MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1919, Page 3

MOA ROAD BOARD.

•MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Moa Road Board was held at Inglewood on Saturday, there being present: Messrs A. Corkill (chairman), T. S. Bowler, A. Cowley, J. Hunter, J. H. Lyon, R. Stewart, D. Todd. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Hair. THE PROPOSED COUNTY. The chairman reported that, with the clerk, he had attended before the Local Bills Committee and given evidence in connection with the proposed Inglewood County and the Bill before the House. He stated they had a very favorable hearing and there appeared to be no opposition. They had heard nothing further in regard to the matter since returning from Wellington. Mr. Hunter also Teported attending the conference of local body representatives at Eltham to meet the Hon. J. B. Hine and discuss the matter of the Tawuiaki Comity Council's \rieel tax. ; ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported the Kurapeta Bridge was completed, a very satisfactory job having been done. No word had been received from the Department in regard to the Makara Bridge. An inspection was mad* of the Mangaotoa Stream, in company with riding members and settlers, the object being to ascertain the fall with a ■ view to improving the drainage from the properties in the area. A preliminary estimate had been made of the cost of deepening the stream on an averagj of 3ft. throughout, to ensure a minimum width of 10ft., and to remove all timber and snags over a distance of 100 chains; also, in addition,'to deepen the drain and widen the same, and insert two concrete pipe culverts on the Mangaotea Road. The cost would be £895. The report was adopted, and it was decided to urge the settlers to petition for a loan for the amount required. GENERAL. Mr. L. Sattler waited on the board in regard to a bad bend on the Bristol R«ad, near the school.—lt was decided to prepare an estimate of the cost, and, if the road was in funds, to do the work. Otherwise the settlers would be asked to undertake some labor in connection with the work.

Mr. Officer waited on the board to know if anything could be done to the Norflok West Road. He said it was quite impossible to get sheep along the road at present, whereas if about 27 chains were improved he could get through. The chairman said that arrangements had been made, and he, with the engineer, had gone up to inspect the road, but unfortunately Mr. Officer had failed to meet them, and they had not been able to come to any conclusion as to what was required to be done. He hoped Mr. OfFrter was not blaming the board for neglecting the work. Mr. Officer said he did not blame the board, but it was not his fault the chairman and engineer had missed him. He had not been told the time they wore coming or where to meet them. He regretted they had missed on the appointed day. He said lie had left word with his son as to what was required to be done. * The chairman said he did not think it would be possible, to do the work out of rates.

Mr. Lyon suggested the settlers should petition the board to raise a small loan for the purpose of doing the work. Mr. Officer said he was prepared to do ft good deal more than he could reasonably be expected in order to ge't the road made. He undertook to get the necessary signatures of those in the area, concerned.

Mr. F. A. Reesby wrote stating he had repaired most of the holes in the Kaimsita Road, and was prepared to repair all the bad places, but, as he had done such work for nothing several times, he thought the cost of any further work >,hould be deducted from his rate account next year. "Your so-called board members on this road, with all their boasting,'' wrote Mr. Reesby, "don't seem to be ashamed to show what sort of stuff they are made of when asked to do a day's work, and I notice they soon make full use of the road when it is repaired a little."

The reading of the letter was received with laughter. The chairman said the board had done more than they were required to along the road. The position was that if the finance of the road was not in a position to maintain it the settlers should go in for a special works rate for twelve months to enable the work to be done.

Messrs 6. and S. Pitt wrote asking that the drain in front of their property on Norfolk Road East be eleaned out, as the soakage therefrom was encroaching on the farm.—The matter was referred to the overseer. The Minister for Public Works wrote in regard to the board's proposal to transfer the amount granted for the forming and metalling of Everett Road to the Kurapete Stream Bridge stating he was securing a report on the subject. In regard to the board's letter stating that the settlers on Motukawa Road had petitioned for a loan of £IOOO for grading and metalling, and asking that n Government subsidy of £SOO towards the work be placed on this year's Estimntes, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. J. B. Hine) stated he had communicated with the Minister of Public Works, and' asked him to give the matter his earnest consideration. It was decided to take the necessarysteps for raising the proposed loan. 'The chairman and Messrs Hunter and Todd were appointed to go into the matter of metal supplies for the next season. Mr. Bovitt reported on the work done by the board's staff during the month, and on that necessary in th<> immediate future. Accounts amounting to £330 6s i)d on the general account and £9 3s i)d on the loan account weve passed for payment.