MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1918, Page 6

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETIKo,. _____■ The ordinary meeting of the Moa Road Board was held at'lnglewood. oil Sutmday, wlieu there were present: Messrs A. Corkil] (chairman), A. E- Lawiem/.., J. B. Simpson, .J. 11. Reeaby, J. Hair, J. Hunter, 11. Trimble, 'J'. S. Bowler, and J. W. lleuwood. ~ OVERSEER'S REPORT The overseer (Mr. R. IV Hogg) reported: The metalling work on Norfolk road cast has ; l>cen completed, 120 cilbift vards of day labor boulder? having been crushed, 117 of which have been used in re-metalling 1!) chains and the balance dumped for maintenance purposes Sixteen chains of re-metalling on John's road have been done, using 100 cubic yards of day labor 'boulders. A few chains of scarifying have been done also, which now leaves this road in fair order. The metalline work on the Rugby road is now completed, a distance of 87 chains have been re-coated, using 53 cubic yards of Thomason's contract stone and 230 yards of day labor bouldcrs, IS cubic yards of which have been dumped for maintenance. Owing to the rotten condition of the first bridge it was not advisable to attempt to strengthen the structure underneath to enable the plant to cross I threw a temporary bridge across, using some trees near by for stringers, and using the decking from the second bridge I propose leaving the temporary bridge until such time as I am able to put in hand the work of erection of the proposed new concrete bridge. The temporary work will be quite safe to leave for a time for ordinary traffic purposes The second bridge is now finished, arid will last for some years. I have understrutted, re-decked, and erected new hand-rails to same, also tarred and painted the work. The work has been carried out u little below my estimate. The crushing for the dairy company will be put in hand in a day or two. The boulders necessary for the Surrey road are being carted out, and the crushing will be put in hand when the plant finishes the crushing for the dairy company. Doing this private work will allow the boulder supply to get well ahead, and will work in, without detriment to our own work. I have interviewed one of the settlers on the Ross road with reference to the excavation work in connection with the metalling loan, and have arranged, with the approval of the board, to let this work by contract; the ■board to supply t'lie necessary pipes for the culvert If this work is not, done now, the formation work will not be sufficiently solid to take the metal, which I propose doing when the plant finishes Norfolk road west On the Mangaotea' road I have deferred erecting the new bridge until the metalling work on Ross and Ngara roads is fr'ing done, when I shall be able to keep in touch with the plant working. Owing to the pressure of other works, it would be i advisably to let the formation work, otherwise it will not be possible to complete the work before the winter I cannot at present spare any men from the metalling works; the only chance of the work beincr done liefore the winter is to get the formation work under Way as soon as possible. Probably some of the settlers would take the work. I have not

yet been able to test the shell rock deposit on the Rntapiko road, but propose doing so -when we are in the distriet with the plant. A trial of the new. grader has been made on the "Windsor road, and it lias proved quite up to expectations, The wnole of the work was done with two horses, which, is quite satisfactory, especially when the bad condition of the mail is taken into consideration. The cost of the work you will And'on mv estimate sheet. The grader has been iu' use on the Toi Toi road, and 93 chains hove been graded, the work being quite satisfactory. I am endeavoring to arrange for the metalling work to be put iii hand as soon as possible, so that the work may be completed before the bad weather sets in. It will probably be necessary to take teams from Inglewood. The grader will be at work early next week on the Motukawa road. A start has been made stripping for metal, ami the work of metalling will be put in hand as soon as possible. Work of a general nature has been carried out on the following roads; Bristol, Lincoln, Kaimata, Dudley, Mana, Kupara, and Ratapiko. fleneral: The Xgatoro bridge being now complete, it will be necessary to take steps to put the formation work in hand as soon as possible, to allow the filling work, and other formation to solidify, so that the metalling can be dnrie at the first opportunity. > T o doubt some of the settlers would do the work. About ?.(10 cubic yards.of boulders have been delivered on Bristol road. I have experienced some difficulty in procuring suitable horses to work the grader, and it appears to be necessary to hire two strong horses to go round the district, so as to save delay. The season is getting on, and the clay roads must be done without delay, if tlliey are to be done before the winter- I have had two horses offered on hire, also a small tip-dray. Kngine-driver Bowler is on 14 days' leave and is working the plant. Mr. R. Branch has been working the plant for 13 days. The question of horses for the 'grader was referred back to the overseer. The chairman stated that if he had known settlers' horses on the various roads would not be available he would' not have favored obtaining a grader. Mr. llenwood thought that horses would be available on the various roads. BEDFORD ROAD BRIDG. .

The chairman staled that half of the old bridge on the Bedford road had fallen in, and he thought that the board should remove it altogether, so as to prevent, any possibility of an accident, as people were at present walking over the stringers. There was no possibility of renewing the bridge unless the settlers raised a loan: Mr Lawrence favored leaving the bridge and advertising that it was dangerous to traffic. Mr. Trimble thought that a ford could be provided. Mr. Kenwood favored obtaining advice as to the board's position. Mr. J. B. Simpson understood that the board would be liable to maintain the bridge once it was erected. Mr. Trimble did not think so. They w-oiild be liable to keep the road open only. On the motion of Messrs Trimble and Lawrence it was resolved to notify that the bridge o\£i- the Waitepuke stream was unfit for all traffic. GENJERAL. The secretary to the Treasury notified that seven loans, totalling £2213 lfls I Oil in resp"« of the Upland South, I.epppr, Lepper South, anil Kgmont iouth roads had been transferred to the

Taranaki County Council. The board's inscribed debt now stood ;:; £-11.178 Ss Su, and the half-yearly interest was £SBB IDs lid By direction oi the wori..i committee, the' Inglewood borough inspector requested tli6 board to clean out the dram ; running through theii property, a., the council had in view the widening ot the culvert over the. creek in Carriugton Street. The superintendent oi the State Advances Department notified Unit the. resolution making the «p«cml rate in I connection with the Mangaotea special [loan of £445 had been gazettedThe Globe Delivery Company wrote that the charges the board was asked to pay on the delivery of the road grader were'as follow: Freight £l3 Is fid. wharfage and cartage £2 3s 3d, railage from New Plymouth fls Id—total £ls 118s lOd. The chairman stated that the clerk had written to the shipping company for further information. Mr. E. C. Robinson, consulting engineer to the board, reported that the Ngatoro stream bridge bad been completed. Tho overseer was authorised to arrange, if possible, for letting a contract for grading and forming Mangaotea road. L Bint's contract for formation •on Ross road at Is 3d per yard and £1 5s for pipes was accepted. The tho Inglewood Club notified acceptance of an offer of 10s 8d per annum towards the cost of keeping clean the entrance hall to the affice, On the motion of Messrs 26681))' and Henwood, the chairman and clerk were authorised to lift all deeds of the board and place them for safe keeping in the Bank of New Zealand, and keep a record of them in the office. The question of fixing price of hire of plant was held over until next meeting. it was resolved to take steps to raise a loan of £350 for replacing the bridge on Rugby road. The fencing of the deviation at Ngatoro bridge was left in the hands of the chairman to arrange, with power to act. It was resolved to add ten per cent. to all rates unpaid after February 23. Accounts amounting to £4SG ISs 4d (general) and £IOB 19s 6d (special) were passed for payment.