PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1916, Page 3

PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING, The ordinary meeting 0 f the Purihaka Road Board was held at Rabotu on Thursday, when there were present: Messrs James Young (cimirmau), 'J', liarJ'ey, S. 11. Willoughby, M. O'Brien, am W. B. Smith. INCREASED WAGES. The chairman reported that at last meeting the Board had agreed to increase the men's wages to KJs fid pel day, in response to an application foi mi increase to lis. The men, 'however, had informed 'him that unless they wen granted lis per day they would'knock off at the commencement of September and as it was a bad time to lose the Mien, ne had -'Agreed, as the only alternative, to.give lis per day until the present meeting. Mr. Willoughly considered that they would have to pay lis. It was impossible at present to get men. .Settlers on the road were quite willing to pay 12s Gd per day, and yet could not get men to work. Mr. Harvey pointed out that the county men were satisfied with 10s fid per day, wet and dry. Mr. O'Brien favored paying lis, provided the men were worth it. The foreman stated that if the men were given lis per day he would expect wonk to that value. The men would find their own shovels. On the motion of Messrs Willoughby and O'Brien, the action of the chairman was confirmed, and it was decided to pay lis per day in future. Mr, Willoughby gave notice to move that the Board at its next meeting consider the question of raising the salary of the clerk and overseer. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. The foreman (Mr. J. N. Harris) re ported that the worst holes 011 tin Upper and Lower Waituka. Roads hai been repaired and two pipe culverts ha< been put in. Maintenance work -lia< bren attended to on the Arawhata Manihi, Ka'liui, Xgariki and "Raiboti Roads. On t lie la_tter road the ford ihai been put in order". Across the river th Raliotu Road was overgrown with gorst it being impossible to see the forniatio in places. To erect a footbridge nea the Pnngarehu ford would cost from £l' to £2O, as a swing bridge would b required. The staff would be workin on the Ihaia, Road shortly. Some ditehe had been put in on the Opua Road b Mr. Tosland, at f!7s per chain, of wine, Yi.\ Bowman had promised tc pay hall He had inspected two wharcs at Kapong; which could be purchased ut £3O ail £ls, and one at Okato for .-Clj. j whare could be built at Kahotu wit steel wheels for £tfl, and with buil wheels for £54. According to the pric of cement and labor, 'lie thought that th Board W'ere selling their pipes too cheap ly, and he suggested that the price should be: Sin. pipes 4s (id and ."is. 12ii (2ft. Bin.) long 5s Cd, ISin. is lid, 2ft 11 Gd. 3ft. £l. The chairman said that until the setl lers were prepared to go in for the era tion of a bridge he did not think it at visable to spend money in erecting temporary bridge, lie 'understood Mia only one settler used this portion of t'li road. He considered that it would b better to expend the money on the roac or the Board should subsidise tho setl lers in the erection of a bridge if the went in for a loan for the purpose.—N action was taken. It was resolved, on the motion of th chairman and Mr. Smith, that settlers b given four days' notice to clear gors from off all rpads in the Board's district lit was decided that t'he Board do th work promised on the Upper Opua Koai when the is dry. i lie overseer was authorised to pvocur a scoop. Pipes will in future be charged for a the rates suggested by the overseer. It was decided to purchase the whare at Okato and Kaponga at £l-j each. The foreman in the Warea Riding re ported that an old culvert on the Ware; Road had been replaced •wfcJj pipes Metal had also been got ready :n scvera pits, and the Bailey Road had been re paired and the pit had been successfully drained. A set of ISin. pipes had beei put in on Wataroa Road, and anotlhe; culvert had been renewed with timber Repairs had been effected on the Sten Road. —Adopted. KAHUI IiOAD BRIDGE. The foreman and clerk reported tha the stringers and some of tile other tim bi-rs were in all advanced stage of decay They considered t'hat the bridge was un safe for loads over two tons. To pm a new wooden tc.p over the present eon creto piers and sink a concrete apron t< secure the west pier would cost £.">ll, or if a temporary ford was provided. XNtft A new I'erro-conerete top would cosl £81). A new cut could be put tliroug! the narrow neck two chains lower down which would give a straight; run to t!:< river. A 12ft. concrete bridge could 'oi erected and the old site tilled up at :i (Oil, including provision of a ford, o £ i 10. Tile chairman favored the erection o: the concrete bridge. Mr. Willoughby thought it would b: preferable to put in the cut as suggested otherwise it would be necessary to put in a, 3ft. ,pipe lower down to take the overflow at flood times. After further discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs Wil loughby and Smith, that the bridge Ik le-erected in concrete as soon »s convenient. The overseer in the meantime wil take steps to keep the bridge safe foi loads up to IVb tons. GENERAL. The question of appointing a rangei was left ill tile hands of Messrs Harvey Smith, Willoughby. and the clerk. The chairman and Mr. Willoughby were appointed to sign the rate hooks. P. A. Putt, of Warea, asked the Board to open the Parihaka Road from the Cnrrington Road down, so as to enable him to have access for cattle to his section.—Left in the hands of Messrs Smith and Willoughby to report at next meeting. The c'hairinan stated that the road had not yet been handed over to the Board. The overseer is to report on the culvert across the Raetiui river, Upper Kahui Road. The Laiids and Survey Department notified that it had been reported that gravel had been removed, from a reserve on the Manihi Road, known as Albert's grave.. Xo permission had been given to anyone to remove gravel, and anyone transgressing or causing damage was liable to prosecution. Accounts amounting to £217 7s 3d wore passed for payment.