WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1920, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 3rd. | The Louiicil met at 2 p.m. Present: I Messrs T. M. Bruce (Chairman), T. W. Duff, B. Ward, L. H. Morel, S. G l . I'erguson, T. JK. Chesterman, E. A. W ells and' J. A. Murdoch. motion of sympathy. 11l the absence ol' the Chairman, Mr Dud moved a vote ol sympathy with air Mbvel and family in their bereavement, expressing the sympathy of members. The motion was carried in silence. The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. I NM'ARD CORK ESRONDENCE. From Treasury,' 'remitting grants for prospecting and other works. —Received. From Rt lion MV F. Alassey, promising earnest consideration of representations for railway improvements at Lyttelton under the Hiloy scheme. —Re- I ceived. From Mines Department, approving | of further subsidy to McCormack, Ir-; win and Thorpe to continue prospect-1 jug efforts in the' Okarito district.—Re- I ceived. From Same* enquiring whether the Council is favorable in fixing rent oiF mining areas to have claims classified as payable and nonpayable.—Received, i The Council expressed itself against the pioposal, considering tlie present law sufficient in this respect. From Forestry Department, intimating when settling the location of the proposed School of Forestry, Westland’s interests would be considered.— Received. '. From Health Officer, Christchurch, extending thanks for attention to instructions in matter of water accumulation at Kanieri, and requesting notices be served for drainage and repairs to another property in same locality.—Received; notices have been sent out accordingly. 'From Resident Engineer, Public AYorks, suggesting the formation of Docherty road proceed on the amended plan furnished by Roadman Nolan and application made for further grant sufficient for the road.—Received. From Same, regretting he could not make payment to T. Crough for labor in clearing gorse from the frontage to bis property on Kanieri road. —Receiv>l. From Same, confirming the acceptance of tender from Black and party Cliff for Wataroa south bank track.— Received. From T. If. Y. Seddon, M.P., enclosing letter from Minister of Public M orks, promising to supply a report when available of a survey of the Toaroha river in connection with hydroelectric power for Westland.—Received. From Westland Automobile Association, stating the question of dealing with charges for motor cars plying for hire would be considered and decision supplied later. —Received. From Canterbury Progress League, acknowledging receipt of telegram to Prime Minister in connection with the Hiley scheme for Lyttelton and thanks Pot support to School of Forestry at . Canterbury College.—Received. From Same, forwarding copies of-the Counties Mining Acts Amendment to be dealt with by legislators during present session of Parliament. —Received. Froni’L. E. Langesen, intimating the amount of compensation lie would require for taking his land and improvements sufficient for a road reserve at A ore Creek.—Received. From Resident . Engineer, Public Morks, advising width of reserve for road purposes must not be less than one chain for Kumara Junction-Awatuna road. —Received. From iCuttanee and McPherson, Okuru, asking for payment of services rendered in clearing the Haast Pass track.—Received. From Resident Engineer. Public Works, regarding payment of wages on Haast Pass track and on receipt' of a report he would intimate his decision. —Received. From John Hewer, Stock Ranger, reporting a public pound at Hari Hari is required provided an active ranger controls the district, resigning his position; also complaining of steps not being taken to prosecute owners of strayed stock.—Received. From It. Bradley, North Arahura, Folding-the Council liable for any damage resulting from protection work done in the Arahura river, adjacent to Oldcrog’s.—Received. Mr Ward moved that legal opinion be obtained on the question of liability. Seconded bv AL- Duff and carried. From Overseer Millner, reporting repairs needed to the Kokatalii public pound; that the road at Coal creek leading to Hackell’s mill will cost about £2O; that the protection groin near | -McKay’s creek, Kanieri river, requires immediate attention; urging matter of I drain near Thomson’s on the ICokatahi l road bo nob dealt with at present; reporting particulars of accident to A. Burke when employed on the Coal creek bridge extension; action taken to settle allowance for Stock Ranger Thompson. —Received. It was resolved to make a grant of £lO for road to Hackell’s mill. In connection with the wandering cattle nuisance, Mr Ward expressed tlie opinion that it was inadvisable to have a ran ger, as he thought the provision of pounds would he sufficient. Mr Morel favoured the matter being held over for the new Council, hut he considered active steps should be taken to mitigate tlie nuisance. It was resolved the clerk report on the legal position of impounding at next meeting. From Roadman Nolan, reporting on works in the Okarito district and the carpenter, had made a good job of the repairs to tlie goods shed at Okarito harbour. —Received. From T. E. Y. Seddon M.P. forwarding Ministerial replies regarding applications for votes on Supplementary Estimates. —Received. From Railways Department replying that the request for tlio reopening of the Stafford siding for timber stacking purposes could not be complied with, but additional siding space will be pro- ] vided at Arahura on application.—Be- < ceived. - j From Feeney Bros, asking assistance i in keeping Hau Hau lead road open for 1 sawmill traffic.—Received. It was re- f solved to find half the cost up to £lo. t From Overseer Millner reporting Pal- t mer’s road would be open for traffic a as soon as labor was available; that s tlie Resident Engineer’s suggestions re- r garding Arahura River Protection s

