WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1922, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

SATURDAY, MARCH lltli

ORDINARY MEETING

The Council sat at 2.5 p.m. Present: Messrs B. Ward (County Chairman), T. W. Dull', W. Jeffries, W. H. Chinn, E, A. Wells, H. L. Morel, T. -E. Chesterman, J. Ritchie, J. A. Murdoch. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed, and outward correspondence was approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE.

From Treasury, forwarding revenue accrued.—Received.

From Department of Internal Affairs,; enclosing receipt for funds contributed, through the Council for H.R.H. Princess jVTfiry Wedding Gift Fund.—Received.

From Same, intimating the question of allowing a rebate of five per centum on rates paid within 30 days of due date has been noted for consideration when an amendment of the Rating Act is being dealt with.—Received. From Minister of Marine, stating the survey of the Bruce Bay boat landing is being expedited and as soon as the Engineer reports, the matter of proceeding with the work will receive consideration. —Received.

From Mines Department, advising the Minister has decided to treat arrears of rent due by J. McCluggage ns not recoverable. —Received.

Freni Same reporting result of law proceedings to recover amount due for rent on a special claim in South Westland and suggesting, withdrawal of the suit as a f'hir and reasonable offer had been made for a settlement. —Received. r From Same, refusing assistance to T.

Frown and party to prospect in the district between Rimu and Ross as the country had been well tried in the past without favourable results. —Received. From Department of Labour, directing attention to Section-7 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Ac 1 .

o -cring relief works carried out by spcrml resolution of a local authority.--

deceived. From Came, supplying extract I rum .In- ,\cw Zealand Gazette setting out the day selected for observance of the wee I-! yt ui 11-1 1 olid a v. —R ecei vet I. From General Manager Railways, notifying Stuart -ami Chapman Ltd. should apply lo Lite Department for permission to take railway rolling stock >Vi r their line and supply plans and sectioi s of the tramway.—ltec-ivod ami to be complied with. From Public Works Department, with. k fu'Oifcc to granting a license to carry goods and stock for Southern settlers. (Y en Russ south, over private tramline, i-ui! setting out steps necessary to erii'v for tile issue of a license.—Rw•eived and to be complied with. From Resident Engineer, Public Works, promising to do his best to keep,

the road from Waiho to Weheka open for wheel traffic and regretting owing to economy it will be some time before the road can lie maintained for car traffic. —Received.

From Same, stating be is unable at present to say what votes in Westland -ill be available for expenditure by the Council this year.—Received.

From Otago Hospital Board, protesting against the increased fees to A 3 3s per day charged by the Audit Department for examining accounts and asking support in combatting this charge. Received and supported. F om Napier Borough Council, asking tji c-oval of r. resolution —“That legisla-

timi l.e introduced crediting loan account balances against debit balances Hi other accounts as regards payment

iit interest. —Received and supported. From Westland War Memorial Committee, forwarding balance sheet of receipts and expenditure tor erecting cenotaph in memory of Westland’s lallen soldiers and requesting contribution towards meeting deficiency ot £2OO as empowered under Section To of the “Finance Act, 1910.” Received. From Anderson's Limited, Christchurch, giving-notice for special terms they are offering to enable local bodies to purchase plant on time payment extending over a period of y ars.-to-oeived and liled. From Same, supplying iniojmntion oi

t!:e Sentin. 1 steam waggon carrying lords of A tons and upwards for purposes of transport.—Received anti filed. From Butler Brit hers, Ltd., slating the ballasting of their tramway on the Kniteiinigi-Iloss track is completed and due cast- will be taken to avoid complaints.—Rereived as satisfactory. From T. E. Y. Sleddon, M.P., conveying to Councillors thanks and appreciation of the good wishes extended to him. —Received.

From Stuart and Chapman, Hokitika, applying for permission to cross Lake Kaniori road with a temporary train crossing about three chains past Stoney Creek. —Received and granted. From Kokatahi Timber Coy., Ltd.,

thanking Council for right to Idy tram along White road find submitting conditions for approval.—Received and conditions accepted. From T). Cullen, Lower Kokatahi, protesting against the right being given the Kokatahi Timber Coy., to place a tram on White road. —Received. From W. Wei blitz and others, advising the river had cut away the road approach to the Loan Block settlement, Wnitangi, and suggesting urgent stops he taken to overcome the difficulty. —Received; Roadman to report. From Returned Soldiers’ Association,

Ross, taking exception to the passing over of the soldier applicants in dealing with the applications for a roadman in the Totara-Waitaha district.—Received. The Chairman explained that the applications had been dealt with on the merits of the applicants. Mr Murdoch said the Council always recognised the claims of the returned soldiers. A due regard would lie given always to the claims of the returned men. The Clerk was directed to reply in accordance with the trend of the remarks, made by councillors.

