MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1917, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING The ordinary mooting of tlie Mo'.i Road'Tioai'd was held at Inglewood on Saturday, when there were present: Messrs A. Cork ill (chairman), J. W. Henwood, T. Bowler, LI, Trimble, J. 11. Hare, Keisby, Hunter, A. E. Laurence, and J. {Simpson. 1 OVERSEER'S REPORT. The Overseer (Mr. R. L. Hogg), reported that blinding, patching, watertabling and work of a general nature had been carried out on the Bristol, Bedford, Dudley West, Durham AVest, Ratapiko, and Kaimata Roads. On some of the roads pipe culverts had been put in. Owing to an old culvert becoming blocked on tlie Kaimata Road lie had found it necessary to alter the course of the stream and put in a pipe culvert. Tiia clay portion of tlie Ratapiko Road had been levelled and rounded up, watertables deepened and generally put into good shape. There are tyo very steep hills after leaving the metalled road, which cut rip into deep ruts during the winter months, owing to the steep grades. "He proposed lowering these hills, with the assistance of a certain amount of free labor by the settlers. Levelling, rounding-up, and deepening water-tables had been in progress on the liupara and Mana Roads. The former'road had been put in good order for the winter. There were good indications of shell rock on the lower end of the road, and he suggested that some prospecting should be jdone in the locality. It would be a boon I to that end of the district if metal could be found in payable quantity. Patching and water-tabling had been done on the Rugby Road, but this road was practically worn out past the bridges. When the first bridge was renewed it would be necessary' to strengthen the second bridge. It would then he possible to get the plant to Ross Road. There is unexpended loan money in connection with metalling works on the Mangaotea Road. It will be necessary to renew tow bridges before'work can be satfactorily completed. I propose doing awav with the first bridge and substituting 3ft pipes and a filling, at a cost of £2O. The second one will require renewal. I recommend, that the work be put in hand at once. Work of a general nature has been done on the following roads: Ross, Ngaro, Johns. Rimutauteka, Norfolk, Mangaone, York, Davis, Wortley, and Lincoln. Considerable time had been taken up in going over the whole district to ascertain the metal requirements, dumping grounds for the boulders, and other details in connection with the metalling contracts. He had also prepared several plans of proposed works, and taken out quantities of material for Makara bridge and deviation and Bedford Road bridges.. The plant, was working very satisfactorily, and would now give good service and continuous and eftiicent work. Owing to the present high prices of material and labor, he thought it advisable to defer purchasing a for the present, but he advised tli4 purchase of a twohorse road graderThere are two or three very dangerous corners on the Bristol Road leading to Mr. Bishop's property, and I would respectfully a3k the board to authorise the work. The cost would be about £lO to make a satisfactory job. A set of 2ft. pipes is required for York Road, also a similar set for Richmond Road. If the contract prices for the delivery of boulders are not satisfactory, I would rceommend the board purchasing teams of their own to do the necessary work, unless some satisfactory arrangement can be made for the hire of teams.

Thirty-six pipes, varying from 3 feet to 0 inches have been manufactured during the month. The overseer was authorised to do the work on the unmetalled portion of the Ratapiko Road; also to prospect for shell rock and metal in the vicinity of the Mana and Ratapiko Road. The metalling of the Mangaotea' Road was left in the hands of the chairman and overseer.

It was resolved to obtain the grader as recommended. The chairman said he did not favor strengthening the first bridge at Rugby Road, as it required renewing at an estimated cost of £275. It had gone too far for repairs. It was resolved to strengthen the second bridge. BRIDGE LOAN. Mr. A. E. Laurence, pursuant to notice, moved that the board take the necessary s+*ps to raise a bridge loan over the Moa district. There were ten bridges that r.viuired building, viz., five in the Bedford 3oa<l, one on the Everett and Mangaone rNftds, and two on the Rugby Road, as well ,as the Mahaka bridge. He would also include the liabilities the settlers of the respective district had taken over the erection of the Manganui and Ngatoro bridges. Mr. Trimble, in seconding, considered that it would be a good idea to obtain an estimate. Mr. Hunter also approved Mr. Reisby asked whether this would include all the bridges to be erected. Mr. Laurence said there were three bridges on the Bedford Road near the Surrey Road that could fee done without by continuing the Johns Road through a distance of 50 chains, which could be done much cheaper. He thought the overseer might be asked to give an estimate on the cost of putting this road through. Mr. Kenwood said that if culverts wore included he would not object. Mr. Trimble understood that the loan was only to replace bridges already mado. To make the proposed Johns Road extension would probably cost £BOO or £IOOO, and the cost would have to be borne by a few settlers on the Bedford Road, as the road would not benefit the Johns Road settlers. Mr. J. H. Hare said the settlers at Ratapiko had rated themselves for the bridges built in that ditsrict. Some of them had large holdings, and it was not right that they should be rated in this \\a,\\

