WESTLAND PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1921, Page 4

WESTLAND PROGRESS LEAGUE.

- • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18th. Tbe Executive of tin !a met at 7.10 p.lli. Present Air W. Jeffries (President). Messrs .J, Rd.-lm*. A-.. Ritchie, R. Wild, A G. Pilkington. I). .!. Evans. W. A. Morris, W. Hogue. T. Carley, T. AY. Brim-. The iiiiniiu-s of the previous meeting wt-ie confirmed and tin* o’. Inartl correspondence ap; roved. Apology for absence « s made lor .Mr W. .1 Butler, absent in Auckland. INWARD ( () R 1! ESI ’ON 11ENT E. l-‘roni various ;o-knov.U-d'ging vv itll thanks copies ol tbe palu| tih-ts issued by tin- 1.-eague.- Reeeivrl. From Cant-.-bm-y Progress Ht-agnc notifying particulars of M r.rlbo: o-.gb tour. — Received; A vote of thanks was accorded Air Butler for representing tlie Branch nil the tour in question. From Agile Itiilal Department notifying postnom-menl of Mr Clayton's visit till 15)22. Received; It was resolved to suggest dune a- -nib d.e time for tile dairy inst rector’s visit. From Hokitika Borough Coem-il voting to os. to the l.eague. Received with thunks. l-rom ( iiiiti-rlniry Progress l.eague. notifying projected tour of ot) members of the Y.AI.C.A. to bake Knuieri at Christmas and suggesting the tour be under the auspbes of lb*- AAestl -;d Branch. Received'; 111" President suggested everything should 1 ■ done to make the visit a success. When in Christchurch shortly he (tin- President) would see the lenders of the party, and give all information possible. TinPresident. Messrs AYild. Pruee. Morris -and Pilkington were appointed n sub-

committee lo arrange mi me DEPUTATION. Ml AY. Ritellie of Bruce Bay waited 011 the Executive in resnect to road drainage at .laeob’s river. All" Ritchie detailed the steps he had taken to bring the matter under the notice of the Government authorities, without any satisfaction with regard to the necessary work. In former times the matter ha<J been attended to by tbe County authorities, but since the Government took, over the road nothing has been done. Idle result was tlrat the land of Ritchie Bros, was now being. flooded. Th,- Resident Engineer had referred the matter to the local Oveiseer, who. however, reported adversely. and the Engineer accepted the report without further enquiry. Air Ritehi,- complained also ol the Government authorities’ altitude in respect to the gates on the road. He Stated he bad been treated exceptionally by Lin- oflicors of the Department, and suffered much annoyance ill consequence. AYhnt was required was an independent report on these matters, and he asked U-c la 'gee to protect the baekblocl; -et'b-rs. end see they were not imposed upon. The President said the mntt.r should be enquired into. Tic- Engineer bed not visited the locality. lbe rep-el-uent from the Overseer and there appeared a certain amount et bias shown. Personally he dill nut think the j osition was a fair one as affecting Ritchie Bros., wlm had offered to pay the expenses of an independent report from a disinterested officer. Sonic few weeks ago li ( > (tbe President) had consulted the Overseer wlm had promised to send in a remirt. but so fur

the report had not come to hand. Mr Pilkington said from the statement made .by Mr llitebie there was a legal obligation on the Public Murks l¥e;(il rtmeiit to let the water away. Portion of the work which Mr Ritchie explained bad been done, had resulted in extra water being brought on to 1! i tchie Href., land. Such being so, the Department was under the obligation of letting the water away. Mr Wild enquired if there was not personal feeling at the bottom ol tile trouble. Mr Ritchie said it was time the l.cugnu urged flmt' an engineer be scut into the far south district to supply independent reports on the matters mentioned, but also in regard to the Hriicc Hay Landing and Slippery Face deviation. The two latter winks were urgently required. Money fur the works had Ucii voted year after year and nothing done '1 lie want lor tin' works was holding up the progress of the district.

The President said that the question of gates oil the roads should be gone into. ‘ Mr Hruee was satisfied tlnre was a matter of j reiudice dominating the posi t ion. Mr Fvatis inuio.l Messrs Wild and Rjtehie interview the Resident I'.nginee, at Creymontb and endeavour to have tin* ease fully dealt wit 1i . Mr l.ogue seconded. Carried. .Mr Pilkington suggested if the inlet view did not avail, representations oil the matter be made to tin* Minister of Public Works. This course was agreed to as a subsequent action, il necessary Mr Ritchie tbanked ihe meeting for attention and retired. CKXKTtAI..

The <j nest ion of llio Forests Hill was mentioned. Mr Brnee moved that the Fxeeutive support the action of the local todies of the West Coast in seeking for amendments to conserve local revenue and a< more literal control under the forestry policy. Mr Wild seconded. Carried. The Secretary reported that the collection taken up at Mr Cowine’s lecture, had practically paid for the costs incurred. The Motilities at date were about. £3l, with £8 8s donations outstanding. It was resolved to remind members that the current year’s subscription was now due. Mr I’ilkingloii referred to the need for a bureau of information being established in liokitika. The President said enquiry might bo made from the Tourist Department. Mr Wild thought a mom could be made available at tin* Public To hralr,v. Mr Hr nee said be would be very glad to lend any information in bis power to visitors to the town aitd l district, acting of course in an honorary way. It was resolved to write to the Tourist Department, and offer to assist as may be desired in establishing such a bureau. Mr Wild suggested that a boat might be placed on Tot urn lagoon for | public utility. Tt was resolved to ask Mr Rutler to report on the proposal. | The President stated that recently : hv the courtesy of Mr G. H. Chap- j man, ho hail been taken over the railway route of Stuart and Chapman Ltd. j leading from Hold Head to the Big

Waitalia. The work was very well advanced. and it was hoped to have the line through early in the New Year. It would mark a great advance for the south district. Il the Kakai.Uahi tin Hie bridge is ready for use about the same time, it will -he a great boon and all who supported the proposal were to be congratulated on the enterprise. The enterprise shown bv Stuart and Chapman Led was worthy of recognition and appreciation. and showed the fullest faith in the future of the district. A paper entitled ‘‘Westland; Looking Backward”, from the pen of Air John Murdoch of Boss was read and appreciated and handed to the press for publication. The meeting concluded at 8.20 p.tn. with a vote of thanks to the chair.