MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1916, Page 2

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEKTIXC. J'lic ordinary of 'Hip Moa Road Board was held at Jnglewoocl 311 Saturday, when there were present: Messrs. H. Trimble (chairman), A. 15. Laurence, J. Williams, T. Bowler, M. Hopson and J. Hucker. OVERSEER'S REPORT,

The overseer (Mr. W. R. Davios) re- ; urted that, as instructed, he inspected the bridge on Bedford road south of Norfolk road and found that two of the stringers were in bad order, one being nearly rotted through. The bridge was dangerous for heavy traffic, and would cost about £24 to replace in rimu. He had inspected the tunnel on Motukawa road and found it in the same condition as when he saw it two months ago. A small slip had come down at the ?n----take and this had been cleared away. Instead of putting in pipes Mr. Yeates had suggested that by cutting a drain through his property to the creek it would take tin storm water from above his gateway, and would be no detriment to the road and would at the same time drain hia private roadway. Mr. Yeates could then fill up the drain in front ol his gate and make a good access. The repairs to bridge on Bedford road had been completed, and a very good job had been made. This was freo labor work. The crusher and plant was shifted to John's road on September 1. John's road, Rowan and Thomason's boulder contract had been crushed, and 55 yards of metal received, and this, with 00 yards of maintenance metal, had been used in strengthening the ruts, which, had been scarified and rolled in for a distance of 140 chains. "While at John's road they crushed 10 yards boulders for Mr. Kovclski and put it on his private road. The work for the Midhirst Dairy Company, at the Rugby road creamery, had been completed. The settlers on Norfolk road were getting out about 200 yards of boulders (free labor), the Board to find team. The settlers intended to put all the boulders through tin crusher with free labor, and informed him that they intended to get out the stone in March by free labor instead of the Board letting the contract. The roller was shifted to Norfolk road west on Friday. The bridge and filling on Kohete road had been completed. A small bridge near Hogan's on Motukawa road was in a dangerous state, as the •stringers worn rotten and one of the caps was broken. General maintenance work had been done on the following roads;, Egmont South, Windsor, Dudley, Bedford, Durham, Norfolk, Surrey, Bristol, Lincoln, Wortley, Suffolk, Kaimata, Rimutautoka, Rataplko, Mana, Toi Toi, Ross, Salisbury and Mangaotea. Near the place where the,Toi Toi road was widened, the outer edge of the road had cracked and had gone'down about six inches. It was 12ft from the crack to the .inside watertable. Several of the concrete pipes' in the big filling had cracked. . ~ LEPPEE ROAD. "-*•"■'

The Public Works Department notified that the specifications received in connection with the two metalling contracts were in order. As yet no money had been authorised for expenditure on the road, and until formal authority Was received no works were to be placed •in hand. He could not Hold much hope of any money being authorised for some little time, but he was submitting the •application to the head office and would advise the Board later.

Notification was received from the Slate Advances Department to the effect that the application for a loan of £2?AO was in order. A resolution was passed making and levying a, special rate to cover interest thereon.

Mr. Williams thought that tenders should be called fov the work, which should be put in hand as soon as possible. It was decided to call tenders to close at next meeting, by which time it is expected authority will have "been received. ROAD JUNCTIONS. The County Council notified that in the absence of any express agreement, it had agreed to pay half the cost of the work at the Mangaotea road junction, as was don? in every ease where an approach was made from a Road District road to a County,road. A cheque for £9 7s Od was enclosed. „ The Council also notified that it had accopted the Board's offer to pay half the cost of the 12 inch pipes and placing same in position, also one third cost ot drain at the junction of Kohete and Tariki roads, and the work would be put in hand as soon as the weather was favorable. " THE MOA MERGER. ' In connection with the adjustment of accounts between the Board and* the County Council, the clerk of the latter asked for statement of rates owing for the area merged,- and also a statement of assets and liabilities of the Board as at March 31. .; .The Advances Office •.notified that notices in respect to loans.in the merged portion would in future We forwarded to thp-.County Council. - - - The Department of Irtterna) Affairs, notified the appointment • of Mr. A..Crooke, S.M., at New Plymouth, as a .commissioner to make an. award in connection with the adjustment of .accounts between the Board and •'■ tha County Council. . ■ i MAKARA BRIDGE. Messrs. Bakewell, Williams and Maekinden; residents : of Waitui, waited on the Board in connection with the replacing, of the present wooden bridge over the Makara River,*'which is now unsafe for heavy hnds, with 11 concrete structure. The settlers were prepared I to raise a loan for a portion of the cost, and they asked that the . £IOO voted by the Government as a grant for the Rimutantcka road should be diverted to this bridge. In reply to the chairman, the deputation stated that there was.not likely to be any objection, raised by settlers to the diversion of the £IOO.. The settlers would, they thought, willingly agree to raise half the cost of the bridge, GENERAL. The monthly statement showed receipts at £220 13s fid (rates £204 14s lOd). Expenditure £2711 IBs 3d. The bank overdraft was £1503 17s lid. The offer of Norfolk road settlers to get out boulders next March was accepted with thanks. The County Council notified that the Board's application for a subsidy on the Lincoln, Wortley, Windsor and York roads had been deferred until next meeting of the Council. Mr. H. W. Glen asked permission toput up a fence across the Ross road, be. yond the metal. The adjoining settler was agreeable.—Granted, at applicant's own risk. Mr. Laurence said that in connection with extraordinary traffic the Board , would have to take steps to see that the by-law regarding weight of load and width of tires was enforced. It. was resolved in inform the Tara-

naki Comity Council that the Board wan Jjic.'ljarcd to pay the cost of merging a .|n>i'tiuii of the Waitara West road district with Hie Mpa district. -Mr. ]]. Bivdin asked that a man or two should bo sent to attend to tindrains, etc., on the Mangaotea road The work will be done as soon as the weather is favorable. Wiekham and Jones, asked that the surfaceman attend to water tables on the Ngaio road.—Already attended to. Accounts amounting to £2l? 10s <Jd were passed for payment. ssaaa-B-—-