MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1919, Page 7

MOA ROAD BOARD.

< , MONTHLY MEErrrNai

The ordinary meeting of the Moa Ro&d Board was held at Inglowood on Saturday, when there were present: Messrs A. Coikilt (chairman), T. S. Bowler, J. 1L Lyon, Ji B. Simpson, "I'. J. Bracegirdle, R. Stewart, J. Hunter, E. A. Reisby and D. Todd. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

Mr R. C. Gray, the Board's overseer,, ■Reported that crushing operations had commenced on the Bristol rood. Three hundred and forty-four yards had been and rolled, 96 being from linofflok's pit and 348 of contract boulders. The roller was engaged for five days on the Lincoln Road scarifying and rolling: The Poi Poi road was blocked for a time, owing to the road 'breaking away. It had been temporarily repaired, and was now clear for traffic. The Kaiiaata North road boulders had been' carted, and the K&imata. South, boulders commenced. He proposed completing Bristol road crushing on Saturday and Setting in at Kaimaia North tfth. or 7th if theweather' permitted. General mainten-* ance had "been carried out on the Lincoln road, raking in and blinding. Water taMes, blinding tatd patching, etc., had been carried out on the D&vies, Norfolk, Dudley, Kaimala, Poi Poi and Bristol roads. Thirteen pipes had been made, thirteen sold and there were now IJJ pipes at the depot. I The report waa adopted.

EVERETT EOAD METALLING. Messrs Cooper and Potroz waited on the Boad and asked whether the Board Would agree to commence tho metalling at the bottom of the .Everett rolid if they agreed to £2OO being taken oil the metalling and placed to the bridge. The chairman stated he did not think they would exceed the original estimate very much now, as it was proposed to erect an arch costing £550, whieh would require heavy fillings with concrete walls. These would cost about £2OO, and could have been takwi out of the £1750 secured for metalling. It was now proposed to do away with the filling and erect two 20ft. spins instead. This would cost more, hut would save the heavy filling. They could not without altering the terms of the loan take the money from the metalling for bridge purposes, though it amounted to tho same thing. He favored starting the metalling from the 175 chain peg, leaving a piece unmetalled in the centre if any gap was to be left. The whole of the settlers would then feel the pinch and possibly assist in metalling the gap. Personally he thought th<S monoy would prove sufficient to do all the work. On the motion of Messrs. Hunter and Bowler, it was resolved to start the

metalling at the 175 chain peg. In the course of discussion it was stated that there was a Government subsidy of £2OO on the road, and it was probable that a further subsidy would be available, as the work was being done in front of the Government reserve whieh had a frontage of one and a half miles to the road. It was accordingly resolved io make .application for an additional subsidy THE PROPOSED COUNTY. Mr C A. Wilkinson, M.P., in acknowledging resolutions of thanks re proposed County trusted that the Board would be able to convince the Commissioner. Mr Wilkinson asked to be advised should there be any delay. If the Board could get the Taranaki County Council

to withdraw opposition it would be a great help. It was resolved that a deputation Consisting of Messrs Lyon, Hunter, Todd and the chairman should wait on the Taranaki County; Council at its nevt meeting. A MEMBER RESIGNS

Considerable discussion took place over the question of repairing the Kaimata North road The matter Was brought up by Mr Reesby, who in the course of his remarks, described the way tlie Board was working as "only fooling." If they could not give the overseer power to do the work they should not have an overseer. The overseer said there was bo fooling.

Mr Reesby said he had been on the Board for two years endeavoring to get the road repaired and had been unable | to do so. The road was now in such a state that no one would come along it. He had difficulty in getting men to hay make, and then they made sure of leaving before dark The road was a disgrace, and if he Tan his farm as the Board did its business, he would be bankrupt in, a, month Mr Lyon rose to v a point of order. He

