MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1917, Page 7

MOA ROAD BOARD.

'- MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting M tho Moa Road Board was held at Inglowootl on Saturday. Present: Messrs H. Trimble (chairman), A. Laurence, J. Williams, A. Corkill, T. Bowler, J. Hucker and Hunter. • OVERSEER'S REPORT. The. oversenr (Mr. W. R. Davie;), in his monthly report, stated that repairs to bricl-Won Rugby road and Bedford road had been attended to, and work of replacing the Email bridge on Bedford road south of Norfolk road put in hand r.b or.ee. Bridges on Lepper road v>utli had been repaired, the Board finding Limber and rails, and Mr. J. No son carting timber and repairing bridge free of co.it. Drains on Rugby and Surrey roicis had been attended, to and. the f.r.-.ali bridge on Bedford road completed. U'r.ier-tables and rounding _up iivnniitulied portion of Rimutautel<a road'will commence next week. Mr. W. Thomason had hired the crushing plant for three, days .in February. The Motukawa road hear Mr. Crew's property became* very bad in the winter. Mr. Crew offered, to cart ii-co of charge sufficient metal from an old pit to metal a strip of. '6 2-3 chains, thus joining .up two strips of metal. Tho crushing ph'nt was, at Durham rosd; 330 cubic, yards of boulders had been secured, crushed and put on the road, a- distance of 'JO chain?. For '2O chains the metal had been strengthened .scarified, raked and blinded. The settlers deserved great credit for tho way they had assisted in this work. The settlers had also made good progress with the task of getting lfO yards of-bouldera to nistal ten chains on Everett road. Fair progress had been made by.the contractor with the Lepper road south contract. General maintenance work had been, done on the following roads: Bristol, Rimutauteka, Everett, Kaimata north and south, Mana, Toitoi, Motukawa, Rugby, Bedford (north of Dudley ami Surrey roads). Tho report also included items of cost of metal, pipe.?, labor, et.\, en each'road.

The report was received, and appreciation expressed at the assistance given by the settlers in helping with teams to get metal on the road. Mr. Crew's offer to get stone on Motukawa road was accepted. The chairman's action in authorising settlers to secure stone for Everett road was confirmed.

OVERSEER'S SALARY. The chairman brought up the question of further engagement of the overseer. At present the Board wore paying him £5 a, week aad were receiving good value in return. Tho roads generally were In a good state of repair, and he thought the overseer's 'services should lie recognised. Tho overseer had secured good' results in his work, and he believed that in re-engaging Mr. Davies for a further twelve months they might very well raise tho salary to £5 10s per week. Mr. Laurence, in seconding the motion, also spoke in appreciation of Mr. Davies' work. Mr. Hucker expresed liia approval of the motion. Mr. Corkill recognised the value of the overseer's services, but thought the Board should keep a watchful eye on their expenditure. Tho motion was carried, two voting against the increase. ,

CORRESPOXDEKCE.

Collett and Son. Ltd., Dannevirk?, reminded the. Board that the balance of account owing (£189) was,' according to terms of contract, due this month. — Received.

Mr. L, Gopperthy Kaimata, notified the Board that if he did not receive some portion of the royalty paid on stone (100 yards) taken from, his property in January, 1916, by L. Marsh, lie Would sue for recovery.—Received, Ur. Gopperth to be notified tint stone will bo stacked and measured at the end of the. present month. Alex. Mcßae, Waitui, requested the Hoard to do something to the Rimutanta!;n road before winter set in. He had previously written the Board on the matter. If further neglected it wouid be next to impossible to drive through. He had been paying £l4 a year for many years, and thought it tinie he objected to the Board's" delay.—licee'ved. This work was mentioned ii tins overseer's report as intended to he commenced on Monday. The State Advances Office, Wellington, stated that the board's two ulioii regarding a special rate for a loaji of £44."> for the purpose of forming ami metalling Mangaotea road had been gazetted. —Received.

The Stratford Borough Council notified the Board that th, hitter's application for the use of eni.-hing plant would be granted, provided the plant was it(uriierl to Stratford not later than April 3(1. —Received.

The Stratford County Council applied for any money the Boar/1 may have for the Upper Surrey and Uerby boundary roads, as the Council was now speniliAg i considerable sum in putting these roads in order.—Received, the Council to be notified that .£9 was available for the roads mentioned. It was resolved that rales for 1915-10 and 1910-17 (including native rites) be sued for after a linal notbe had bi.cn given.

After passing accounts the Board rose,