WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1921, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, DEC. 13.

The Council met ai p.m. Present: Messrs H. Ward (.Chairman), -Morel, Chestermaii, Ritchie, Cliiun, Jeffries, Wells and Dull’.

The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESROXDEXCK. From Treasury, forwarding revenue accrued. —Received.

From Rt Hon W. F. Massey, Wellington, Minister of Mines and Commerce and Messrs Seddon, Hudson, Holland and Poland, M.P’s, replying that representations by resolution oi the Council protesting against increased duties on gold dredging machinery would have consideration.—Received.

From Minister of Customs, Wellington, noting the support accorded the Chamber of Commerce and Progress League regarding duty on imported timber. —Received.

From .1. Grimmond, M.L.C., promising his best attention in securing revised tariff duties suitable for Westland industries. —Received. From Minister of Lauds, Wellington, sanctioning subsidy grant of E2(>6 Ids for drainage of La Fontaine creek on proposals approved by the chief drainage engineer.—Received. From Minister of Public Works. Wellington, proposing to retain on this year’s estimates item tor erection of Waitsnga river bridge, hut from inlormation furnished hy the Resident Engineer interference of traffic is not vci\ Frequent. —Received. Mr Chinn said if not bridged it would he a great drawback to traffic. He moved that the Minister he urged to at once invite tenders, as it was the only river to hold up motor traffic.—Seconded by Mr Ritchie and carried . From Same, issuing authority for the construction of drains along swampy portion of Lower Knknlnhi road in accordance with plan and s|>et ihcntions costing £2OO. —Received. From -Minos Department. Wellington, acting on report received, declining to make provision for improving Adair’s road as requested. --Received. From Same, granting extension <il

time for paynnuu of rent due on special claim situated at Rack Creek. —Received. From Same, approving of aha adorn'd dredging claims in the district being jtruck oil’ the recoids at the Walden’s office. - -Rec wived. From Same, asking i n i ccommemlaiini! ill connection witu canrelhuioii of dining nrivilcgcs ai Rimn in teims ol Section 101? of the Miltnig Act, 1909. Received : to tie recciiiiiicmh'd. From District Engineer. Railway Department. .asking for plan- . ami

ctiedulcs I ; vesting |>a: I o! Arahnra ii,| watuua railway lands tor paid the ( nnnty Re-eived. From Postal Pepar’meiit. Hokitika,

..porting the Ross-t )|<ai ito lelchponc in-nit is already overloaded, coii-e-

< in*lit ly the residence of F. Hut lor at ’Vaitangi cannot lie connected. l«e----ceivod : furl her application to he made. From Department of Health, ClnistiLurch, advising recent inspection ol inhabited premises at the Maori Rah,

Araliura, and need for repairs to dwellings, better household accommodation and adequate and convenient supplv of wholesome water; suggesting six weeks time allowance for cariying out imp:ovcmeiits.- Received ; necessary notice to he give.n

From Same, measures to he taken for rat destitution in Westland. Air ■leffries moved that the Council supply free poison to all residents of t'.e County fur flic destruction of rats.— Seconded hy Air Wells and carried.

From Department of Health, Wellington, circular referring to grants by local authorities for hospital or health services.—Received.

From Buller County 1 ouurii, asking for information covering claims for royalty received on limber mining reserves.—Received.

From T. E. Y. Seddon, AI R.. WVllington, enclosing replies received fmiii Government Departments respecting expenditure on Westland roads. Received.

In connection with the Little Waitaha river, it was icporled the bridge was practically completed, hut that nothing had. been done to commence the approaches, which was a substantia! work. It was resolved to write to the Departnu'ut on tho matter. From Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, urging the completion ot the Marlborough to West Coast road through the Wairau V alley and asking the local bodies interested to communicate with the Government to adopt this route and make the road.--Re-ceived : to be supported. From AI ana watu County Council, forwarding particulars of motion carried at a conference protesting against method adopted in subsidising levies for hospital maintenance. —Received. From Liquidator, Campbell and Coy., Wanganui, asking payment, of motor lorry account upon arrival ol the machine.—Received.

From A.B.C. Motor Garage, Wellington. telegraphing motor truck I*ino per steamer Regains thin! December.—Received. From Allan and Coy.. Ross, applying for assistance to gravel road already formed to give access to tlieir saw milling plant near Fergusons, on the Alain South road.—Received.

