MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1919, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. A sitting of the Moa Road Board was held at luglewood yesterday Present: Messrs T. Corkill (chairman), R, Stewart, E. J. H. Lyon, J. Bracegirdle, L. Bowler, J. M. Hair, D. Todd, and J. B. Simpson. W. S. Short, assistant under-secretary, notified that Ngaro Road, Tariki Settlement, in the Mqa Road Board District, has been proclaimed a district road. The road has been formed 12 feet wide and metalled 10 feet, but no widening would be attempted.—Received, Concerning the need for suctalling Motukawa Road, the chairman stated that the lowest tender received was 13s per yard, and this was considered much too nigh. Under the circumstances, he thought it better to leave the metalling over till next season. The foreman had been instructed to clear out the watertables along the whole length of the road.

R. C. Gray, overseer, reported that work during the month had proceeded satisfactorily. The plant had been kept busy scarifying, crushing, and rolling, 630 yards being crushed and 23 chains rolled. A bridge on the Kohete Road was past repair, and a new one should be erected. Totara bolsters and stringers were obtainable o!n the roadi ; Four stringers, Bin. x 12in., with rimu decking, would carry the traffic. Arangements could be made with Mr. Orr for obtaining the necessary timber. J. Rowan would deliver 100 yards of boulders to the Norfolk Road West depot at 4s 6d per yard, while J. Schieder was prepared to raise the filling and metal seven chains 'on the Mangamahoe Road at the rate of Is 6d per yard for clay and 5s 6d I per yard for metal, and these prices were reasonable, and approximately the expenditure would be £39 4s. Maintenance work had been carried out at Maua (12 chains metalled and rolled, with 159. yards of metal), Ratapiko (11 chains metalled -and rolled, with 139 yards of metal), Ngaro (22J chains metailed, with 326 yards of metal). Mr. Hair purchased 14 yards, and the total crushed was 638 yards.—Adopted. The board went into comittee to consider a report by Mr. W. P. Dowsett, Clifton County engineer, on the proposed concrete bridge over the Kurapete Stream. Plans had been previously drawn up by another engineer, who had. since left Taranaki. On resuming, it was resolved: "That the amendment suggested by Mr. Dowsett to the original plans be adopted.'/ Mr. Coi-kill, in mentioning that this» was the last meeting of some of the board, who retire by effluxion of time, stated that the last twelve .months had' been one of the wettest, on record, and the influenza epidemic, he regretted, had carried off a lot of good settlers. The board's work had been disorganised for two months. Casual labor had been Bcarce, and this would explain to settlers why the roads had not been attended to earlier. One concrete bridge had been ereeted and two wire in course of construction. A section had been purchased and buildings erected for plant, etc.. and paid for out of ordinary revenue. The board's assets now stood at £2OOO, and the overdraft that day was £59 15s sd, which should satisfy* ratepayers that the board was endeavoring to conduct business in an economical and efficient manner. The main roads* were still a long way behind present day requirements, but, if successful in forming a county, a vigorous roading policy would be brought forward There were good prospects of a supply of electricity for lighting, milking, and other farm work in the.near future at a reasonable rate, which would be a great saving to the farmers—Received. The members retiring are Messrs Hair, Simpson, Stewart, and Hunter.