' works could bo complied with; that re--pairs would be effected to the Jackson’s station road as soon as lie could visit the locality; that cartage rates for timber was increasing to-such an extent as to compel the Council to provide its own conveyance, and adding that the proposed motor waggon would overcome the shortage of horses and drays, and stating motor traction should be given a trial; that til'd gate Objected to by Mrs George on the Arahura by-road bail been removed.—Received. From Roadman Nolan further report on district works. —Received. In connection with Okarito wharf matters the Council heard Mr J. W. Thomson, and later resolved to accept the position as outlined, it was resolved to advise the Wataroa Dairy Coy. that owing to the lapse of time it was not possible to supply the particulars of wharfages asked for. From Robert Ritchie reporting on visit to Slippery Face with Mr Raimister, jyliero a new road bad boon laid off, with no grade higher than 1 in 12, and supplying estimate of the cost.—Received. From T. P. O’Neil, Kokatnhi, asking permission to lay telephone line to connect with Government telephone at Ko -katalii. —Received; request granted subject to approval of Telegraph Dc partinent. FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Your Committee have the honor t< report that the accounts presented fo: the month of October, 1920, have beei carefully examined, and lieg to recom mend that the amount as approved, to tailing £827 10s Kiel on the General Ac count and £405 on Loan Account, 1) passed for payment.—Received. OVERSEER MILLNER’S REPORT. I have the honor to report in conne c tion with the necessary road-makinj machinery which the Council "ontcni plates purchasing for use on Westlam County Roads. Tlie outfit should con sist of a motor-tipping waggon of tw or three tons capacity, a portable ston crusher, and elevator, capable of pro ducirtg thirty to thirty five cubic yard of metal per day of eight hours. - road roller of four or five tons weigh would also be necessary, and whei not engaged in rolling the roads, tli roller could be utilsed in working tli stone crusher. The elevator attachmen would be necessary for use in lioistin] the crushed metal from the crushe to the receiving bins or direct to th motor waggon. The use of - crushe* metal for road repairs, well solidifie* by rolling, would be found more econo mical than the present method of rc pairing with gravel, and the use of motor waggon would allow the matciia to be distributed over long distances where metal is scarce, at a cheaper rat than the present method of haulage b; horse teams. Apart from the gooroads which would result if this plawere followed, an increased amount o work would be performed in a give] time at a cheaper rate. ,

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. 0 This meeting <marks the close ol e my chairmanship as far as the ordin--8 a ry meetings of the Council are eonoerncd and I desire to tender to your good selves and the staff my thanks for. the 8 assistance accorded me during tlie year. 0 Tlie year appears to have passed very ' quickly and so far as the Council’s business lias been Concerned, it has 0 been a pleasant year of office. The usu- ' nl good fellowship lias existed round the " Council table, and I must , compliment fc councillors on tlie manner in which they have attended to their duties and c the zealous way in which the business 1 has been dealt with, 3 ' The Council is growing in importance 3 Its land values are increasing, and with settlement flourishing more demands - will be made onl the Council. The s Members have dealt very fairly with all 8 demands put before them from what ever part of l tlie district. I cannot 2 recall that any applicant has gone 11 away empty handed. In some instances i we have not been able to do all that • was asked of us, but we have endeavored to do our best, and .expend the - funds in as fair a manner as possible, s In this respect the ratepayers have had " fair and equitable service. Meeting so " many demands as we have, and assist- ■ ing the mining and timber industries ” as liberally as wo have, it is extremely satisfactory to find the finances kept , so well within the limits of the over- - draft—which must on no account at 3 any time', exceed the amount of revenue > outstanding and collectable. The Trea- ■ surer reports that the overdraft toi day is at £3090, with outstanding revenue immediately due (or overdue) to the amount of £9OO. Thes figures • are to the credit of the Council for i after three years administration they : are less by about £6OO than when the i present Councillors took office in 1919, j • despite the increased costs and charges! i for labor and material. The past, how- : ever, speaks for itself, and it is with i the present demands the Council of • the immediate future lias to deal. It has been growing more and mor9 : difficult of late to get work done for i the lack of' labor. 'Every week instances crop up where works have to be held over because the requisite labor is not available. The Council has sqveral authorities for parliament try votes which it cannot spend for lack of labor. Evqn to-day tenders were called for nine works (some works for the second ’ and third time) and only three tenders for two works have been received. There are other authorities for the expenditure of money we can -have for the asking, and there : s the new money for the district on the Public Works Estimates which will be authorised very shortly. Some thousands of pounds arc involved and the labor is not here to .do it. The new Council will require to face this fact as we have endeavored to do. In this latter connection a proposal is to go before the County ratepayers next week asking them to sanction a. loan up to £3OOO for the purchase of road-makina; Machinery to help overcome the shortage of labor. Since the proposal has been put before the electors the Minister of Public Works has announced a policy on the same lines, but natu.ally on a larger scalo for the roads under tlie control of his Department. This indicates that the Council is on riMit lines in suggesting such a policy, ail 1 U for the benefit of the district I do hope the electors will endorse the policy. At : the moment the finances of the Council , are looking so well, that it may bo pos- J i sible to avoid borrowing all the money i required toy loan. Tlie County Fund itself is likely to be ablo to provide a |

