PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1918, Page 7

PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the I'arihaka Road Board was held at the board's office, Italiotu, on Thursday, when there were present: Messrs J. Young (chairman), T. Harvey, M. O'Brien, W. C. Green. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

The overseer (Mr. Harris) reported 'as follows: Warea—Newall Road, Dirtyman's Creek.' — In company with Mr. Smith and tho clerk, I inspected.the bridge, and interviewed a number of settlers on the site;'and Messrs. Smith, C.'Ssie. Deacon, Raven, Luckin, Rumball, ,1. Duggah and F. Jones intimated their willingness to assist towards a new bridge. To build a con crcto bridge on the present site would cost £9O, loss any assistance given by the settlers'. The bridge would have a width of 14 feet and a clear opening 9 feet high by 10 feet wide. The price also includes whips at the inlet .mil outlet, and £!i for clearing outlet creek. Tho alternative proposal to cut through a narrow neck of land arid put a concrete top over the cut would be a good scheme, provided It was certain the banks would stand the scour. Tho length of the cut would be one chain, with a fall of 4ft 6in. In flood tinio the rush of water might cut away the sides and bottom. The cost of cut, filling old bridge site, and concrete top

over cut would bo £3O. Since the visit of Inspection the old bridge was damaged liy bush fires. I had four culverts placed across .this road during tho month, viz., near the sawmill, near Luckin Bros., C. Magln's and Jones's. The couuty steam engine came up this road, and we have crushed 319 yards, of which wo used some for repairing the worst placed on the road, and dumped the rest for future maintenance. There are about 150 yards at the lower end to crush. After this is done we move the machinery to the Stent Road. Tho steam engine does good work at the crusher, but is not powerful enough to draw tho crusher up some of the hills-. Lower Kina Road. —Tho formation has been got ready for metalling, which has been delayed by a little difficulty with the pit owners. George-Epal asks £lO for tile right to take tho gravel from his pit to do the l(i chains, Paki Bishop offers free gravel if the board likes to open up a pit on his placo. This would probably cost more than the former, though it is an exorbitant price to ask. We require some

lin'ts for the elevator belt, and buckets and bolt sfor the chain belt.

Ihaia Road.—The pipe culvert has been lowered one foot, and- the outlet cleared. 1 The board's men are now clc.iing out the long drain near the school, but unless there is some protection the cattle passing up and down wiU cause it to fill up again. Arawhata Road.—l have not had time to visit this road agnln since last meeting. The chairman said that the assistance to be given by the sett'ers was very vague. In reply to the chairman, the clerk ■ stated

that the bridge could be made safe for another twelve months at littlo expense. Tho settlers were, he understood, prepared to cart gravel and cement, also timber for boxing, and some were prepared to assist with the labor in rebuilding. The chairman pointed out that with the metal that was being crushed, the road would be overdrawn, and ho questioned whether the expenditure of an additional £9O would to possible, Mr. Green thought that tho settlors should be asked whether they would be prepared to make tho channel and fill In the old creek, in which case the board would build the concrete top. Ho also suggested tiiat a cheap bridge might be erected if it were possible to obtain stringers from dismantled county bridges. On the motion of Messrs. O'Brien and Green, it was resolved that tho .:hairman aid secretary interview the County Council relativo to the purchase of stringers. Members of the board thought that the price asked (£10) for gravel was too heavy, particularly seeing that it was his own road that was to be metalled. It was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman and overseer, with power to act. Links, etc., required are to be obtained. Mr. O'Brien is to interview tho settler responsible for tho cattle damaging the tain on the Ihaia Road.

tPFER ARAWHATA ROAD. The chairman said he had interviewed the Commissioner of Crown Lands as to whether] .he would be able to give any assistance to-1 wards opening up the Arawhata Road, above tho Wircmu Road, in order to give the settlors some access. The land ha(J been taken up right to tho radiU3 line, and was mostly filled. Tho road was in its wild state, save that some of it had been felled by tho settlers. Tho Government usually In similar conditions cleared ihe road line, and stumped and culvertod it to a width of 12 feet, and he had suggested that tills might bo done in this case. The Commissioner had informed him that the land was now settled, and that he could not give ?uy assistance in this way. He, however, suggested that the board should apply to the Government. It was resolved to write to the Minister of Lands on the quistlon.

