MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1918, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Moa Road Board was held at the 'board's office, Inglewopd, on Saturday. There wero present: Messrs A. Corkill (chairman), J. W. Hen wood, D. Todd. R. T. Williams, J. B. Simpson, J. Hunter, JM. Hair, T. Bowler, and F. 0. Rcesby. Mr. A. Oorkill was unanimously reelected chairman. NEW MEMBERS. Tiie chairman extended a welcome to the two new members of the hoard, Messrs Williams and Todd. He also expressed his thanks for "The confidence placed in him by rq-ejeeting liim chairman. He hoped that there would be no quarrelling amongst the members during the ensuing year, but that all would work together harmoniously and advance the real interests of the settlers in the district. Messrs Williams and Toctd replied, intimating their intention to serve the ratepayers to the best of their ability.

OHAmMAWS REPORT. Tine (Mr. A- Corkill) reported that 'he 'had met Mr. Sullivan, engineer to the (Stratford Borough Council, with reference to the wire rope Jit Xgatoro bridge, and that the council had 'bought it for ,C.'!o, being the price' fixed In- the board. We instructed the overseer to send the plant from Mangaotea road to Norfolk road west, instead of rolling the Surrey road, as authorised fit last meeting The reason was tTTat, had the roller {rone to the Surrey road, the men and teams would have been idle during the time the roller would have lieen working on the Surrey road. Norfolk road west, being the last jc<b of the season, it would he better for the hoard to finish this, and let the teams and casual hands an. The 'Surrey road could then he rolled and the plant laid un for the winter. With regard to the washout near the first bridge on Bedford road north of Oudlev. the water had -enured under the road, which saused n slip of ahinf thrce-rpmrters of a chain. The onlv v. v to nvorconie the •I'Ticnltv was to shift the'road fence n. <W feet into Mr. Todd's -nropert.T. Mr. Todd had nffererl the piece of land to the board free of char.ee, and the tUv'kr. of the board were due to him .for the generous wav he lmd helped the ratcravers "n that locality.

Witli regard to the Tarata metalline and other matters, the chairman said some misstatements had bpen made in the public press, and lie desired to give « full explanation of tlie circumstances. The facta were, ilto two surfacemen 'Messrs Wilmshm-st and Bovett) who refused to po to work under 14s per dfiy were the only two mpn on the job who received that amorfnt: nil the others: casual '"Hands at that, received only 12s per day. The wares paid to our men "•ere according to the pcnle asTPed upon at the conference of Tnninaki local bodies—viz.. lis per day. wot and drv. ind Is per dny bonus when the pien were work-ins? out of their own division, and 14a per day for river work. The wiws pa.id now showed an increase of •?(? ner pent on pre-war rates. As to '''" rn -»W lnirf on liis own private road. Hie chairman said that was undoubtedly ■!>"< to a. He did not authorise the work to l.e done, and could have laid it cheaper with his own teams, which were idle about nine months of the year- Even supposin? he had asked the ovevoer to do the work, i| ; was no more than was Ibeinsr done for other sutlers when.the teams and plant were handy and meant no loss in the board, vhieh was iheinrr paid for the work. In moving that the four permanent surfacemen be given one month's notice, hi° idea was not to employ less men, but •nerelv to terminate the unsatisfoctorfvstem of paying the-men wet and fine. Tt had been conclusively proved by counties i n Smith Taranaki. where wet days wore not so numerous as in the Moa. district that it paid better to sive the men l-2s per day for actual time worked, as it induced them to w to work on wet days : and, altboii" 1 ther were not expected to put ip <"- ordinary dav's work in heavy rain, there were numerous odd jobs, such i>e.lenrin? culverts, etc., which if done on wet days, would save a. washout, etc.. and possibly two or three fine <b."s' work to repair. TTnder that system the men were expected to put in full time.' !mi+ n f course, if they prpfnrrpd to stay at. home on wet days, they received no

