MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 20, 24 June 1913, Page 7

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Moa Road Board was held on Saturday at the Board's office, Inglewood, when there were present: Messrs H. Trimble (chairman), J. W. Bridgeman, W. G. Shoemark, 0. M. Boldt, W. P. Bishop, J. Williams, M. Hopson, F. J. Virgin and A. E. Laurence. STONE-BREAKERS' PETITION. Ten stone-breakers petitioned the Board and asked that the price for stonebreaking should be raised to 3s fid per cubic yard. (The price at present paid is 3s 3d). The petition received very scant treatment, members unanimously agreeing to let it lie on the table. Mr. Hopson characterised it as an insult. THE MOTUKAWA TUNNEL. Messrs Robinson and Christophers, engineers, reported that after the outlet to the tunnel was opened up it was found that there was not sufficient solid formation to ensure the success of a tunne). At the outset there was every prospect of success, a hard gravel conglomerate formation being struck. This failed to rise with the ground, and could not be utilised for the sides and roof of the tunnel. As this was the same elsewhere, it put the tunnel out of the question, and they at once suspended the contract, measuring up the work done. They considered that though the tunnel had proved impracticable, the small outlay was quite warranted, as the tunnel was recommended with a view of economical work. There were now two alternatives, either a concrete culvert to replace the present bridge, or the renewal of the present bridge. The cost of the former, assuming that concreting material of a fair quality could be obtained without great. difficulty, would be £2l 2s less than the latter. , Members were of opinion that con- ; crcte, if obtainable, was undoubtedly the ; best. 1 Mr, Virgin stated that he had expressed the opinion that it was very doubtful if the tunnel could be driven in that country. It was a pity that, in such doubtful country, one of the foremen hall not been sent out for a few days to prospect before accepting the tender for the tunnel. The chairman said that the contractor thought at the start that the tunnel could be put through all righ't, but the hard country dipped instead of rising as expected. Mr. Shoemark considered that it would have been a great saving if the tunnel could have been put through, as it would only have cost about half. It was resolved, on the motion of Messrs J. Williams and W. G. Shoemark, that a concrete culvert should be put in provided that suitable gravel could be .obtained in the locality. FOREMAN'S REPORTS. Foreman R. Jones had metalled the corner of Johns road by the Mountain road, putting in seven 2ft Gin pipes. Work ■ on the top end of Norfolk road had been done, 30 yards of metal having been put on, but the settlers did not put in as much time as they promised, or more would have been got out. Messrs. Douch and Laiurence had finished their contracts on various roads. The former had exceeded his quantity of 20 yards 2ft and the latter by 27 yards Ift. The Durham West loan contract had been completed, and he was now working on the weakest parts of this road/ j Foreman W. Bennett had been work- j ing at Kaimata, Mangaotea, Kupara, j Ratapiko, Motukawa and Mana roads, attending to various maintenance work, ] principally water-tables, and clearing l slips on the Toi Toi road. Patching ] was required on the Ratapiko road, and ' he also suggested that the broken metal J should be put on the Kaimata South road. Foreman, Knofflock reported that he had been chiefly engaged on maintenance work. .7. Rowan had been carting boulders and shingle over the Suffolk road in the wet weather for the County Council and had cut up the road very badly. C, Laurence had finished his Bristol road metal contract. Work was required on J the Suffolk. Dudley East and York roads, j where a culvert was falling in. It was resolved h. ssk the County! Council to repair the damage done to 1 the Suffolk road by the Council's contractor. Foreman Wilmshurst had been doing maintenance work, such as water-tabling, patching, and raking in metal. Hursthouse road was commencing to break up badly on account of the wet weather. Old metal was completely worn through. Ratepayers had offered to cart metal from Davis' pit, providing that he got the metal ready. lie had 12 or 15 yards ready now foe patching. The road required 10!) yards of maintenance metal for future use. He had put in a set of 12in pipes. He had granted Mr. Egarr 30 or 40 yan I .}. of earth from Dudley road. Thomason had completed 50 yards of the Government grant, hut 50 yards had yet to come out. DEPUTATION. Mr. A. Polroz waited on the Board and asked that a six-foot track should be made for the Surrey road to give him access to his section on the Derby road. The chairman pointed out that the rates off his section only amounted to 10s 9d, and that it would therefore be impossible to do the work out of the general rates. Mr. Potroz stated that he would be willing to go in for a loan to do the work, and thought that the settler beyond him would join him. It was pointed out that it was impossible to raise a loan at present, and that as soon as it was possible to raise the money he would be advised. STRIKING THE RATE. The chairman moved that %<1 rate be struck. hi doing so, he pointed out that it would produce £2402, as against .i'2lßß produced by the present 2-3 d rate. He thought the increased rate was necessary, partly on account of the advance in the cost of material and also because wages had gone up. People nowadays required better roads than they did some years ago, and, moreover, the roads had to carry more tr.iffic every year and must be kept up. Personally he would like to see the rates reduced, but it was of no use being blind to the fact that the roads had 'to be kept in good order, and people were' continually crying out for better roads. Even a %d rate would not enable them to extend the metal on anv immrfalled roads: He pointed out that owing to half of the old £OOOO loan having' matured they would not only have (o find £9B interest from the bridge fund, a fund comprised of rates from sections abutting on the county roads only. This would allow £197 to go to this fund, and he suggested that from it the whole cost of any concrete pipes required should be taken, and they could also make larger allowances to replace and repair bridges. Mr. J. Williams seconded.

'Mr. Hopson proposed that the rate be 2-3(1. as last year. Personally, he thought it should be reduced, as thev were saving the interest on £3OOO. Mr. Virgin seconded. For a good many roads the present rates were adequate. Any roads requiring more could raise a special rate.

Mr. Roldt said it was a delicate question. He thought the facilities for fretting material were easier now. He agreed that better roads were necessary, hut thought they should he wary and not touch the ratepayers' pockets too hard.

iMr. ShocmarK thought it was far bet-1 ter to pay two or three shillings a year • extra rather than let the roads go hack, v and then have to strike a heavy rate. Messrs Laurence and Bridgeman were emphatically of the same opinion. On a vote being taken, the %d rate was carried, Messrs Laurence, Bridgeman, Williams, Shoemark and the chairman voting for it, whilst Messrs Hopson, Virgin, Bishop and Boldt voted for the 2-3 d rate. GENERAL. The clerk notified that he had forwarded fourteen 12in pipes to Sentry Hill for the Waitara West Road Board. Mr. J. Taylor, Dudley road, asked that the culvert on Dudley road should be lowered. Mr. J. Gordon Glassford asked for a permit to enable the threshing machine to travel to his place.—The permit was : granted on payment of the usual fee. The Stratford County Council notified that work on the Ratapiko road had cost ,e, r ) .13s 6d. , It was resolved to call on A. J. Douch to go on with his metal contract. The Taranaki County Council notified the gazetting of a special order altering the boundaries between the Waitara West and Moa Eoad Boards. it was resolved to renew the accident insurance policy with the Ocean Insurance Co. The action of the chairman in accepting the tender of J. A. Thomason for the supply of 60 yards of gravel on the Egmont road north at 3s lOd per yard was confirmed. Other tenders were: J. Swan 4s 2d, J. Bowan 4s 4d and Chas. Laurence os 9d. The action of the chairman and Mr. Laurence in arranging for the immediate repairs of the Makara bridge On the ■ Bristol road was confirmed. The chairman reported that he had visited the bridge on the Bedford road, i north of Dudley road, which had been | reported to be dangerous, and considered j that it was safe enough. One pier'needj ed wedging up. I Accounts amounting to £369 7s lid were passed for payment.