Mr. A. E. Laurence B'aid that the Mangaiiui bridge built by the county had been pVid for by all the ratepayers in the district'. The Road Board had voted £l3O towards the erection of the Mana bridge. The ratepayers of the district had gone in for a loan for £ 100 for the erection of bridge. Mr Henwood considered it was unfair to ask ratepayers who required no bridges in their own district to build those in another district. The chairman strongly opposed the motion. He characterised the proposal us absurd. ~ , Mr J B. Simpson thought it would be fair for' those who did not benefit from the loan to pay a proportionate share of the cost of the bridges. * The chairman: Are you prepared to 000 l t*e rates .the same as ia done with

the county council? If bo, I would stiffport the principle. Mr. Simpson said there should be more community of interest in counties. The motion was lost, Messrs A. E. Laurence, 11. Trimble, .T, Hunter, and J. B. Simpson voting in its favor. THE WAGES QUESTIONS Three members of the staff asked- for an increase of Is per day wages, and asked that the board iind them shovels. On the motion of Messrs G. W. <llenwood and J. 11. Reisby it was resolved to deal with the matter in committee. On resuming, it was reported that the board had resolved to hold tlie matter over, pending tli? decision of a conference of local bodies, which was to be held shortly. If an increase was favored it would date from this -meeting. The chairman was appointed the board's representative at the conference. Two applications were received for the vacancy of surfaceman, and E. Vercoe was appointed. CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. Mr. William Haslett, Bristol Road, drew attention to a culvert opposite his property, which had become partly silted up and did not, in its present state, allow for the necessary drainage of a creek on his property, which became very boggy and iu which lie had the misfortune to lose a valuable horse. He considered he was entitled to just compensation. The overseer reported that it was a raupo swamp where the animal was lost. The board declined to accept any responsibility. TENDERS. Tenders were accepted as follows: Boulders, Bristol Road, 300 yards, W. Thomason, ss; 'Dudley, 75 yards, C. H. Laurence, 3s 3d; Durham East, 50 yards, W. Thomason, (is 3d : Durham West, 150 yards, C. H. Laurence, 3s 3d; Johns, 100 yards, C. H Laurence, as; Norfolk East, 150 yards, C. H. Laurence, 4s 6d; Ross and Xgaro, 200 yards, A. J. Douch, 5s 3d; Rugby, "200 yards, C. H. Laurence, 4s 3d. Broken metal, Windsor Road, 25 yards, Grylls and Julian, 8s 6d. Pit metal, Lincoln Road, 100 yards, W. Thomason, lis. Several contracts were not tendered for, whilst in some eases the prices were considered too high. GENERAL. The Taranaki County Council notified that Cr. Capper had been authorised to confer with the board to ascertain definitely what was proposed to be done at the junction of the Kaimata and J (ration Roads. The chairman stated that he had met the chairman of the county council, who Was agreeable to do anything reasonable, and suggested that the board should forward plana to the next meeting of the council. This will be done. The resolution re allocating a l-8d rate to the payment of the plant was rescinded on the motion of the chairman. The Stratford county engineer applied for the hire of the board's crusher to crush about 230 cubic yards of biulders on the Ratapiko Road. The State Advances office notified that an Order-in-Council validating proceedings in connection with the loan of £445 for forming and metalling the Mangaptea Road had been gazetted. Mr. Trimble asked whether the rate proposed to be levied for the Makara bridge loan was sufficient to pay the interest bn the loan, without relying on : the rates from the Native land, which the local bodies had difficulty in collect- ' ing. Mr. Laurence stated that the county . council had to refuse an application for i a loan on another road owing to the difficulty of collecting Native rates. ; It was re»olved to procure the office . next the Moa Dairy Company's office, for three years at the weekly rental of . ss. . It was resolved to agree to the incluI slon of certain properties as asked by ■ petition of the ratepayers from the Waitara West Road District into the Moa ; district, and to request the Taranaki i County Council to take the necessary steps to effect the merger, the Moa ■ Road Board agreeing to pay tlie expenses of the merger. Mr. Buckley was appointed clerk to the Board at a salary of £IOO per an- , num. i It Was resolved to enforce the performance of tlie contractors' agreement re road metal.