Tim clin.ii-moTi'a report \rtis adopted. ROAD DEVIATIONS. The committee, consisting of Messrs A. Corkill and T. Bowler set up to report on the matter of deviations, stated that they Iliad gone very fully into the position of several deviations, and found, as it would be necessary to have surveys made of each of the pieces of land Before being able to sell them, that, with the exception of one .piece, it would not pay the board to survey and sell the land. They, therefore, recommended that arrangements he made with the adjoining owners to fence the deviations, on condition that they kept all weeds cut. The exception' mentioned was that at the corner of Ratapiko and Kupara roads. The approximate cost of survey and the price likely to be paid by the adjoining owners could be ascertained and a report made to next meetin". The report was adopted. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

The overseer reported that the Mangaotea, loan contract was eompleted.with the exception of the delivery of about 00yds of screenings, 515 yds of metal having been laid since last report. The crushing for Mr. J. Mahon on the Ngara road was done on completion of the Mangaotea road contract. In connection with the Ross road loan works, the formation contract was completed aiy' now ready for metallirg. The metalling on Norfolk road was progressing satisfactorily, the settlers giving free labor. About 300 yds have crushed and laid. The deviation -\ytf-k on Bedford road wa s practically ready for metalling The settlers asked that some labor be supplied to load boulders for the metalling. The settlers interested had done excellent work and deserved the <?reatest prni=e for their support, in addition to their carrying the burden of a special rat* struck for the erection of the bridge. Tt was a splendid oxarrvplc to other* and deserving of whatlewr teaistfiTi'v. the T»o«rd could ffive. A slight deviation had heen made >vlien> the wishout epeurred. the i">ad he ! n<? «ow w.fo for traffic, RcgarrUmr thr w>.

I posed tunnel, there was not sufficient depth a<t the crown to carry tbe roller 'land plant. On the Bristol road general work had been done, and a Gin culvert replaced with Din pipe*. Plans had been completed for the regrading of Everett road, the bridge over the Kura.pete stream, and the bridge over the stream at Bedford road south of Dudley. With regard to the work on Norfolk road west, some discussion took place as to whether the board •was in a position to do anything more with regaiu to completing the work. It was recognised that it would be a nity to remove the plant without finishing the work, but it was also realised that the board must work within its means. It was event'.lall v rerolved that the board cannot see. its way clear to spend any more money on Norfolk r,oad west, and that the settlers be interviewed with regard to .the raising of a special rate for completing the work. Tf. was decided to supplv two men to |assist, the settlers ill getting out boulders in connection with the Bedford mnd work T n connection witn tna report t.V there was not sufficient denth of crown on the road to construct a tunnel tV would carry the board's plant, the chr' man thought an attomnt should be made to open ut> i. miir»ft there, even if it meant a small rate by the set*-' Messrs Todd and Bowler wrc appointed a committee to report on the matter at next meeting.

GFAT'EIRAT,. The secretary of the conference of county councils and road boards (Mr. W. ■) .Tristram) held at KRham, wrote in reference to matters that had been discussed. The- question of surfacemen's wage s was considered, and it was ultimately decided to adhere to the resolutions of the Hawera conference, with which the board was familiar. It was also resolved that a, further conference he held in six months' time to review the matter of wages as affected by the war conditions. Consideration of uniform by-laws for the whole of Taranaki would also be dealt with at a future meeting ft was resolved that the local bodies in Ta'ranaki using tar should combine in the purchase and treatiue?it of tar and bitumen, and that each body should it point a represents tive to meet at ai: rarlv date to consider the position. The chairman, i n reporting on th ennferenco. *eid he believed such conferences would do a jrreat deal in ' interests of local bodies, and he though' f'e board should be represented at anv suWoucnt conference held. The chairman was apnointed the hoard's representative at the next con|ference.

Tt was decided that the matter of tin employment of surfacemen bp held ovev ppndiiwr. the appointment of an overseeAceounts amonctm™ t„ .own 13s n,\ ->" the feneral account and £l9B 2s M on (lie loan account were passed for payment. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the board was held in the board's office at 1.30 p.m. The chairman (Mr. A. Corkill) presided, and all the members of the board were present. The chairman intimated that tVe statements of accounts as presented by the secretary had not been audited, and the meeting would bo adjourned until the accounts were returned from the Government auditor.