WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1917, Page 3

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 13 h. The Council met at 2 p.m. Present :—Messrs H. Norman (Chairman), J. A. Murdoch, A. Clifton, J. Grimmond, T. W. Bruce, T. W. Duff, S. G. Ferguson, R. Wells and B. Ward. The minutes cf th 6 previous meeting were read and confirmed and outward correspondence read and apprrvad. TNWARD CORRESPONDENCE.

From Treasury, notifying revenut credited to County Fund Account.— Received. From Sir James Allen, thanking Council for congratulations expressed on honor received from the King.— Received. From Sir John Denniston, also conveying thanks for congratulations extended. —Received. From Minister of Defence, forwarding appreciative reply from General Godley to the Council's resolution of sympathy with the relatives of the men who fell in the Battle of the Somme.—Received. From Minister of Labor, notifying statutory half-holidays fixed under the Shops and Offices Act.—Re-

ceived. From Minister of Public Works, promising consideration with regard to Scally road vote being placed on next year’s Estimates.—Received. From Minister of Mines, stating request for vote for completion of Adair’s road was under consideration. —Received. From Mines Department, agreeing to the remission of rent due by Hyndman & party.—Received. From Mackenzie County Council, suggesting 10°o ad valorem tax on

motor tyres, the proceeds to be distributed over the local bodies on an agreed upon valuation.—Received. Consideration deferred to next meeting. The Automobile Association to be asked for an opinion on the proposals. . From Hokitika Borough Council, promising to reply later in I’espect to decision affecting steps on the Hokitika bridge.—Received. From N.Z. Greenstone, Ltd., applying for remission of rents on holdings owing to closing down the works in consequence of the war. —Received ; referred to Mr Murdoch to attend to, From Mark Sprot & Coy., notify-

mg they had taken up the agency for New Explosives Company, Ltd., England.—Received. Prom J. Hewer, on behalf of Hari Hari settlers, thanking Council for support given to matters brought before the Minister of Public Works. •—Received. Prom Howat & Hyndman, applying for subsidy to drive a low-level tunnel at Back Creek.-—Received ; to be recommended. From Overseer Mill tier, reporting accident to electric line crossing Kokatahi road, and stating the Resident Engineer required McDonald’s track to be deviated before sanctioning expenditure of grant.—Received ; referred to Chairman to act, the Company not having replied to a request by Council for particulars of safeguards being made. From Roadman Black, reporting road works completed, and asking for increase of wages owing 'to increased cost of horse feed.—Received ; referred to Finance Committee. From Roadman Nolan, reporting on district works, and tins ting the road grader for the south would not be Iqst sight of.—Received. From Hokitika Borough Council, asking approval of draft agreement in respect the boundaries, etc., of abattoir district.—Received ; to be given effect to. From same, stating in view of Solicitor’s opinion the Council could not see its way to accept form of agreement in regard to steps on Hokitika bridge, and thanking County Council for .offer in matter. —Received. Mr Clifton moved that the Council regrets the action of the Borough.—Seconded by Mr Ferguson who regretted the narrow attitude taken up, The motion was agreed to.

From J. W. Hende, Hende’s Ferry, making further complaint in regard ' to the wandering stock nuisance at Inter-Wanganui.—Received. From Overseer Millner, reporting on complaint with regard to the blocking of Awatuna track ; stating with scarcity of labor and increased wages reduction of Morris’ hill would cost an additional £2o.—Received ; consideration adjourned till next meeting. From Chinn and Mitchell, stating grant of £3 for clearing track had been expended.—Received aud passed for payment. In connection with the wandering stock nuisance, consideration of which had been adjourned since last meeting, the Chairman moved that a pound be erected at Hari Hari,—Seconded by Mr Bruce and caraied, Messrs Wells and Duff dissenting. From Finance Committee etatiug that the accounts presented for the moDth of February, 1917, have been carefully examined, and b A g to recommend that the amount as approved, totalling £612 3/(j be passed for payment. Your Committee also recommend in view of the date of (be next ordinary meeting falling in Eis*erwesk, that the Council meet at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 2nd for ordinary business. Received. Readjustment of Representation. Sir and Gentlemen, —Section 25 of the Counties Act provides that the Council shall, on some day in March, preceding every general election, hold a meeting for the purpose of considering the representation of the different x..;ngs, and shall, if necessary, adjust the t,-.. -aa so that the representation of the sc re. a! Ridings shall, as far aa possib y, bo proportioned to tbe rate*

able value and number of electors in each riding respectively. This being the year of the goneral election of members, the statutory meeting above referred to will beheld cn the ordinary sitting day of the Council in March (Tuesday, 13th). Prior to the general election in 1908, the County consisted of three Ridings with nine members, namely :

£318,228

When the matter of representation was then considered an alternative fj proposal was put befora the Council to divide the County into seven or nine Ridings, with single representation for rj each, The Council adopted the nine s Riding?, with representation as at presen ! . The following is a statement of the 1 rateable value and the number of eleitors in eaoh Riding aa aa at pre--3 , P sent:

Although not reiative to the representation question it is interesting to note how the rateable value of the County has increased for the last nine years. To compare with that of 1908 the above figures might be spited aa follows Ridmg 1908 1917 Arahura 69,482 84,704 Ksnieii 163,632 275,694 Southern 85,114 302,178 £318,228 662.576 * Population on the other hand has remained almost stationery in the aggregate, that for 1908 being 4117, as against 4088 for 1917. Yours obidit-nilv, D. J. Eyans, County Clerk. Hokitika/Feb. 17, 1917. [Left Sitting.']

Biding £ Members Arahora 69,482 3 Kacieri 163,632 4 Southern 85,114 2

Riding Rateable Value x? Electors DillmaQS c 48,320 218 Stafford 35,884 235 Arabnra 45,624 118 Kanieri 29,136 162 Kokatahi 157,162 182 Rim a 43.772 202 Totara 96,808 142 Okarito 140,796 172 Okuru 64,574 155 £662,576 1,536