considered the. men .worked in a thoroughly practical manner Personally he had never atta*dked men in his public position, but had always gone direct to them. Mr Reesby complained of the • state of the two miles of road out of 160 miles, Mr Lyon'objected t» asper»ions being cast at the Staff. The plant ; ' could not be shifted frbm point to point >ss will v. . . Mr Reesby said he wanted a road to travel on. Mr Lyon did not require to nse the road, which was now beyond repair,'"whereas 100 yards''S few weeks ago would have saved it Mi 1 Lyon: That is significant in view 3 of the fact that you included me in a » special rating area. V - i The chairman said if it was intgjwiSl ( to nse MO yards to repair the .whole 50 ) J .chains it would be waited. It was lst | J]' |, an tfvereefer-who Wfte hajtl iri j ji pfilpt-cnrttli&t they iiad i?' shiftrtig- the plant, s6 !; wtffe ikeptjAea/J;-" Tha'-100 *wr& pro>f feif wflujd fp'i'ttie road ; into a -yeajr Midr.tlie Board had- | td'ks#jr \wtWn J ite : i^aiis.' : tiers: I i | lofjfeJSe oyerMer to^iWop^.Jilt:. Me <xvJ 'j sfds|d necessary. ' I f < ofctbajAet pointed omffpat' j '■ gine'er had said last that 1 the [ plant could not then be shifted -from jj Bristol road. He congratulated Mr I Gray (the overseer) oai the way the j work "was done. | Mr Reesby considered the Board 3 ' should allow an extfa 100 yards of j metal even if the K&iinala road rates I were pledged, fay, for two years | Tho chairman stated that the annual | nates accruing to the road were £65, | and ho could not gee how any extra e metal could be provided | Mr Todd suggested that the settlers i could cart out 486 yards of inetal as settlers on othsr roads had done Mr Reesby «id he was .quite willing to do so andinfen to L'f l ' mi''for a specfSJ loan. The foible, was tliit the two of ooraer sections WjMTi

■anxious to sell out and would not assist.

Mr Lyon, as a corner settler, said iSiat the advent of tho Manganui bridge, to •which he paid a special rate, had considerably altered hi 3 position. It gave hiia a short road into Inglewood, and he never used the Kaimata road. Therefore it would be unfair to ask him to pay towards Kaimata North road. Mr Reesby moved that another 100 yards be given to the road. The chairman pointed out that the present year's rates had not yet been paid and with even 100 yards of mct»t« -the road would be two years in debt In further discussion it was pointed out that five settlors were using the road, two miles of which was in 4>ad order.

Mr Todd suggested that these settlers should assist themselves. They were trying to do too much out of the rate. The rate was only for maintenance and not for new metal. If the rate had to be raised, it would not be fair to the settlers on the Toads that had helped themselves.

Mr. .J. B. Simpson seconded pro forma. He considered the road laws wanted boiling down. It was unfair that some settlers should be able to hold up progress by refusing to sign a loan petition. When a loan was raised the metalling should be started from the top of the road, and then any unmetalled portion would 4>e left at the bottom and used by. all the settlers interested in getting it metalled. In this particular case they had five people held up because others would not assist; This was retarding progress. If this principle became general, the road district wou-ld never go ahead. The trouble was that some people thought if they mode a good road, So and So would sell out and make a "pot," which they had helped him to make. TJndet present conditions, those five would have to make the road themselves. Settlers in his road had assisted to repair their road, ano, would not be prepared to pay an extra rate as well.

Mr. Lyon said.tliat Mr Simpson argued from, tlie wrong; premises. The settlers referred to could drive down the road to a creamery but they chose to go up the road to a cheese factory on account of the higher price. If they got this higher price they could pay towards the upkeep of the road. The chairman suggested that Mr Reosby should be satisfied with the 100 yards.

Mr Reesby. said that 100 yards would be wasted.

The chairman said it would be wasted if-spread all over the road, but if a eeltain length was scarified and metalled at the rate of four or five yards per chain added, a certain portion would be renewe.i.

Mr Lyon said that he believed in giv-1 iiig the overseer a free hand, but his! idea of a free hand was to make the best Use of the material available Apparently Mr Reesby's idea of a free hftnd Was for the overseer to have unlimited money to spend on the road. The resolution, on being put, was lost. On resuming after lunch, Mr Eeesby forwarded a letter with his-resignation, which Was accepted. The chairman remarked that apparently Mr Reesby had come on the Board for the purpose of getting his road metalled and then selling out. On being defeated, he had resigned. If that was so, he had not much regret in ac-

cepting the resignation. GENERAL. The Minister of Internal Affairs notified that the Government hftd decided that each local body should have full liberty to make its own arrangements

regarding "Peace .Celebrations." Mr S G Smith, M.P., forwarded a copy of the Public Health Bill as amended. As there was only a limited number of copies of the Hydro Electric Development reports available, he had forwarded one to the Mayor of the Borough whom he had asked to hand it on to the Board.

Mr F E. Wilson, the Board's solicitor, advised that in his opinion a local

body was at liberty to do loan work by day labor. *

Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., notified; that he had forwarded the BosufdJs resolution re proposed toll gate on theMountain road to the Minister of Pobli*' Works and had advised the Minister that in his opinion it was high time that sort of thing was stopped. Accounts amounting to £273 6s 7d were passed for payment.