MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1917, Page 7

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The munthly meeting of the Moa, Road .Board was held at Inglcwood on (Saturday. Present: Messrs.' A. Corkill (chairman), A. E. Laurence, J. Hucker, J. Hunter, W. J. Hair, T. S. Bowler, J. and J. W. Hemvood. The chairman and Mr. Hcnwood welcomed the new member, Mr. Hair, to the Board table, and expressed the hope that bis assistance in their deliberations would be of benefit to the district. Mr. Hair suitably acknowledged the compliment, ■ WAITARA WEST MERGER. The Taranaki County Council toi Warded a letter from the Waitara West Road Board objecting to the following sections being merged;—A. H. Bennett, sections 100, 101, and 162; C. M. Bennett, section 159; M. McFetridge, sec-' tions 152, 153 and 155. The Waitara West Road Board had agreed to the merger on December 7, 1916, but now stated that they were then under a misapprehension with regard to the sections. As the consent of the Road Board concerned was required by Section 10 of the Road Districts Act, 1908, the Council could only go on with the matter by fresh proceedings excluding the land specified.

Left in the hands of the chairman and Mr. Hcnwood to deal with, the same gentlemen to adjust accounts in connection with the southern merger. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer (Mr. W. R. Davies) re. ported that aB instructed, repairs to the Everett road bridge had been attended to. The bridge near Mr. Hogan's, Motukawa road, had been completed. H 6 saw the settlers interested in forming up a portion of Norfolk road. They informed him. that they were too busy just now but would let him know when they were ready to make a start. He would like to draw the Board's attention to the fact that if the formation was done at this time of the year it would be difficult for settlers to go through with their milk in the spring. At Bedford road south of Dudley, seven 2ft pipes had been used in replacing an old slab cut about 15 chains distant from the suspension bridge. There was a drain on Norfolk road west, about 20 chains in length, ending near Mr. Heal's access, and it was necessary that larger pipes should be put in to carry the water before the re-metalling was done. In connection with free labor at Norfolk* west, the settlers had done splendidly, having got out about 290 yards of boulders. At Suffolk road the drain <w the south side of the river had been completed and a vory good job made. The crushing plant was shifted from Durham road west to Everett road on May 4, but owing to the bad state of the weather and the condition of the road where the metal was to be put on, very little had been done. Mr Schofleld asked to have about 50 yards of metal crushed, and, with the chairman's con. sent, the work was in hand. General maintenance work had been done on other roads. The report was adopted, and the overseer's recommendations agreed to.

, OVERSEER'S RESIGNATION. The overseer tendered his resignation and in doing so stated that during hie association with the Board their relations had always been amicable and pleasant, and he had to thank them all for the fairness and courtesy which had been extended to him. The chairman moved that the resignation be accepted with regret. So far as he (the chairman) knew, there was no reason for the step Mr. Davies had taken, and could only say that he hoped that whatever change he made would be to his advantage. Mr. Hunter seconded the motion. Mr. Laurence said it seemed to hlra that Mr. Davies had no other alternative but t» resign as a man and a Britisher. There was no other course open. The board objected to an increase to which he was justly entitled. Mr. Bowler also expressed regret at the resignation, and thought the Board would be making a mistake to let him g°The chairman said he did not agree with the remarks of Mr. Laurence. There was no earthly reason he could see why the overseer should take up the stand he did. The members of the Board had been elected by the ratepayers, and ho for one would not care to sit at a Board the members of which were all of one mind. He had certainly opposed tho last increase of 10s per week to Mr. Davies, because for one thing the oveiseer had not even asked for it. He was quite certain Mr. Davies could rely upon being treated just as fairly with him (the speaker) as chairman as ho hat been formerly. This was the second or third time Mr. Davies' resignation had been before the Board. After some discussion as to the work of supervision the motion was put and carried. The chairman moved tliat applications he invited for the position of working foreman. He did not think it was necessary to have a man whose only duty would be supervision. Mr. Hair seconded the motion which ivas carried, and a committee, consist ing of the chairman, and Messrs- Laurene, Hucker, and Hair was appointed to arrange details as to ippointment anl salary.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £341 10s 91 were passed for payment, ANNUAL MEETING OB' RATEPAYERS. The annual meeting of ratepayers it the Moa Road District was subsequently held, the chairman of the Board voted to the chair. The chairman explained that ment of accounts and balance sheet had not yet been returned by the Government A'idit Department, and it would therefore be necessary to adjourn the meeting, but the date could not be definitely fixed until the audited and cer.n.-,l balance sheet came to hand. It was agreed to adjourn the meeting accordingly, the clerk of the l'.oad F.vml, Br, Buckley, to call the next meeting after he received the audited balance sheet. On the motion of Mr. A. J. Hodget, seconded by Mr. J. W. Henwood, sen., it was resolved "That this annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Moa Road Din", triot record a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. H. Trimble for the gjod work ha ha* done for the Board and *he district during his long term of office as member and chairman."