PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1918, Page 2

PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEISTINQ. The ordinary meeting <if the I'ariliaka Bond Hoard was held at Kalinin oil Thursday, when there were present: Messrs. Jas, Young (chairman), T. Harvey, HI. O'Brien, W. C. Green aiid \V. B. Smith. FOREMAN'S REPORT. The foreman (Mr. Harris) reported as follows: 210 yards of stone were crushed liy the board's plant on the Lower Kahili road, and 22 chains of the road were scarified and reformed, a light coat of metal was added and dry-rolled, as no cart was available. The holes in the other part of the road were filled, and about 100 yards of metal dumped for future maintenance. 1 let a contract to W. Hodsou for twenty-three yards of nielal at 4s Cd, and crushed it. On the Opourapa road 171 yards of stone have been crushed, part being used for repairs and the rest dumped. On the Newell road a ditch outlet had been made. A concrete wing wall lias been put in at the Warea bridge, and the approaches refenced. Four new culverts are required along; this road, and I have had the necessary pipes carted out for them. The cost c£ metalling about fourteen chains of Lower Kina road with, pit metal, and reforming, would be. £7O, and the rest of the road could be put in repair at very little cost. About 180 yards of river boulders 'Lad been carted on the Upper Arawhata voad. Ti:e board's teams were not strong enough to cart metal froni the bench. Au 18-inch pipe culvert lias been put in, and some repairs done on the lipua road. A 21-inch pipe culvert has been placed neai/ the creamery on the Ihcua road. Something should be done to abate the nuisance caused by the factory drainage. Shingle for pipe making at Rahotu yards and chaff arc required. The quantity of etolie crushed to date is as follows: Cape road, COO yards; Pungarchu road, CO yaTds; Bayly road 150 yards; Lower Kahui road, 216 yards; Opourapa road 171 yards; total 797 yds. The engine is still giving a lot of trouble. I have had to dismiss men and teams for the day, as the engine would not start; then, when it did start, had to work short-handed. I have liad to neglect other work to devote my time to ths crusher. The contractors r,re complaining of the quantity going through. One hour scarifying used 1 tin of benzine, e.nd travelling li miles and scttin" up cn;s'.ier used 1 tin of ben;;ine. The cn< gine is net vo-.'.iing on kerosene. Pr.rt of the clutch is broken, and the bi;; piuio.i is wearing badly. Already three new batteries have been procured. The engine palled the crusher up Warea road very well. V/. Julian lias finished his contracts on the ll'.'ikcrc, Stent, Bayly and Warea roads; M. Coffey hr.s done tlhj Lower Jvalxi and Opourapa rctuU, and is no.v doing the Tipo'-.a; J. llickcy ■ has fin,.;hed 111 a Namu-and Upper Waiteika and has nearly finished the Opua; L. Viseher has finished the Ngf.riki read, and is now on the Upper, Kahui; A. Denliam lias s'..;rted the Lower Wi.l.eika road. WAREA ROAD. ?n connection with the proposed l.ridge at Dirtyman's Creek, Ivewall read, Members had.viewed the site.agreed that it would be advisable to put in a new cut-in the creek above the present bridge. A nejv bridge could be erected there at .. minimum coat, or possibly two pip«s could carry the water. This should be gone on with when men were available, after the stone had been crushed. The chairman stated that the road was overdrawn, and the settlers, if they wished the work done, should assist. Mr. Smith said ratepayers argued that the board would do new work on the beach roads, but if work was required on the back blocks roads the eettlero were asked to assist. Mr. Green said that some of the beac'i properties had been taken up thirty-live years ago, and had no metalled roads. Mr. O'Brien said this was not a point in favor of merging in the county. Mr. Young pointed out that in his road land had been taken up thirty-three years ago, and had no metal. It was

nut, fair io say tliat Hie l>oi(Vil looked after the beach roil<l settlers to the datri- j merit of the liiisii road settlers. There should never have been two loans mi one road; (he luiin nliouhl go Irom the beachi to tlie reserve. There werj two Id three limns on cadi road. It was finally decided thai Mr. .Smith approach the settlers on the matter. The chairman, overseer and nding member were instructed to via it, the site and report on the cost. Mr. Green stated that Mr. (.assie com-: plained that they were not going to hti,\e • the crusher ut the top end of llie road, which, ho considered, was being neglected. The foreman slat oil that wont 01 tlie inelal would go t" tlio lop end ul the road. Jlr. Smith considered that inehit could be obtained cheaper higher up. Tlie chairman said that the idea was to keep the crusher at the lower end of the roads,- ( where trnffie was heavier, and keep the top end of the roads in repair under tlie!! old system. DEPUTATIONS. Mr. Ernest Barns, reserves agent, stated that Tauruti Powaite complained of a diteli which was cut through his properly some years ago, diverting the water from the road. Tauni waited on the board, and-ex-plained that his permission was not ob- ! tained for the work. He complained that the rubbish