MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1917, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The montlil.y meeting of the Moa Road Board ivas hold at Inglcwood oil Saturday, Present: Messrs A. Corkill (chairman), A. E. Laurence, J. Hucker, T. S. Bowler, .T. W. Hemvood, and ,T. Hunter. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. J. Harrison, NGATOKO BRIDGE. Mr. E. 0. Robinson, consulting engineer, wrote as follows: —"On May 21 f was successful in getting the Resident Public, WorEs Engineer to accompany me on a visit to Ngatoro stream, Bedford 'Road.. I found that since my last visit to: this locality the work which I recommended in my preliminary report, and which has since tan in a measure carried out, has had the effect of directing the stream into a straight channel -where it crosses the road. The position lias, in fact, improved to such an extent that the bridging of the stream on the original line of the road iS' now a feasible proposition, -After carefully going into the matter with the Public Works Engineer we both came to the conclusion that, provided tlio Board would agree to erect a suitable style of structure, the site on the original line of road is now, all things considered, preferable to any other. The type wc recommend is a hardwood stringer bridge of four spans, totalling 96 feet over all, built on ironbark pile piers. The whole of the bridge would be of hardwood, and it would have an effective life of at least 50 years. The cost, inclusive of rubble protection of embankments at ends, the making and metalling of embankments, etc., would be from £750 to £BOO. It would, of course, be feasible ta build a similar style of bridge with reinforced concrete piles, but the cost would probably be close on double that of the timber structure. In any case, should it be decided that the bridge go up on the original line of road, a little furthei diversion work upstream would be advisable, and the run of the stream would need to be watched from time to time/' The chairman said it had been suggested that the piles should be of concrete, as the cost 'would not be much greater than wooden piles, there being lots of mental handy in the river. It was decided to let the matter stand over to be dealt with by the uew board. OVERSEER'S REPORT. Mr. W. R. Davies, overseer, reported as follows: As instructed, the set of "2ft.. pipes had been put in to replace the set of Oin. ones near Mr. Heal's. I have inspected the drain between Messrs Jionibrr.ski's and Laurence's properties, Durham Road West, and advise that the •23 chains of drain be attended to at an estimated cost of 3s per chain. I have met the*settlers interested in the re-"i'ading of the east end of the Bristol Road.. They proposed altering the grade for a distance of two chains, which would lower the hill by 2ft. 4iin. and reduce the grade from one-in oft. Sin. to one in lift. At Motukawa Road Mr. Crow ha? carted out and put 6n the metal as agreed by the Board. The set of seven lliu. pipes has been put in near Mr.

Standish's trap-slied. Norfolk Road oat: The settlers have done good work, getting out about 450 yards of boulders ready for crushing. Tho work in connection with free labor on Everett Eoad is finished, 200 yards having been crushed and put on the road, covering a distance of 10i chains. The settlors deserve great credit for the way they have turned out and worked. Messrs Grylls and Julian's contracts on Kaimata and Ma'ngaone Roads have been completed, and, considering the .weather, they have made splendid progress. The plant was shifted from Bristol Eoad on May 29, and 177 yards have been crushed and 101 yards put on Kaimata and 70 yards on Mangaone Roads. Foreman Wilmsluirst has been assisting Foreman Bovett on Kaimata and Mangaone Roads, this being necessary, as there were two tip-heads. The plant is now engaged in crushing about 140 yards for the Taranaki County, and when rolling is completed the plant will be shifted to Bristol Eoad, near the junction of Junction Road, to crusty about 70 yards, and when this is done, Grylls and Julian have only one more contract of CO yards pit metal on Rimutauteka Road. Bedford Road, south of Norfolk Eoad: A stringer in a small bridge over the Waitepuke stream had broken, and two others are in a bad state of decay. It might be possible to get the stringers from Mr. Hastie's property. •Bristol Road: l'ifty-threa yards of boulders have been crushed for the manager of the Curtis estate. As instructed by the chairman, I have had a strip of five chains re-coated near Mr. Wilson's. Rugby Eoad: Somo of the earthenware pipes in a culvert between 'Messrs Thompson and Ackland's are broken, and I would advise that the earthenware pipes be replaced with concrete ones. General maintenance work has been done on the following roads: Lincoln, York, Toi Eoi, Kaimata south, Ngaro, Ross, Ratapiko, Mana, Kohete, Surrey, Jdhns, Durham west, Norfolk east and west, Rugby, Dudley/west, and Bedford north and sout hof Dudley. Rugby Road: I would again draw your attention to the bad condition of the first bridge on this road, and I would advise you to either close the bridge for traffic and make a ford, or build a new bridge. A committee, consisting of the chairman and Messrs Laurence and Bowler, was appointed to deel with the bridge on Bedford Road, south of Norfolk Road. Iu connection with the Rugby Road bridge it was agreed that Mr. Hueker should ascertain the views of the settlers with regard to raising a loan for the necessary work. The chairman moved that the drainage on Bristol Road, near Mr. Wilson's property, be carried straight down to the river.—Carried. GENERAL. Mr. Laurence said he had been asked to apply, on behalf of the Taranaki County Council, for the use of the Board's crusher and roller on Lcppcr Eoad. He thought there could 'be no objection to this being done; it would oblige the County Council and be a source of revenue to the Board. Owing to Whiskey Creek bridge not being strong enough to carry the roller, the journey would have to be made via Lepperton and up Egmont Eoad, but could come back the short way. He moved that the request be granted.—The motion was carried. The Public Works Department asked if the Board desired any alteration in the allocation of unexpended balances of lust year's appropriations for works. These amounts were as follows:—Lepper Eoad £IOO, Evcritt Road £201), Kaimata South £'2oo, Koliete £162, Ngatoro stream bridge £2OO, Ratapiko £IOO, Rimutauteka Road £loo.—Previous \otes to be retained. The Stratford County Council applied for £SI accrued to the Surrey and Derby Roads. The Couniel had just spent a considerable sum in putting the r:>ai!s in order and repairing bridges on the Derby Road.—Passed for payment. Tl ie Taranaki County Council notified

tliat tlio Moa Road Board had been dissolved by special order, and an election would be lield on June 27 of the whole Board.—Received. The Board then went into committee to consider five applications for the position of working overseer, and on resuming it >was decided to hold a special meeting next Saturday to further consider the appointment. The chairman said as that was the last'general 'meeting of the Board he desired to thank members for the kindness and courtesy tliey had a] Havs extended to him. He would lie pleased, if elected, to work as an ordinary member of the new Board, but other demands on his time would not allow him to again assume the duties of ch:i'ni::i:-.,