Mr. O'Brien pointed out that on the Opua and other roads i:ie road had been felled, cleared and culverted to a width of 12ft. Ho considered that the Public Trustee hid failed to meet his obligations to the settlers on this road, and' it was resolved to put tho position before the Public-Trustee.

KAHUI ROAD. A deputation, comprising Messrs T. Wlllcox, W. Fleming, H. Annis, W. Larking- and F. Rothery, waited on the board in connection With the state of the Kabul Road

Mr. T. Willcoi stated that the road was very rough, and thoy were dependent on motor traffic for the carriage of their cheese and goods inwards and outwards. They had just let a contract for next year's cartage, and one of the conditions made by the contractor was that repairs should be effected to the road, as the extra wear and tear or. tyre 3 ami machinery by the rough road would preclude tliem from carting at the price. He asked tLut some repairs be done to the road as far as the factory.

The clerk 3tated that the road was now £34 In credit, but it was proposed to place 500 yards of metal on the road, which would leave them £2OO in debt. Mr. Green realised the difficulty in maintaining the road. He pointed out that it was impossible to keep tlio road In order out of the small rate. He suggested that settlers should pay two or three years' rates in advance, so as to give money to place the road in good order.

Mr. Larking would favor money being raised for an asphalt road. Mr. Annis stated that the road in some places was much worse now than before the metal was placed on it. Mi". Larking said that the metal put dowuewaa too largo. Tho road wanted raking in at places, and raking off at others, and, if blinded, could he put in order. The road had been worn out ton years ago through timber carting. The chairman pointed out that the annual rate came to about 0s per chain. It would take thousands to make the road a good ono. The dry weather had been a great drawback to the roads. Ho recognised the difficulties that farmers had to get their stuff away from the port, and if it were blocked before it got to the port the position would be considerably intensified.

After further discussion the board resolved to send men to rake the 3tones off the road and repair the worst hills. Members of the deputation stated tliat it was Impossible to obtain labor on the road, as all the farms were single-handed, the war having taken the surplus men. Mr. T. WiUcOx said the would be thankful for whatever littlo might be done. They were not asking for an asphalt road, but might do so shortly. GENERAL. It was resolved to instruct Mr. A. H. Johnstone to arrange for the transfer of the portion Of closed Pungarehu Road to Mrs. Wliarepouri. The overseer was instructed to obtain more men if possible to keep the crusher going at tofull capacity. Tho v *oard decided to refund the overseer bus faro paid on behalf of the man feeding the Crusher. The overseer stated that there was 1090 •yards of stone yet to crash.

At A.speeial,inu»Onß It was resolved that the time 'had come that the board cannot waste any more tJmo or money on tho engine, and that as the machine failed at the official trial, .and the company has failed to make imnrovenient within the two months allowed, the board cow decides not to accept the roller. , Mr. Laird, representative of the International Harvester Company, waited on the board uud explaluod the cause of the delay. He also contended that the ooor crushing results were not' tho fault, f the engine, and asked that, an extra month be given in which to uiato the trial, and the company would then run -the machine, for a month at its own" expense. The board decided to adhere to its resolution re the engine. It was decided to purchase the scarifier, subject to the price boing right At a special meeting held on March 1, 1918, the tender of F. Ward, at £26, woi accepted for concrete channelling the Kahui Boad, from 1 ; the post.office to the board's office.

It was also.iesoh«d that the board vote £7O, for expenditure on the ArawbaU Road above tho Wiremu Road, and that Mesas. Andrews 'and Battle have control of the work, wliich is to be carried out to the satisfaction of tlie board's overseer.

The clerk stated that rates -outstanding were: General, £549; special, £33". In view of the crusher not being availablo '•for some time, Mr. Green moved .thatjtfle.foremen measure up all stone supplied *y contractors, and thrt-board nay 90-per coat, on the amount supplied—Carried. Accounts amounting to £447 were passed- for. payment.