MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1917, Page 7

MOA ROAD BOARD.

J MONTHLY HJlM'im The ordinary meeting of the Moa Road Board was held at Inglewood on Saturday, when there were present: Messrs A. Oorkill (chairman), J. W. Benwood, T. Bowler, H. Trimble, J. Hunter, IF. Reesby, and A. E. Laurence. Mr. J. B. Simpson was granted leave ol absence. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

The overseer (Mr. R. L. Hogg) reported that drains had been cleared and work of a general nature carried out on the Bedford road, south of Norfolk road. Be asked to be advised as soon aB the loan for the two bridges was available, so that the necessary timber could be ordered, to avoid delay. He had visited Mangaotea road in company with Mr. Lopdell, Stratford county engineer, in connection with the loan works, when details were gone Into, there being 56 chains of road to complete in the Moa road district and 2$ chains in the Stratford county. lut had taken the levels and prepared the plans for re-grading the length. It would be necessary to proceed with the formation work as soon as possible, to allow the work to solidify, so as to be in readiness for the metalling, and should be completed at least one month before the metalling work was done. It would be necessary to round up, blind and roll all tlie existing metal, as this had no! yet been done, and the road was in an unsatisfactory condition. The 3ft. pipes to replace the first bridge had been set, but it would be advisable to defer dismantling the old bridge, and fill in the old creek ibed until the loan works were being done, when teams would be available for the necessary carting of filling material, there being no suitable material handy. Owing to difficulty in procuring totara timber, the high cost 'of same, and delay in delivery, he had 'substituted concrete in lieu of the totara, piles and caps, and had obtained a satisfactory foundation, the work being ready for the timber work, which wou!4 be put in hand when the timber (arrived. The ►lteration in construction would not entail any additional expenditure. Plant Working.—The work for the Taranaki County Council was now completed. He had made arrangements to commence their own work, and eg the boulders had been delivered on Dudley rond west, he proposed working this road first, then Durham road, Norfolk cast, John's, Surrey, Boss, LSgara, and Mangaone road if the metalling contract was not let. They could then work Kupara, Mana, and Katapiko roads, if arrangements could be made for procuring the necessary metal. Norfolk road west and Rugby road would be worked when the plant finished the above roads, if the Norfolk road settlers were willing to assist and some finality was reached in connection with the renewal of the Rugby road bridge. He then proposed working Lincoln road, and when Mr. Thompson was supplying the metal for the work he 'had undertaken to supply the gratis metal. Driver Bowler was at present assisting with borough council works, on account of a shortage ot labor, as under the existing conditions it appeared to be necessary for the adjoining local bodies to assist each other as much a* possible and whenever possible. Tne screen on the crusher elevator was quite unsatisfactory, and he recommended substituting V-shaped bars in lieu of the present, round bars. Work of a general nature had been parried out on the Everett, Bristol, York, Lincoln, Davis, Johns, Norfolk, Rugby, Ross, Ngara, Dudley east and west, Dur- j ham east and west, Windsor, Surrey, and Rimutauteka, a slip being removed | on the last named.

General.—Wet weather had considerably interfered with the district work, but in spite of the abnormal conditions satisfactory progress had been made. Mr. Vercoe declined to take up the position of road foreman, as the wages were insufficient, and Mr. H. Smith had been appointed. When the road grader came to hand he recommended rounding up all the clay roads as soon as possible, to allow time t» solidify before the wet weather again ss< in. The material for the Rugby and Mangaotea roads had been ordered, and 'he had made arrangements for carting game to the respective sites, when the works would be pat in hand without delay. It would be necessary to revise the schedule of duties of road foremen, in accordance with the decision of the conference of local bodies re tile wages of employees, if the board adopted the rates of pay recommended by the conference. He recommended the board to carry out by day labor all the contracts remaining unlet. Something definite should be arrived at with regard to the approaches to the Ngatoro bridge, as there would 'be a certain amonnt of preliminary work necessary. Mr. Thomason liad completed his boulder contract for (Durham road east, and Mr. C. Laurence had delivered the 75 yards on Dudley road west. He had not yet had an opportunity to prospect for shell rock. In view of the amount of bridge work coming forward he? recommended the board to obtain a No. 4 Oould's diaphragm pump at a cost of £3O. Sixtyfour pipes had been manufactured during tfie month, namely, forty-three 9in., twelve 12in., three 18in., three 2ft., and three 3ft.

It was resolved to procure the jump as Tecommended. The overseer was authorised to procure a new screen. The chairman's action in appointing H. Smith was confirmed. The question of procuring a concrete mixer was held over till next meeting. The overseer was authorised to carry on the works with day labor. The question of obtaining additional labor was also discussed. The chairman favored obtaining one or two extra hands. —No action was taken. WAITARA WEST MERGER. • Messrs J. D. V* i'iuM. 'H. A. Bishop, J. 0. Taylor, G. W. Clifford. J. Medley, and P. Drozdowski petitioned the board to take the steps necessary to merge their properties into the Moa road district..The board was agreeable to the merger, and the county council and the Waitara West Road Board are to be asked to give effect to it. THE NfiATftßO BRIDGE. Mr E. C. Robinson reported that the construction of the Ngatoro bridge, Bedford road, was progressing favorably. Excellent, foundations had been obtained for the piers, which were being erected. All the timber for false work had been delivered, also the reinforcing materials, and the cement was coming to hand as wanted. He stated that the cost of cartage to the site had been urranjed as follows! Boulderi. delivered 2s (kl per \arj, gravel 4s per yard; cement, etc., from Inglewood, Ss; timber, "s per 100 feet.

