WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1923, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY. .TAX. 9th

COUNTY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The following npoll regarding the Timber Royalties question was rend .it to-day's sitcinjjj of the above Council, from .Mr TV. .Jeffries. Comity ('hairman :

Gi iitlerneii. - 1 liave the honor to ri port tlia.t following; up'the Connell' resolution at the previous m ■*.*tim• r.

eonferenee of West ( oast Councils was held at (Jreymoutli in the interim, attended also by niombers of the legislature. The Conference was a successful one as lar as the unanimity of the Councils and the whole hearted supporl of the' members of Parliament were concerned. The Conference resolved to organise a deputation to wait <>n the. Prime .Minister and < tlmr Ministers interested in the royalties qticstion. and it is hoped to ..rrnnge the meeting next month during the short soision of Parliament. The arrangements for the deputation are in. the hands of .James O’Erien Ks(|., .M.P. for Westland, who lia.s eommunieated with thci Rt Hon Prime .Minister and made provisional turangeinents for the in-

terview. the. (late only being in abeyance. The data', however will he announced as soon as possible, and it will Ire for the respective Councils to prepare thcii* ease, and appoint their deh - gats in advance, which they have hoen re(|nested to do.

Tim matter is one oi great moment to the Councils. A very large amount of revenue, present and prospective', is involved, and a determined and sustained effort should he made on the part of the local bodies to secure a complete review of their claims (1) tit respect to past rovettiKi accrued which luts never been fully disclosed: and (-) 411 regard to future which is likely to lie absorbed into forestry revenue and SO lost to local bodies. Many thousands of pounds of money are involved in the issue, and in the interests oi the ratepayers no effort should b<. spared to clear tlio matter up once and lor all. The unified action of the Councils is a, good thing, and combined with the active support of the mem hers of the legislature, the ease should he put very unitedly to the .Ministry. The Councils are entitled to very fair consideration in this matter, and no effort should he spared in the aim to .secure both justice and equity in regard to past, present and fullin' dealings vith timber royalties—the natural resultras of the district.

Involved in the whole issue i.s a very delicate legal position, intensified (he

more of late'because of tin methods involved in passing legislation hearing on the question oi royalties, future legislation may be, equally complex, and it suggests itself to my mint] that the matter is important enough to engage eminent- counsel in Wellington to take up the matter for local bodies conjointly. and also to watch local body interests during each session of Parliament.

It is imperative, also, f think that tini solicitors of the respective council., who are to meet together shortly in regard in a by-law affecting royalties'

reyeum . There arc carious cases and "o'! cropping up in the Warden's ( our Is from time to time in which i 11.• interests of the local bodies are specially a Heeled, and there should be provison and the machinery ready at hand to put the case for the. local body lielore the Coiiri. where considerable stints of prospective local revenue art at stake. A ronfreueo of the solicitors familiar with ihe operation of the different laws affecting the position would enahho special matters pertaining to the local bodies being brought out .and amendments, or even -peri ,| legislation, sought where considered necessary. This is all apart from the proposed suggestion to emphasise the great importance! of the subject, and any large amount of future local revenue at stake, if the- Council, or Councils, remain passive rind do not put up ft definite and sustained fight for their rights. In regard to past legislation there are certain provisions of the law which remain inoperative to the detriment of the interests of local bodies. The deputation is to take up section 40 of the Finance Act to ensurei the setting up of a- Royal Commission to go into the question of revenue to lie allocated to the local bodies. For Iho moment that matter may he left aside, in addition there is the provision in the Forests Act for the setting up of an Advisory Hoard, upon which the local bodies wire to have representation. That Board has never been set iin. It is highly important to my mind that tin; local bodies should know lar more about the forestry policy of the Dominion .and there should he the demand for the setting up of the Board, and provision for periodical meetings in order that the Board (and the ratepayers who have so much at stake in this matter) may know more intimately what is being done. The Board in the interests of industry and economic production could turn its attention, too, to the restrictive nature of tlio forestry policy which has a peculiar hearing on the prosperity and public enterprise along the Coast. (lenernlly. representation on an active Board is most needful. It is a democratic step which should not be denied, and will afford a measure of security, to the peoples' rights which are at present, if not actually denied, being ignored.

Recurring again to the Finance Act and the setting lip of a Royal Commission. I would like to point out. that tlio Prime Minister has offered as an excuse' for the Repatrnient’s inaction that the funds are not available to cover the cost of the Commission. It this ho so. the position could be reasonably met, by appointing the Commissioner of Forests to act in the capacity of a Commission, and giving tlio local bodies the right in their respective districts of chocking the figures which the Department may compile. In the past the Department has from time to time arrived at certain, figures to adjust tlxi allocation of revenue to the local bodies from the Midland Railway Revenues. Those figures' liave laid to Ins accepted, but all along it, lias been felt that they are not in accordance with the complete interpretation of the law as held by the local bodies, especially in regard to rents on reservations not being treated ultimately a.s goldfields revenue, when brought to credit as part payment for royalties, ft is believed a large sum is involved in this legal issue, but the Departnu'n tha.s never given the local bodies] satisfaction on the point. The compil- i oil statement lias bad to be accepted : as a lump sum. and all applications for details of the compilation are refused. Yet, if the Department could in the first instance make the compilation, then, should not be any occasion tor secrecy in with-holding the figures upon which the statement was founded. In conclusion. I desire to say that the .support accorded by the Council in tho past in regard to this matter is greatly appreciated, and I hope members will continue to take a close personal interest, and afford all the help their can for the common benefit or the district as a whole. The Council has a very important duty to discharge on behalf of the ratepayers in regard to this matter and we must all needs work in close unison.