From S. J. Preston, on hehalf of the Hokitika School Committee, urging the boat landing at hake Alaliinapua he made serviceable for the Christmas season. —Received : referred to Acclimatisation Society. From S. Honey, Arahnra Road, requesting a box drain on the One Mile road he lowered to give better facilities for drainage at the back of the school icserve. —Received ; relerred to Overseer to look into and attend to if nocessarv. From Andersons, Limited, Christchurch latest quotations and full paitieulnrs of road rollers and different classes of machinery—Received : to bo filed for future reference. From Park and Murdoch, on behalf „f R Whilev. applying for consent to grant of Crown Lands for _ sawmilling purposes between Kokatabi and Lake Kanieri road—Ror-eivcd : consent given. From Donovan Bros, and T. A. Condon, Tatare, enclosing settlers contribution towards erection of protection works at Potter’s creek—Received. t From R. W. Norman, forwarding testimonial as to fitness for position of driver of the motor tipping lorry—Re-, ceived.

From Kumara Dprough Council, contending that the Council' should hear a share of the upkeep of the 7Ag Zag road as i,t received timber royalties from that locality.—Received. The Council regretted its inability to assist. From T. Watson, Waiho Gorge, asking for favorable recommendation of his application t,o pr.psfieet tor and locate quartz reef at the head of McDonald’s creek in the Waiho district. —Received.

From W. Thomson, Totnra, supplying monthly report containing names of owners allowing stock to wajidei at large on the County thorough In res.— Received. Air Duff moved that the nsrthern district offenders be given a warning on this occasion.—Seconded by Mr Chinn, and after some discussion, agreed to, Mr .Jeffries dissenting. From Advisory Committee, Okiiru, bringing under notice portion of HanstOkuru dray road washed away J>y sea encroachment and recommending vote of Els to replace the road.—Received. From Roadman Nolan, reporting on work carried out in the Wataroa district for the past month.—Received.

.From Overseer Millner, advising completion of Aft. Tuliua track and expenditure of £IOO grant ; asking for drainage plans of Robinson and Lower Kokatahi road; reporting no objection to Iliicko.il and Coy. crossing Lake Kanieri road with a small race. Re-

ceived. From Same, asking for a supply of concrete pi|>es for Lake Kanieri road widening; reporting heavy loads up to 7 tons being carried over the Kanieri river bridge, Lake road in spite »j notice limiting maximum loads to 3 tons; subsidence of approach to Coal creel; bridge and owing to height of decking above water the bridge he extended twelve feet at a csot of L-ti to avoid future risk of accident at this creek.— Received. The Chairman was authorised to take necessary action to

close Kanieri rivet bridge if motor lorry owners fail to give the necessary attention to requirements of Council. It was resolved to demand payment of gg from mill affected in allowing tree tops to pile up against bridge. From Same, stating it is advisable

to close the Kokatahi' bridge to traffic exceeding 1$ tons and prohibit motor lorrv traffic, ft took seven hours to

thoroughly examine the structure with Mr Fitzgerald and we found it in a y dangerous (otidkioii. Repairs will consist of the renewals of caps and corbels which will he slow and costly, eight, temporary piles "ill require to i!n\on. KeceMi’il.

Works, proposing to make provision on cun cut year's estimates for subsidy grant oi £125 to Inidgo Harris creek mi th,. Christchurch toad. Received; Overseer Millin': to inspect and report. From Westland Hospital Board, making application for consent to construct a drain under the main road ii.'Hting the Hospital rates and olleriug in lake all precautions tor salety ol irallie. Reerlv.sl ; iclorrod to .Rublic Works Department. From .Minister I’uhlic Works, stating vote for Waimen,( reel; would appear mi Estimates, and if proposals were satisfactory to the Department the work might he authorised at once —Received. From Health Department, circulars in respect to plague prevention. —Received. From Stratford County Council, urging that the duty on cement for heal bodies he remitted. —Received ; to he s upporled. From Ross Borough Council, pointing out the inconvenience of the Ross Lain service, and asking support in representations to the .Minister oi Railwavs. Received. The Chairman said it was a very sore subject and vitally affected the people using the trains, lie thought the Council should support Ihe agitation for an alteration to he made. It was a hardship on the cream suppliers the children going to school, the mail and paper supply. The .Council should certainly give their support to the Ross people. Mr Dull' thought the railway department were not running tlicjjr service in a business like way. Apparently their aim was to prevent the public from travelling as much as possible. Mr Wells—The first day of the .curtailment oil which no train was to run,

two special train.- lor limber ran and would not take passengers. Mr Duff thought they should support the Ross people as strongly as possible. Mr Ritchie moved that the agitation of the Boss people In' supported.—'•'ecoitded hy Mr Aloiel mid carrjed. From Mrs Moynihaji and oUteis, Kokatahi, complaining of the removal of shingle from island in river, which would endanger adjacent land. —Received. Overseer .Millin'; stated Unit the Council was not removing this gravel. That was done hy the milling company. Resolved that the Overseer take steps to prevent a reelin', mo of the complaint.