'! !'••> c'.ia'rninn considered that the price for carting (lie gravel three or four wa- nb".i.-dly whilst the boulder.* were sM.tlv

Mr. Trimble considered that tug gjj|. age of ths gravel might inclyde ing. The chairman said that while labor was dear tliey should conserve the ratepayers' interests as far as possible. Mr. Bowler suggested tile appointment of a committee to go into the matter, It was stated that all the material had been delivered, and the matter dropped. THE WAGES QUESTION.

Mr. W. J. Tristram notified the result of the conference of Taranaki local bodies as to wages (as already published).

It was resolved to adopt the recommendation of the conference, which members considered would have a steadying effect.

The chairman said the worst feature tvas that the men applied for a rise in the summer, after a wet winter when they had lost a lot of time. If this continued, they would have to arrange their work, so as to employ only one or two men in winter. ; ROAD IMPROVEMENT. Messrs J. S. Connett (chairman) and 00. Capper, member of the Taranaki County Council, waited on the Board in connection with the re-grading, etc., that I.he hoard proposed to carry out at the junction of tho Ivaimata road with the Junction road. Mr. Connett said that after inspecting the work proposed they Were quite in accord with it, and the county council would be prepared to stand their share of the cost of the Work done on the Junction road. In reply to the chairman, Mr. Connett said he preferred that the work should be done by day work under the supervision of the board's engineer, who had drawn up the plans of the work. Mr. Connett also stated that the county pouncil proposed at the same time to utilise the earth to widen a dangerous porner lower down the road.

The deputation thanked the board and. withdrew.

Mr. Laurence stated that on a previous occasion when the board and council had undertaken a work in conjunction there bad been a dispute as to quantities. The overseer (Mr. Hogg) considered there would be no difficulty in keeping these separate. Tt was resolved that the work be done by day work under the supervision of the Board's overseer, the council to be charged foT the work done on the county road. The overseer in his report stated that he had taken the necessary levels and prepared the plans for re-grading work '■riiich had been submitted, for approval, i Levels had also been taken of the work which the board desired the county council to carry out. PIPE DEPOT. The chairman stated that with Mr. Hare he had gone into the question of removing the pipe depot to Inglewqod. Several sections were under offer in the town, and he suggested that a committee should be set up with full power to act. The cost of removing and re-erecting the present shed would cost £54, whilst another shed for the housing of the plant and the overseer's office would cost £lO7. They recommended that the latter should stand over till the autumn and that the pipe shed should be shifted at once.

[ It was resolved to refer the matter to a committee comprising Messrs Hare, Bowler, Henwood, and the chairman, with ipower to act, BRIDGE LOAN'. Mr. Hunter, in accordance with notice of motion, moved that the board take steps to raise a bridge loan over the whole district, to build all bridges required, and to take over all bridge loans at present raised by settlers in special districts. 'He considered that the burden of building bridges should be borne by all ratepayers. It was not fair that soma ratepayers should have to bear the burden of providing their own bridges, as was the case in the Bedford road, Waitui and other districts, and in addition pay their share to the cost of bridges throughout the county. Mr, Laurence seconded. Mr. Henwood strongly opposed the resolution. If this were carried they might just as well adopt the system of pooling rates. At present his district paid £l4O to the county and road board and got nothing from the county. Mr. Trimble opposed taking over the liability of the settlers who had already gone in for a loan, because some of those loans had "been raised at a low rate of interest, and at did not appear good business to raise money for a long term at a high rate of interest to pay off a loan that had been raised at. say, 4J per cent. He moved an amendment to the effect that this prat of the resolution be struck out. Mr. Henwood seconded pro forma. The chairman opposed the loan, which he did not think would work out fairly by the ratepayers. A poll woujd only mean expense, because the ratepayers were certain to turn it down. He pointed out that of the bulk of the bridges some 10 were required on the Bedford road parallel with the radius line, and the value of the land they would serve was hardly equal to the cost of building the bridges. If these bridges were in a more public place the position might I be different.

Mr. Henwood: The bridges would enhance the value of that land and the people would sell out. It was pointed out that the Bedford road was a/b'out three miles from the reserve. The amendment was lost, as was also the resolution, Messrs Hunter, Kcesby, find Laurence voting iu its favor. GENERAL. The Stratford County Council wrote thanking the board for its offer to crush metal at the Ratapiko road. It was resolved to procure a grader at a cost of £BS. Waitara West Road Board forwarded cheque for £lB. being rates collected on the Davis road towards the maintenance of the road. The State Advances Department notified that the Board had resolved to grant a loan of .CJ4o for the purpose of' forming and metalling the Mangaotea road The declaration form and debenture were enclosed. The chairman and clerk were authorised to sign the debenture. Mr. E. C. Robinson forwarded plans of (he proposed Bedford road deviation. The chairman and clerk were authorised to si<>ii and allix the necessary seal when matters were fixed up. The overseer was authorised to lake the permanent levets. The monthly statement showed reeeints to haw totalled £33 8s "id. and expenditure £2l» ss, the overdraft being C1H"0 ISs. n-.tnimeneiiig in January the board will meet on the second Saturday oi each mouth. .-Vcomit* amounting to CiOS lis In! were passed for iKaymeur,.