MAIN ROADS MAINTENANCE. OVERSEER AfIT.T.XER’S REPORT TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL. 1 have the honor to report having inspected the Government main road from Kumara Junction to Ross, as instructed. Kumara Junction to Kumara. This portion of road carries a considerable amount of traffic of till descriptions, and i.s one of the best constructed roads in the County oi' Westland, a great quantity of broken metal being used in maintenance until the last few years the principle repairs have been effected with gravel. One man has been previously engaged in maintenance work.

and has had the assistance of the Public Works Department teams when necessary to cart material for repairs; also in grading and dragging the road. Cost £SO to place in order. Kumara, Borough boundary to Larrikins LoOpline does not carry very much traffic, excepting timber from the •sawmill near Kumara Co meter;, and the north hound motor traffic. .Motor traffic to Otira. Kumara, and a portion of the northern traffic is diverted by Larrikins Loopfine road through Dillmans. The portion of the main road referred - to does not appear to have had much attention recently. It requires grading and repairing at a cost of .£7O.

Larrikins Looplini- .Junction to Hokitika Borough boundary has had only casual attention during the last two years. Formerly two Roadmen were constantly employed in attending to repairs, hut latterly repairs have not been extensive being confined to reducing the outer portion of the roadway. and placing the material in the middle of the road, and patching motor worn holes with gravel. About two months of the year are occupied by the Department’s teams in carting material for repairs over this section, and dragging tlio road. Cost £3OO to place in order. Hokitika Borough boundary to Kanicri Section carries a. considerable amount of lira vy timber laden motor lorry, motor car. heavy waggon, and ordinary light vehicle traffic anil is ttic principle short traffic road ill the Westland Comity'. It is well constructed.

and of good width, with a well raised crown which allows the road to shed the water during heavy rainfall. The cost of maintenance per mile would be considerably lower than the majority of the roads carrying hall the amount of traffic. A great quantity of broken metal has been used in maintenance, but latterly its tisc has been discontinued, and for some time past repair,s have been nd'etTed with gravel which occupy tin- Department's teams for about oik month in the year. Finely broken metal well blinded will give tia' best results in road maintenance for any class of traffic, and this can only be obtained in sufficient quantities, and of a suitable gunge, by the u. of a stone crusher. Two hundred yards •••' metal cost al (is. L'fiO. Carlage got) yards at 3s. £3O. 100 yards gravel .'is. ELY Cleaning road drains, w a fortuities and got'se £3O. Total cost of repairs .£'l3s.

Kanieri to Bilim section is not costly to maintain. At present the road is in passable order being attended to by the Roadman who latterly has been attending to repairs on Kumara Road as far as (loldsborough. and assisting tic permanent man on Ross Road as far as Ross. Borough. A few holes require repairing, a.ml watci tables cleaning at Woodstock and liimu Hill. From Rinin to Ross a great portion of the road is worn out and in rough order lor motor or light vehicle traffic.

and a fniiT, large expenditure will be necessary to place i! in. decent order, nsperially as suitable material for repairs is costly to obtain. Repairs on this section have been confined principally to cutting off the lower sides

of the road and placing the material on the road centre, aDo cleaning watertables, and blinding loose metal with clav. One short portion oi the road

front Manatnti Crossing to Frosty Crick .Mill, is worn out in a good many places, and has cut up a good deal by the cartage of timber from Frosty Creek Mill. Repairs to this portion will cost £(SO. From Frosty Creek onward the road is worn to the formaliuii h-'.il for a considerable distance, large stones showing in the wheel ruts making very comfortable travelling for light vehicles. From liimu to R'-'-s £I,OOO could 111' expended in restoring the road surface' to a semblance of order.- One workman has been continually employed during the past venr, and has had the assistance of casual workmen for short periods, also the use of out' of the Department, s toilnis for a few weeks in carting material oil to the road. The absence nf heavy traffic renders it difficult to keep (lie broken metal together—light motor traffic displaces it throwing it. out of the wheel rats, espei hilly on tlio hills and at the curves. Ordinary repairs. clearing scrub; water-tallies grading and dragging road, patching, motor worn- holes, am! blinding metal, will cost £C>OO. and a permanent man for the Rime to Ross section. A permanent mail "ill be required also from Kumara. to Arahurn or Stafford. The proent County Roadman can attend to repairs from A rail urn to Hokitika. From Hokitika to liimu will only require casual attention after repairs are effected.