from the drain was thrown . on to his land. The work was done dur- ; ing' bis absence by the County Council and Road Board. to paying rates on the land where the drain was, and which he would not use. [ It was resolved to leave the matter in 1 the hands of Messrs. Green, O'Brien and 1 Harvey, to place before the County Coun- ; cil. A Maori named Wliare Pouri waited on I the board and complained that a quan- \ tity of stone had been dumped on the ' old road that he had purchased from the board, t The clerk stated that the purchase bad not been completed. Whare Pouri said lie had paid Judge Jack £2O for the land three years ajo The heap of stone was on his fence lino. He would like the fence line cleared:'"" ; The chairman pointer out that he ccu'.d not fence the land' until the pur-1 . chase was completed. ' j ; THE USE OF MACHINERY. ; Tim county chairman (Mr. W. I{.' | Wright) stated that a suggestion had* been lnado that a conference should be held between the council and Uio board, relative to the crushing plant. lie pointed cut th.J, the (.i, mty Counjil's new on;s*i?,r lu'fl not arrived, a-id lie vjderhU><:<! (h. the motive powoi to drive the toaru's crusher v/as in gcod ordor, apd In suggested that the county .council should erasii the board's metal, usiiij tlxi board'a crusher. Afterwards, i!.e cnii'ci!. cor.ld use the board'a crusher in crushing i s contract metal. Befcre 'startiii.T on the county metal, lie wou'.d suggest tlmt til» crusdier bo Inspected by an expert, so that ii r.iiy damage was doae by the council it couid lid estimated. , It w,,:; resolved that the bonrd lias n.'j objection to permitting the council to usj Us crusher, and th« chairman, Messrs Green pnl Harvey were appointed to rjeet »•. committee from the council, and make -the necssary arrangements. | THE ARAWHATA ROAD. . j Scren settlers of tlie Upper Anvwhfta I road petitioned the board to do some- i thing to thu read to g;v3 acce. s to their sections. Tho petition pair ted out that | the settlers above the Wiremn road had been paying rates to the board for the > past Jtfteca or twenty 'yearn. Mr. H. M. ■ Bartle otated that work wan required in continuation of t!ij pvasmt octal. They ■ would like a little cf tho rules spent cn 1 the top oi»d of the road. Mr. W. C. Green considered that it 1 was necessary that tho bottom end of the ro*>d sliould be maintained, -jig all i ■ the settlors used this. J 1 Mr. Cart lo pointed out that most of those above used tho Iliaia road, u>d,'if ■ thu Wirerau road was opened up, would use that. • . The clerk stated that the road was 1 £2O in credit. The overseer is to report on tho state of the road above tlio metal, and the clerk as to the financial position of tlie road. Mr. Andrews aLo telegraphed asking that something should b= done, and offered the services of himself and a couple of men. Mr. O'Brien suggested that some money should bo expended at once, so as to make use of tlie good weather. . Mr. 3artlo stated that )uj was anx'iou# to get.n track made to enable-his-chili dren to ride to school, and, if necessary* would undertake the work himself. A special meeting will 1": held next sale day at iialiotu, to receive tho report. FOREMAN'S RESIGNATION.. Mr. Harris (foreman) stated that since the arrival of the machinery he had had too much work, and, what with attending to crusher, impounding cattle, etc., he did not get home until !) p.m. He had no time to look after the contracts, and, with the diilicnlty of obtaining men, etc., he would like to give up his position and give a week's notice. Mr. Green moved that the foreman be not asked to impound cattle. Mr. O'Brien said that the board was well satisfied with the foreman, and he moved that his salary be increased a little. The foreman stated that he would prefer to get out of the job. Since lie started impounding the cattle, farmers had a "snout" on him. Having to keep two horses meant that he was very little better oil' at His Sd per day than if he received 12s per day. He was being worried by contractors, who had received 75 per cent, and were afraid of delay in crushing. The chairman and clerk were instructed to look into the agreement,, and make the necessary arrangements for the overseer to remain at least until his successor is appointed. GENERAL. It was resolved to offer Mr. Knofflock £3 to clear the drain on the;,lliaia road, The clerk stated that the cost of crushed metal on the Cape road was 7s ( per yard. _ Notice is to be given that the 10 per cent, penalty would be added on March 10. : It was resolved to accept the council's oft or to pay half the cost of channelling on Kahui road to carry storm water. Tenders will be called for the work. ft was resolved to do the metalling otj the Lower Kina road, teams having been offered a t 30s per day. • It was resolved to ask the Opunake Dairy Company to attend to the blocked drain on the Iliaia road. . - '7 Legal advice is to be taken as to-.thsj boards position in regard to hawksfs? licenses. .. . ' Tauru road, the chairnutn stated thas the board had not money to do any per' nianent work, and lie thought that it would be advisable to wait until the settlers came to the boaid with some offer. Accounts amounting to ;£4Ol ISs 5d l«w,h jessed for payment,