MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1918, Page 6

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Moa Road Board met at Inglcwood on Saturday. The chairman (Mr. A, Corkill) presided, and those also present were: Messrs R. Stewart, J. Hunter, F. A. Reesby, J. B. Simpson, J. Lyon, T. S. Bowler, D. Todd, and F. J. Bxacegirdle. PROPOSED ISKJLEWOOD, COUNTY.

The chairman reported that he, Mr. Lyon, and the clerk: (Mr. R. Buckley) proceeded to Wellington on December 2 to give evidence before the Local Bills Committees concerning the Inglewood County Bill. They were given a very good hearing, but, owing to the short session of Parliament, the committee could not give the necessary time to take any lengthy evidence, so the Minister (the Hon. G. W.. Russell) offered to set up a Royal Commission to go into the whole matter. It would »rt in the district immediately after the holidays. They decided to accept this o.Ter, as they considered it to be another step forward. A vote of thanks was passed to the deputation. RE-VALUATION OF DISTRICT. The chairman brought up the matter of having the district re-valued- He did not think it. would mnk.». any difference to the rates. One of the things thnt would be brought up by the Commission would be the present low valuation and the board should be able to tell them that steps were being taken to put that right. He moved that, the Valuer-General !>o written to a*ki)ifi' for such a valuation at the earliest possible moment.

'Pip objection w.i-. raised that, if the re-valuation vrss higher and tho "orinlv was not formed, the district would most likely be paying higher rates under the jurisdiction of the Tn.ranaki County Council. The opinion o\n;essed (>y several member? was that, (hough there was differential rating for the various ridings in the Taranaki County, there was a danger of the council, not. reducing the rate for the Moa Riding relatively to the I increase in valuation fnd thus making the amount collected the same. The chairman's mo'ion was eventually carried.

COEEESPONDENCJ!.

The Minister for Public Works notified that 12s (not lis a? previously fixed) should be taken as the basis gov? erning the rate of wages in regard to works undertaken under Government grants or subsidies. The Commissioner of Crown Lands notified that the hoard was at liberty to enter the Kverett Road Reserve and take gravel from the bed of tho Manganiii stream free of royalty, subject 'to certain conditions to prevent damage to the reserve. The clerk to the Stratford County Council notified that the services of the countv engineeer would be available in making the plan of a small bridge for the board, as the latter had requested. The State Advances Offices notified the granting of a loan of £IOSO for the purpose of erecting a bridge over the Malcara River and metalling Cooper's Hill on the Rinratauteka Road. OVERSEER'S REPORT The overseer (Mr. R- C. Gray), in his monthly report, stated that his time had been taken up in arranging for the procuring of boulders for different roads, and inspecting rivers and approaches. The roads were, on the whole, in very fair order, with the exception ol the Kaimata North, which was practically beyond repair. The pipes had been delivered to the Bristol Road fflling, but no further steps had been taken to commence the work, owing to the surfacemen being laid up with influenza- Boul-der-carting had been in progress, but had to cease owing to illness. General maintenance work had been carried out on t!ie Durham Road West, patching and water-tabling on the Kaimata South Road, and forming and water-tabling on the Bristol Roiid. The roller had been taken to tne Lincoln--. Road for the purpose of scarifying and rolling a portion of the road, which was breaking up very fust, but. owing to driver Bjwlev being laid up, the work remained unfinished. All .work for a time was practically at a standstill. GENERAL. > Regarding the Everett Road bridge and nv'taUing, a committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs Lyon, Bracegirdle, ard Hunter was set/ up to meet the settlers interested with a view to gettin? their consent to'increase the loan authorised, it not being sufficient to enable the work- to be properly earned out, Afr Reesby was empowered to decide en what parts of the Kaimata North Road the 100 yards of metal allocated for it should be used. On the motion of Mr. Stewart, it was decided to pay the expenses of the deprjtation which went to Wellington in connection with the Inglewood County Bill. Accounts amounting to £l2l 5s were passed for payment.