portion of tlie amount, so that tho ratepayers need not have any fear that in voting for the loan they are incurring any special burden. Tho security rate will be paid out of ordinary revenue. As it is only equal to one shilling and four pence for every £IOO of capital value, 'the rate 'would lie toe trifling to collect, so that it will ve main a general change on the County revenue as a whole. Overseer Millner advises that the machinery is necessary. You will :ecall that early in the year he visited flic North Island and saw suitable planes m 1 operation. He returned satisfied that the machines proposed would form the ■ best basis for the Council to start up--1 on, and on this advice the Council is ! ! acting. The plant will be wanted at i once for the widening of such roads i ' as the Kokatahi and Lake Knnieri for | which there are large votes to spend, i These roads will bo put in order quick- • ]y and made available for the increas- , ing traffic they have to bear. Tin l Kokatahi road now carries considerable - motor traffic, much of it heavy •' nd ' constant. The recent widening along r that road has been a boon, and as the - sawmill traffic will be on tlie road - shortly, the widening must continue. , (But it will lie very expensive if attempt- - ed by drays and long drawn out. The same distance will not be accomplished either—the money will not go so far. o Sawmill traffic will he running over r Lake Kanieri road also, and in any ease n 'many sections of this road require i- widening.. Done by machinery the i- Council and" the ratepayers wiU get the ... value., and an economy in cost and e in tlie saving of time there will be f 'ie return. Also, if the plant, is ,available to use for Government grant jxpenditu,re, there will be greater taming g power to repay the cost. Personally it [_ appears to mo tliat the utilisation of d a road making plant will prove to t- be the one salvation for the district, o if Government grants are to be spent e expeditiously, tlie County funds conserved and tho public generally get | s fuller value for the expenditure. With a plant such as proposed, all '■xisti g l roads will be improved, which is neeesi sary seeing that the district is growing e so, and I commend to all concerned lae vorable consideration of the loan proit posals. p- Tn concluding this valedictory ic,r port, I would like to refer to the con o sideration the Council lias received, this year at the hands of the Minister of d Public Works. The Hon. Mr Coates paid a visit to the district late : n Mav last, and brief though it was, it was a well justified by the renewed attention ,1 given the Council’s ’requests. Mem- , bers will recall that tlie Minister was e patient and considerate in all matters y brought under his notice, and the ic- ' quests have had very fair consideran tion. All that was asked for has not been provided, of course, but many n 1 requests of public importance have been i assented to and tlie grants on the Estij mates will be difficult to expend in the [ time at disposal because of the sliortI age 'of labor. However, I am sure | the Council and its staff will do its j best and co-operate to tlie fullest in ’ making the best arrangements possible for the expenditure of the votes. In connection with the grants I would like to appreciate also the help given by the Member for Westland (Mr Seddon) and also Cr Orimmond, who while in j Wellington has had the opportunity of ! consulting the heads of Departments |on various works. The present will 1 be the last sitting of our colleague, Cr Ferguson, who lias sat at this table now for 18 years. We owe it to Cr. Ferguson. who as Chairman made the satisfactory arrangements under which the Council secured possession of "this building and offices. During his term of office Cr Ferguson has been very attentive to his duties as a member, and has served the County as a whole faithfully. The Council and ratepayers will regret his voluntary retirement from office, and I am sure members will join with me not only in thanking him for his past services, but in wishing him and his good lady all health and happiness in the future. Mr Ward moved the adoption of the report. He wished to refer to the last paragraph. As an old colleague of Mr Ferguson, he wished to express his regret at his coming retirement. Mr Ferguson has proved faithful at the Council table to the interests of those who had sent him. He has worked hard in the past 18 years, furthering the best interests of his ratepayers. Cr Ferguson had proved one of tlie best" of representatives for the district, and lie regretted they were not to have him with them in the future at the'Council table. He wished him well in the future, and with improved health for his good lady. Air Murdoch in endorsing and supporting the remarks of Mr Ward said 'he deeply regretted they would' not have' Council Ferguson again at the Council table. The good work he had done in the past was well recognised. He' hoped that the 'health of his good wife would he soon restored. He trusted that in the early future to see Mr Ferguson make another appearance at the Council table. He was glad of the references made in the report to the j staff, and heartily endorsed the appre edition expressed recognising the splendid work done for the Council by their several officers. In connection with the poll for' a loan for the supply of road making plant be heartily commended it to the ratepayers for their full support. Mr Duff supported and endorsed the references toi Cr. Ferguson. He and Cr. Ferguson had come into the Council at the same time, 18 years ago. Mr Ferguson could look back and see the great improvements and prosperity, that had followed in bis district. Ho congratulated Mr Ferguson on Ins splendid services as a member of the Council and regretted lie was not again offering bis services to the Council. Mr Ciiesterman joined in expressions of regret at Mr Fergtisoii’s coining retirement. Air Wells joined in tlie expressions of regret. He felt that the southern ratepayers were losing one of the best representatives they had ever had. Mr Ferguson had done excellent work during his lengthy service at the Council table.