From 7. K. Y. Seddon, Esq., AI R . supplying copy of letter from Railway Department, in reference to storage facilities of timber at Hokitika.--Re-ceived : the Chairman in confer v. it!: the Mayor. (The letter appears in full in another column).

From Gardiner and Mitchell, asking

permission to 11 s<‘ heart ot totarn instead of silver pine for abutment caps on bridge contract. --Received ; agreed to, subject to Overseer Milliter s approval. From L. K. I.ougeson, Kapitea, asking for restoration of culvert long promised. and improved road access.—Received. From D. Agnew, Arahnra Valiev, explaining matters in connection with late gravel supply contract, and offering to supply additional gravel at enti-

tract rates.—ReceivedFrom Overseer Milkier, reporting expenditure of grants, and detailing condition of works; also stating bridges on Waitaha road required renewal. Received ;work recommended to he put in hand, the more urgent works to he

attended to. FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

Your Committee has the honor to report that the accounts presented tor the month of November, 1 Oil 1, have linen carefully examined and beg to report that the amount as approved totalling .Clfifil 11s ml lie passed lor payment.

The attention of the Council is drawn to the average high rate of expenditure on the roads of late. While the monthly amount available is CMS, the expenditure has averaged lor the past eight months. For the past tip' l ’ - .’ mouths it lias averaged £'-100. This is beyond the means available, and a cur-

tnilment must he made, while in addition outstanding revenue must be collected. To this end ratepayers should bo notified that all rates unpaid alter the six monthly period, ending on the 4th February, 15)-?2, will be charged fen per cent interest on the sum owing, and the amounts recovered without further notice. As there will be a stringency in the finances for the next two or three months expenditure should be curtailed to the lowest limit for the time being and with the summer advancing this should not he a great hardship. The motor tipping lorry is now to hand and will be ready to operate on the roads of the County on Thursday Your Committee has made a temporary arrangement with iMr W. Robinson to . drive the lorry for three months, in | order to get the plant into proper working order. The Overseer is to arrange for the operation of the lorry as is most desirable. —Received. ORDER RARERThe Chairman moved : —” That the accounts for the month of November, 1921, as revised and recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to Eltifil.lls od, he passed for payment.” —Seconded hy AL Duff and carried. Air Ritchie moved:—” That _ a vote of £ls be authorised for restoring Hnast-Okimi dray road where sea encroachment lately washed out port of the road.”— Seconded hy Mr .Mine and carried. Mr C’ihinn moved: —ihe Minister of Public Works be asked to treat the expenditure of Evans Road vote of £2OO, ns a matter of urgency to give access to mill; supplies ' int l authorise the amount for expenditure forthwith.” —Seconded by Air Ritchie and carried.

Air Chinn moved: —” That 111 view of the early completion of the tramway extension to the Wnitaha river, the southern members of the Council with the Chairman ‘and Cr Murdoch be a sub-committee to wait on St |l!lrt » n<i Chapman Ltd. in regard to freightage over the line, and to make joint representations to the Railway Department in respect to the use to rolling stock over the line.—Sc coniled hy Air .leffries am! carried.

SPECIAL AI BITTING. The Chairman moved“ That pursuant to the provisions of Section 131 (c) of the Counties Act, 1920, the Council now resolve b.v special order to declare the following list of roads within the County of Westland to lie main roads, namely: - (a) Teremakaii bridge road to Kumara Israeli road, (h) Awatuna road. (e) Araliura Valley road, id) Kanieri' Lake road. (c) Kokatahi road to Graham’s corner, thence across Kokatahi rivoi bridge to Cropp’s road, (ft Arthurstown road (gi Roatapo road. (l.i) Totara mad. (il Wiiitnliti Settlement road, {j) Wanganui Elat road, (k) Wataroa Flat road, (i, Okarito road, (in) Turnbull road.” —Seconded hy Mr Duff and carried. The Chairman moved: —“That the foregoing resolution he confirmed at a subsequent meeting of the Council to be held on Tuesday, January 17th 1922, at 3 p.m.”—Seconded by Mr Duff and carried. The Council rose at o p.m.