MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1920, Page 6

MOA ROAD BOARD.

THE FINAL MEETING. j The flurii meeting or the Moa Road Bo.ml j was held at Inglewood yesterday. Present; Messrs. J' 1 . Corkill (chairman), T. S. Bowler,; .} M.. Hair, A. Cowley, .1. Hunlcr, J. B. Simp- ««», I>. Todd, ixnd R. Stewart. Leave of, absence was granted to Mr. J. 11. Lyou. CHAIKMAN',4 REPORT. The chairman reported thai the stouo crushing j.'lani. had )>oeu at work on the Krurett Ruud whenever the weather would permit and though tho work hud been going on satislactorily it had been somewhat delayed owing to the unsettled state of the weather. The teams )uu been getting out boulders when tlie livoieli Road was- too to cart o\er. Water-tabling and general maintenance had been done on. several roads. Mr. Roebuck had been compelled to cease work on tho Makuiv Bridge tor wuut of cement. Tiio bridge was lull built, uud It was unfortunate that it should have to stop at the present stage. Considering that the cement was ordered about 1:5 months ago, it woulU appear that they were not getting a. square deai In the distribution of tho cement available. The contractor did not intend to commence again until the necessary cement was on the jo-i). The two drains cut through Mi 1 . Dean's property on the Durham Road \o take away road surface water were interfering with the work of tho farm, and he had given pipes to make necessary crossings. The White dump truck hud eoiue to nand, and a cab was now beinji built. >lr. Bowler had brought the traction engine from W'&ltara, and after inspection it would go to -the Kverett Road, where It was absolutely essential the work should be pushed forward with all haste as the wet season was rapidly approaching, when they would be compelled to move the plant wiiere it could be mc.o advantageously used scarifying, strengthening, and rolling dawn some of the roads already metalled. A set of wheels and underwear had bown purchased for a whare. He had given what time he could spare In show* lug J£ngiueur Whiteside round the district since his arrival on March 21st. 'i'he engineer reported on similar lines. A PECULIAR POSITION. Continuing his report the chairman said that it was very unfortunate there was no provision made lor carrying on ol' the affairs of the Hoard from March 3lst until the new Council was elected. However, unless otherwise directed he proposed going on. with the work as usual. It would be disastrous to stop work and dispense with the services of men and teams, as it would not be possible to get them together again for some time, and the work in hand was urgently needed io enable the settlers to get their milk to the factory and market uieir produce, lu ' apologising for the shortness of notice in calling the nneeting, the chairman stated that he wa.> doubtful whether the new Board could carry on the affairs of the district till the new Council was elected. However, advice from the .Minister of Internal Affairs showed that tho Board automatically went out of onice, and as it would be a month before the nci\ Council would be elected, he hud wired the Premier in the matter. :ir. Todd remarked" thait, lie was very pleased to hear that it was intended to carry on. sh\ Hair questioned whether Uie Board had power to interfere. After that day the men would be paid off, aud he doubted whether tho lizard could re*engage .them. Mr. Bowler thought an Order-in-Ccuincil could give power. The chairman reiterated that they would have the syinapthy of the ratepayers if they carried on.

.Mr. Simpson thought the position was a peculiar out. The Board was all ready to proceed but had no power to do so. The chairman said that he had left things as they were and had not told the engineer to dispense witli one man. That appeared the only sensible thing to do, and he was prepared to take- the risk. Mr. Hair considered that Commissioners should have been appointed to carry on during the interim. Mr. Simpson pointed out that the Taranaki County Council had Instructed its employees within tue area that they were no longer in the employ of that body after Match 31st. The chairman's report was adopted. It was resolved to build the liohiti Bridge in concrete. GENERAL. Tiie Stratford Borough Council asked whether the Board could supply SOO to 1000 cubic yards of boulders. 1L was resolved to reply that while the Board were not in u position to supply boulders they could be obtained in the district at a reasonable cost. The Public. Works Department, notified payment of £SOO subsidy on a £ for £ basis towards tho Kurapeti Bridge (J£verett Road). The Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs notified receipt of a communication statins that the new Inglewood County had been divided into four ridings, and asked the Board to suggest a suitable date for holding the election, also suitable date and place for holding flie first meeting of the new Council. Messrs. Christie and Waite, Stratford, drew attention to the unformed piece of Derby lload giving access to their property. It was their intention to build with the object of supplying a factory, and they asked whether there was a possibility of something being done, pointing out that t.hey were ,• prepared to assist by donation or payment of an extra rate so that they could come and go with a reasonable amount of comfort. Held over for the now Council. Peter Morattl wrote drawing attention to the stato of the Rugby Road, which was getting cut up badly. He considered that things were never taken In time with the result that where one yard of metal would do now It would take two or three later onr— To be attended to when Uie new Council is elected.