Mr Morel said He was satisfied that the southern ratepayers had nothing to regret in the manner in which Air Ferguson had represented tlie best interests of the district. He would greatly miss him at tlie Council table. The Chairman was glad to have heard the general expressions of regret at tho j

cause of the retirement of Mr Ferguson and wished Mrs Ferguson a’ speedy return to good ‘health, assuring them both of the good wishes of the whole of the Council and the general community. . .Mr Ferguson said it was with feelings of regret that he had to announce his retirement from the Council. During | his term of 18 years service at the Conn oil table lie had mixed with many members. He had given his best attention for the benefit of the settlers of Westland. He thanked the Council for the willing support they had always given him. 'He deeply regretted the necessity to sever his connection with the Council, and deeply appreciated the warm words of appreciation of members. His solo 'cause ol severing the happy relations, was the present condition of the health of his wife who needed a change and this necessitated their removal Ifrom the districts Ho could not conclude without paying a tribute to the splendid services rendered by the County Clerk (Mr Evans) who at all times gave such splendid services to the Council and the ratepayers. He thanked them all again for their kindly references to .himself and wife, and hoped wherever he was that lie would continue to hear of the prosperity of the district. The Chairman moved that the Council expressed its deep appreciation tc the splendid services rendered during their term of office by the County Clerk, Overseer and all other members of the staff. Seconded by Mr. Murdoch ant carried. TENDERS. Eittfe Wanganui Track.—Only oiu tender was received, from G. Muir ai £2lO. The tender was declined, being over the estimate. The letting of the work was referred to Overseer Millnei io arrange. Back Creek Road Improvement.— Two tenders were received, Rhodes am Winter, £214 ; Willoughby and Thorpe £214 9s 6d. The tenders were referrei to Overseer Millner to arrange. No tenders having been received fo the three other works, it was resolvei to carry out Morris’ Hill reduction wor! by day labour. The question of carry ing out the expenditure of votes fo Doherty road and Petersen’s road ex tension were referred to Overseer Mill per for attention. It was resolved to hold the nex monthly meeting on Nov. 24th, the sain day as that in which the statutory mee ing for the election of Chairman will b held. It was resolved, on the motion of M Morel to telegraph to the Board o Trade to urge the supply of a furtlie quantity of cement for urgent works re quired by the settlers. / ORDER PAPER. The Chairman moved:— “Tha the accounts for the month of Octobe 1920 as revised and recommended fo payment, by the Finance Committee amounting to £827 10s lOd be passe' for payment.”—Seconded by Mr Du: and carried. The Chairman moved:— “Thn the settlers of. Waitalia Beach be agai: approached regarding the scheme t. erect Kakapotahi bridge, and upon th necessary agreement being signed ten ders bo called for the work forthwith.” Seconded by Mr Duff and carried. Cr. Ferguson moved:— “Tha urgent representations be made to th Hon Minister of Public Works to cal for tenders for the erection of roa» traffic bridges across Little Wangami and Waitangi rivers with the least pos sible delay”. Seconded by Mr Duff am carried. Cr. Ferguson moved’ —“That tli Council views with pleasure the pre vision on the Estimates for bridgiu Waiho Gorge river, and that the Gov eminent be urged to proceed with th work at the earliest possible moment.’ Seconded by the Chairman and carried The Council rose at 4.30 p.m.