From W. Thomson, Stock Ranger, reporting names of owners allowing stock at large on County roads for the month of February.—Received and proceedings to be taken. From Advisory Committee, Bruce Bay stating the repairs to the Mahitahi track would be put in hand early, and j asking rate of wages to be paid to the j employees.—Received, work approved at usual rate of wages. . I From Advisory Committee, Okuru, ! asking for supply of gelignite, detona- | tors and fuse, £6 needed to repair rock i bluff on tipper Okuru track, and £6 for i roadway leading to the Okuru. cemetery. .—Received and works approved.

From Overseer Millner, reporting the straining pier of Stafford suspension bridge has become badly scoured and this work should He attended to immediately ; damage to bridges on Lake Kanieri road by motor lorry and recommending decking with 8 x 4 planking; pointing out the unsafe state of Kanieri river bridge through heavy traffic use and heavy loading should be restricted. —Received and urgent works approved. From Same, supplying estimate of cost to repair bridges on the Lake Kanieri road amounting to £414, this would allow for the strengthening and repairing of the bridges to stand the heavy motor lorry traffic.—Received. The Chairman reported the result of the conference with the snwmillers, and the ;action was approved, and works authorised. Arising out of the discussion lit was resolved to restrict the speed of lorries and cars crossing bridges to a rate of not more than three miles an hour, and to give public notice of the restriction. From J. W. Thomson, Okarito, telegram stating street works near the school were not attended to, as promised. —Received, explanation to be sent that the Roadman was waiting for the necessary timber. FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Your Committee has the honor to re-, port that the accounts presented fm the month of February have been carefully examined nnd beg to recommend that the accounts as approved, totalling £1459 9s 6d, be passed for payment on the general account, and £270 on the Kakapotahi bridge loan account. With reference to the collection of the. Hokitika Harbour Board rates within the County, your Committee recommend that the Council agree to the collection, • of the rates for £52, per annum, half of the sum to be appropriated to office salaries.—rßeceived and adopted.

NOTICES OF MOTION. The Chairman moved:— “That, the accounts for the month of lebruary, 1921, as revised and recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to £1159 9s (id on geneial account and £270 on Kakapotahi Loan account, he passed for payment. Mi Chesterman seconded. —C arriid. The Chairman moved:— That the adjourned report of the 1' inaneo Committee from the previous meeting, be now considered and dealt with by the Council.—Mr Jeffries seconded. In doing so Mr Jeffries said the financial position was quite satisfactory, hut lie wanted to give relief to the ratepaveis. There were avenues of expenditure which if explored would show a method of saving, and he would go into the matter at a subsequent meeting. The motion was carried, and the rep.nt was adopted, involving the savings suggested in the report (as published at the time of last meeting.).

The Chairman moved:-- "That the Treasurer prepare the annual statement of apportionment of gross income estimated for the financial year commencing on the Ist prox., and proposed allocaiton of surplus revenue over the several ridings as required by section 131, Counties Act, 1920, and submit same to Councillors for considers*ion’ • —Mr Duff seconded. —Carried. The Chairman moved: — “That pursuant to the authority given in Section 15 of the Finance Act, 1919, tho Council authorises a vote of £75 to tho Westland War Memorial Fund, tho amount to be paid in next financial vear.” —In moving the motion the Chairman said the object was a worthy one deserving the practical support of the Council. Mr Duff seconded, and Mr Murdoch supported the motion which was carried.

On the motion of Mr Ri'chie seconded |, y Mr Jeffries £7 10k was voted to improve the track leading to Run 00, Abbey Rocks.

SPECIAL MEETING. The Chairman moved:— “That pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 (c) of the Noxious Weeds Act, 1908, the Council by special order declares that Foxglove (digitalis purpurea) shall he declared a noxious weed within the County of Westland within the meaning of the Noxious Weeds Act, 1908, and ’ amendments.” —Mr Murdoch seconded. —Carried.

STATUTORY MEETING. From Auditor-General, Wellington, roturning annual balance sheet lor the vear ended ‘list March, 1921, with exceptions, and asking for printed copy as soon as published. —K-'-’e Led. The certificate to the balance slice' noted the exceptions: Loan moneys have unlawhillv been used for purposes other than those for which they were raised. 2—The outstanding rates arc still excessive and the condition with regard to recording same is such as m the opinion of the Audit office calls for tine immediate attention of the Council. The Treasurer explained that when the works lor which loans were raised were put in hand and the work became a charge on the general fund, the loan monevs for the specific works were transferred to the general account. All the money was spent legitimately on the works for which the amount was raised.

Mr Murdoch said the position was quite satisfactory, hut if there were any technical doubt about the matter the Chairman should wait on the hanking authorities so that the Council where it had two or more accounts, one in debit and- the other in credit, interest on overdraft should be charged only on the net debit. This was the practice in local government. The Council concurred in this suggestion, which is to be acted upon. With regard to recording the rates, the Treasurer explained what was being done, and stated the Audit office bad been written to to enquire v m ■ U 1 check was necessary. The exp anatmn was deemed satisfactory, and the balance sheet was adopted and ordered to be printed as usual. The Council rose at 3.45 p.m.