hardly be able to get through. He really thought it was too bad that no workman should ever be sent to repair even a piece of the mud road. Surely a man could be sent out ence or twice in twelve months.

Mr. Hopson said that some time ago a considerable amount of money had been spent on the mud road. It was throwing money away to expend it on a mud road. Tiie settlers should go in for a loan and raise money to metal the load. He thought that a reply to this effect should be sent. The chairman said that there was a subsidy of £IOO for this road, if, the settlers could raise the money necessary to lift it.

Mr. Mcßae will be notified to this effect. THE DERBY ROAD. Mr. Potroz waited on the Board, and asked that some attention should be paid to the Derby road. It was impossible for him to drive his cattle along it at present. Mr. Laurence stated that' some years ago a verbal agreement had been made with Mr. Potroz's brother? that the Board would expend £4 on draining if they would complete the fords, and also the drain if the money was not sufficient The Board had done its share but the other side had not, with the result chat it had silted up. He moved that tni> Board now complete the two chains of drain and clean out the other drain provided Mr. Potroz do the ford 3. This was carried, and Mr. Potroz also agreed to do the draining for £3,

GENERAL. The Public Works Department forwarded copy of proclamation taking land for road and closing road through Mock 3, Egmont S.D. This is in connection with the Manganui bridge on the Bristol road.

Mr. Cnrkill drew attention to the state of n divert on the Motnkawa road, where a slip had occurred. In the event of a flood eonsidera.ble damage would take place. The overseer will attend to the matter.

Tlic ..'lrairman stated that Mr. Okey had informed him that unexpended grants voted last year had been re-voted this year. In connection with the £IOO vote to, llatapiko road, lie suggested that the Stratford county should bo asked to contribute, as that was the only good outlet for some of their settlers. Tiie matter was left in the hands of the chairman.

In connection with the proposed raising of a loan for metalling the Everett road, the engineer submitted an estimate of £1578 Is (id for 173 chains from tlit' end of the present metal. The estimate will be forwarded to the settlers interested. The monthly statement showed that receipts had amounted to .€IOO lfls 2d and expenditure to £!Ji\S 13s Sd (including interest £G$5 Ihs 3d). The bank overdraft was £MI7 13s 2d. The chairman urged on the overseer and members the necessity for economy during tho next two'or three months. Expenditure must be. kept down as low as possible, otherwise they would get up to the limit. Rates, lie said, would not come in very freely until after Christmas. Accounts amounting to £3lO 5s lid were passed for payment.