WAIMATE ROAD BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9139, 11 July 1906, Page 5

WAIMATE ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Waimate Road Board was held on Tuesday; pre sent— Messrs T. A. Bridge (in the chair), E. Long, W. Swadling, W. T. Wells, T. McPhillips, and M. Fitzgerald.

CORRESPONDENCE,

Correspondence was received —

Fiom the Chief Engineer of Roads, acknowledging a letter asking for grant for bridges over the Mangawhero and Otakeho stream? on the Skeet road, and stating that the matter will have careful consideration when the Estimates were being prepared.

From J. Burke, agent of the Nortli Island Bacon Co., asking permission to place metal on the road at Auroa in front of the Company's receiving station. — Permission was granted.

From Stephen Solley, stating that a bridge on the Stratford-Opunake road was in an unsatisfactory state, and asking that something be done to prevent the possibility of the outlet being blocked. — The Foreman said the bridge would collapse within two years. He recommended that a new stringer be put in the bridge, when it would last for some time. There were two culverts on th© road which had collapsed and were dangerous. The work would cost about £20. He would not recommend that it be done at this season of the year. — Mr Swadling moved that the necessary work be done when the season was suitable. — Mr Fitzgerald seconded. — Carried.

From the District Road Engineer, re Manaia Toad, north of Kaponga, asking under what authority metal was to be placed upon a Toad under the control of the Kaponga Town Board. — It was explained that the metal was obtained before i.je Kaponga town district was gazetted, and the engineer wrote again stating that j there was no objection it© a pro rata de-. livery within the Kapomga .town district.

From the secretary of <tihe Awatuna factory, stating that the Aunroa road fronting the factory was in a very bad state, and would be impassable before long. — The Chairman said the control of the road was in the hands o ffehe Eginont County Council.— -Mr Fitzgerald said the. road was in a disgraceful state.

From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, stating that it was impossible to give the amount of "third's" paid over to the Waimate Road Board. — This was in connection with a return which Mr Fitzgerald had asked for.

From the Egmont County Council, re' Oeo and Aiatoa, boundary roads, stating that it would be pleased to receive statement of revenue accrued to above roade, far yea* 1905-1906 ; also cheque for amount due to the Council. — The money is to be iowwrded.

HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Mr Welle said the (roads were going to I pieces with the heavy traffic, and he I thought that something should be done to lighten the loads, for the next six weeks. He moved, That in view of the state of the roads the by-laws be strictly enforced. Mr Fitzgerald seconded. Mr Long said the Normanby road would soon be impassable. Mr Wells said it was astonishing how.' I quickly that road had gone to pieces. , i The motion was carried. FOREMAN'S REPORT. The Foreman reported fox the June meeting (which was adjourned) as follows : "Manaia road.— W. Bach' has completed his contract for the supply of gravel for blinding the metal recently ladd down. "Maonaia and Normanby roads. —W. O'Reilly is delivering shingle for repairs/ when tihe weather and state of the roads will permit. "Aucroa road, southern division. — The stone is all broken and the contractor, J. Kehely, is proceeding with the delivery of gravel for blinding the same. "Mangawhero road, ceaitral division. — In the loan works all the boulder stones delivered are broken and the blinding has been let to J. Kehely. The work will be commenced as soon as bis contract on. the Auroa road is completed. "Maintenance. — All roads that are metalled are now being attended to." For the July meeting the foreman reported as follows : — "Manaia road, north of Kaponga. — The boulder stones are broken, the balance of the. Government grant is' expended amd may now be applied for. "Manaia Toad, central and southern divisions. — The contract let for the delivery of boulder stone is completed and the stone breakers are now at work breaking the same.

"Normanby and Maaiaia roads. — Delivery of 500 yards river-bed shingle — Work on this contract has been proceeding very slowly, the contractor not taking advantage of the weather where favorable for carrying out the work. Consequently parts of the road ere breaking up, which would not have taken place had the specification® of contract been complied with. "Kuri street contract. — Slow progress has been made on this road owing to the sloppy state of the formation, which makes the work of breaking very tedious. Where the boulders cannot be placed on the formation the same aire> being broken in heaps, and will be spread when the road is in a fit state to receive the same.

"Work in delivering shingle on the Manada and Noarmanby roads, blinding on the Auroa road and boulder stone on the Main South road, has been suspended d/uring the wefc weather, but will be resumed again as soon as the weather and the state of the Toads permit of it. "Road Maintenance. — On several roads where the work was of the most importiance the grader .has been at work taking off the high grass ridges from the sides of the metal and allowing the surface water to have a free flow to the watertablee. The latter have been cleaned out, the grader doing the work when convenient, otherwise the plough and scoop have baen used. I have completed all this kind of work that it is proposed to <Ho .at the present. Metal for repairs is now being carted on to the, roads throughout the load district. Although the weather of late has heem very trying the metal roads as a whole aie in very fair order." The report© were Teceived.

Mr Wells said he thought the contractor on the Normanby road had done his beet under the state of the weather. He would have to get on so soon as the weather cleared.

The Foreman said it was necessary to take action oar they would not be able to get the metal on the .roads. The contractor had not carried out the provisions

of the contract by not having a sufficient number of teams on the road.

Mr Wells said the contractor had been hanging about trying to get the work done.

The Foreman said if the contractor had put out the proper amount per day th© work would hay© been done before the weather broke up.

The Chairman thought the contractor should have put more teams on earlier in th© job. Mr Wells said th© season was right against the. contractor.

The Foreman, said the contractor had done his best but it did not conincide with the specifications.

Members generally agreed that the contractor had done his best.

It was resolved to write to the contractor and direct him to put on as many teams as possible whenever it is possible to recommence tne contract.

INTEREST.

A notice was Teceived from the Colonial Treasurer asking that interest due, £509 10s, be paid into the bank on August 1. — The amount was passed for payment. OPUNAKE RADLWAY.

The Chairman stated that he had not proceeded further with the suggested meeting in connection with the Opunake. railway as Mr C. E. Major, M.H.R., had suggested that a better attendance of th© members of the House could be expected when the next session, began. The Chairman's action was confirmed.

IN COMMITTEE.

Tft© Board went into committee and on resuming the Chairman reported that th© matter of a communication from the Audi-tor-General had baen discussed and the recommendation made that it be left in the hands of the Chairman and clerk with power to act.

It was also recommended^ that the foreman be engaged for an extra day per w-eek. The recommendations were adopted. A COMPLAINT.

A member reported that enquiries had been made from him as to what hour the employees were supposed to begin work, and stating mat some of the men were fete getting on to the roads.

The Foreman explained that certain of the men were allowed time when they had a long distance, to travel. Members appeared to b© of the opinion that there was not a strict! observance of the proper work hours and trouble would ensue if a cnange were mot made. A CART TO BE PURCHASED. The. Foreman a^ewmmended that the Board should purchase a. horse and cart, as he could not guarantee for the future that he would be able to lay his hands on one at the necessary time. He claimed that money would be saved by the investment.

The Chairman agreed "that a considserabl© saving would befeffected; ' Mr Long proposed^ that iftfe "Chairman, Messrs Wells and Fitzgerald , be a committee to puTchase a horse and dray. Mr McPhdllips, seconded.— Canried. Wages and accounts amounting to £345 4s lOd were passed for payment,' and -tihe meeting adjourned.