MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1918, Page 7

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. S The monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Saturday last when there were present: Messrs Corkill (chairman), llowler, Kenwood, Hunter, Laurence and Reesby. Mr. Corkill reported the result of the interview of Mr. v Bowler and himself with Mr. Thomason, when they arranged that the repair metal due to the Board would be delivered early in February. Although not quite what they wanted the time of delivery was now definitely settled. —Action confirmed. Mr. J. Bowler wrote thanking the Board for their letter notifying that his position with the Board would be kept upon for him when he returned. Mr. C. E Robinson reported that the arch ring of the Ngatoro Bridge was nearly complete, leaving only the spandrell and the parapet walls and roadway to finish, the last of which would have to wait until the areh had properly set. Mr. J. Lyon protested against sections 3 and 4, block 11., Huiroa S.D., being included in the rating area for the Makara bridge and Cooper's hill metalling loan. A petition wrs presented, signed by sis ratepayers within the rating area, asking the Board to take the necessary steps for raising a loan of £2300 for metalling the Everett road.—Board to take the necessary steps: A letter was received from the Advances to Settlers Office stating that the Board had approved the loan for £IOO for Boss road. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer's report was read as follows: Durham road west.—Thirty chains have' been re-coated, and blinding for a distance of approximately 200 chains has been done A considerable length of this road .still requires blinding, which will be put in hand as soon as possible, and when a horse and dry can be procured for the work. Norfolk road cast.—Re-coating for a distance of 16 chains has been dope, using 85 cubic yards of last year's contract stone, and 30 cubic yards of daylabor stone, commencing the work at the railway crossing and linking up the patches previously done. Boulders have been carted out for re-coating near Mr. Gibbs' property, which work will be put in hani at once. Rugby road. —The work of strengthening and renewing the decking and handrails of the second bridge is being done. When this is completed, I propose strengthening the first bridge to enable tj\e plant to cross, when the 200 cubic yards grant, and approximately 50 cubic yards already on the roadside will be 'aid. When these bridges are strengthened it will :be possible to form and metal the lli chains op Ross road when oppwtuaity offers Ratfcpiko road. —I have prospected for shell rjtk. and have had several drives put iu with 'good results, tnere beftig etery indication U»t a good face wiij' be found when tfo pit is properly opened. and I would recommend the Board to give the deposit a trial. The distance from the road is approximately 53 chains, all down hill carting, and at very little expense in preparing a track. The pit could be opened leading direct from the road, and I would suggest cutting in at this level. The stripping could be easily disposed of, as there is a large gully close by the proposed pit. I understand the settlers are willing to do practically all (lie work in connection with metalling, etc. With regard to crushing the stone for tUe Stratford County Council, it is likely to prove a great inconvenience under the existing conditions of our work, and as there is every probability of shell rock being used on Ratapiko-road it will not be necessary to take all the plant to Ratapiko, as we. shall not work farther than Ross road until the Mangaotea loan works ara put in hand. There is ai3o a danger of the plant being hung up, if the weather should be wet, the road being a clay road, very hilly, and in places of rotten foundation, therefore there i 3 a certain amount of risk in connection with the undertaking. Everett road.—l have gone into the matter of loan for metalling and renewal of bridge the report on which you have had. It will be necessary to lay off the propp3ed re-grading work, and bridge specifications, before the work oan be put in hand, as I understand subsidy is being • for, it will therefore 'be necessary to submit the pic ly, to the district engineer for his approval. General.—l have had as much of the district roads blinded as possible but shall not be able to do much more until t am able ti» release one of- the road foremen. I am concentrating nil out"-per-manent labor on metalling works, with the exception of one man, whom I intend utilising on road-grading work, corsequently shall not be able to spare a man for a time, unless absolutely necessary. I have prepared a plan of the proposed shed arrangement on the Board's new site for plan:: housing, also showing the position of crossings which could be put in at a time suiting the Borough engineer's convenience. The road-grader is now to hand, and 1 have had same \euioved to V/indso.- road where I propose doing the first work as soon as possible. When this road is put into shape, the back roads will ba graded without delay. Driver Bowler will shortly be leaving for camp, and a suitable person to take 'ir> the duties should ba advertised I or without delay. and the haymaking season have sovuowhat interfered with the progress of metalling works but I now hope to carry on the work more expeditiously. I have experienced difficulty in procuring single horse and drays, tile settlers all 'btSng too busy to come out, or hire drays. There is every likelihood that there will still be some difficulty in getting the necessary single horse and ilray requirements. Therefore I would recommend the Board to purchase a spring tip-dray one that would be suitable for the general work cf the Board. I believe there is a dray similar to above for sale at £l6. but cannot, say in what condition it is. I can arrange for a horse for present requirements. With regard to erecting a temporary fence on the liewiy acquired property from the Moa Dairv Company, it has been mutually agreed that the matter he left over until the roadway is formed, when the permanent fence will be erected. The plant is now engaged on the, bottom, end of Norfolk road, where approximately 130 yards of boulders will be crushed and laid. When this work is finished I proposed moving to John's road, Ross road and then to Surrey road. Referring to the leasing of the Board's stone crusher plant to the Stratford Countv Council it was resolved that the matter be left in the hinds of the overseer. The overseer was authorised to open up the met-.! nit he had found «o aa to

thoroughly test ,boJ,brAhe,probably extent of the pit and its quality for road material. , It was resolved that -tlid -overseer be instructed to prepare plana and specifications for the Everett road bridge and road formation lor the purpose of expending the loan money when raised. The Board's overseer wrote relative to the isost- of upkeep of mAtor bike; fort the letter was by resolution deferred until next meeting of the Board owing to the small attendance of members present. Accounts amounting to £285 6s 4d on general account, and £230 5s 8d oil loan account were passed for payment. Mr. Hunter reported that a portion of the Everett road was so blocked with furze as to be useless; and as it was in tiie Waitara West District, that Board should be written to drawing their attention to the nuisance, with a request to have same cleared.