Sonic of the culverts between Him 11 find Ross are in mi unsafe condition, also Frosty and Granite Creek Bridges, lint these are dealt with in a further is port on culverts and bridges. The cost of maintaining; the whole length of road from Kinnara Junction to llos.s Borough for the year ending IVcelier 31st.. 1022 ainonned to £137(1. The slip on Donnelly’s Mill, luws, will require a report later when the nature and probable cost o! repairs will he more ea.silv and eorrectlv estimated. SUMMARY -OF ROAD UK I’AIRS TY SIGHT. £ Knmara Junction to Kinnara ... oil Kumara to Looplino Junction ... 70 Loopline to Hokitika 300 Hokitika to Kaniori 130 Kanieri to Rinut Rimu to Ross, restoration 1,000 Ritim to Ross, repairs JOO ■£•2.000 Two additional roadmen MALY ROADS MAINTENANCE. BRIDGES SECTION. OVERSEER MILLYER’S REPORT I have the honor to report that as far as possible a. correct list of repairs to the various culverts and bridges on the section of road from lCumnra Junction has been supplied, lint until the work is really in hand it i~ not possible to estimate the correct quantity of timber required for repair.', hut in all cases an allowance has been

made to meet contingencies. A good many of the culverts on Kumara Ko„rl are in splendid order, being (oustlulled witli silver pine timber thinughout. Frosty Creek Bridge on the Ross Road is not safe for traffic, the low c side tress being decayed and giving away. Granite Creek Bridge is not a.s had as was thought, but is unsafe , ; present for heavy loading. The cost of maintenance of road and bridges on the section of road to be handed ever to thci Council after bridges are repaired will amount to between Li (id ami £1,700, provided the Ross Road i- to lie maintained in a satisfactory condition.. One item overlooked en Kumara Road, and not reported, is a retaining wall beyond Stafford Sehoi i giving way and .subsiding on to the road. Cost of renewal £(>. MAIN ROAD BRIDGES.

ROSS TO KUMARA JUNCTION

SUMMARY 0E COST Of RENEWALS.

( hires Culvert 3d x 0 1st eulve ft ... 2.‘> 0 2nd cull' 20 10 0 .Muir’s Crc*e!< i i-nlvert. SGiii. dhuncte r pipes 2o l) • > .Muir's Creek c nlvert timher 3(1 0 (] Concrete pljHc T culvert 3fiin. diamot'-c 22 0 0 Totiira. River bridge .. 1 d8 10 •) Concrete pipe culvert . cemeterv Mill. 18in. ■ 1.2 0 0 Concrete pipe. . ,'lfiin. 21 0 o ( ‘oik rete pip*-'-12 in. 1!) 0 a Culvert. Ross to Kok alahi inirk 1 1 0 0 1st hridgi - nor! :!i of tra ick .. Id 3 0 2nd phitl'i or in - culvert north of true k ... 3 17 !) 3rd platform c nlvert-. i north of true k ... 1 1 1 !) 2nd culvert, s until Gi •smile Creek. cnlKI' etc pips 1 1 i) (1 1st eulve rt. south Di ■.unite Creek, coiut eU‘ pipe s .... Id 0 0 Concrete jnpc - 12in. iliameter 0 10 (1 Concrete p»*po . 30 in. meter IP (> p ('onerete pipe ISin. dia-mel-t-r 10 p Concrete P*P< 1 Si n . diameter [) 0 0 (Inutile ( York bridge do 2 ( I’lnl form otilvo rt. I!m . peg 13 id ( Platform culvt IMT 7 17 ( Platform <*ii i vc •rt 3 2 Concrete pipes. i’Jin . dmmjfti i t id (! Concrete ]>i ] H's, ,‘tfiin. , diiimeter ItS 0 ( Concrete pipe s, 12in. . diamioter , Id 1 , Concrete pipe s, 12 i 11. . dmmeter 7 15 <» Loo culvert .. 8 IS p Concrete P'.P‘' -. I2i„. u’i.imeter 7 Id 0 covering 12 \) Plat form i i nlve; rt, roadman's hut .... 2 5 () South Crt ■ok 1. rid ire .. SO 12 <1 Lot; culvert renewal at 10m. !l id Frosty Ci cek hridge . 201 -1 Concrete pipe vs, ISin. di;> • mete r 10 12 (* Lop; eulve •rt .. 17 1) 0 Sow pit ( .'rc-k or jculvert 20 (! 0 l.oo lUllVt ■rt r enewa! [) Id n Plat form cl live ft repuirs 8 12 i; Daskio's (.'reelhrnigt u 2 p Deep or Sami 1 stone .reek hr}dgo S 7 D Dec]) or .Samlstone ( .'reels bridge i [ with tl'all'c- p -lankin»4 1'22 1 Os 3d). Culvert at dm - jKii i ! i in ti 1 ! to Fill ine; " nu*r race culvert Rinm 1 nil . c> 0 Total i( to lliinu Road bridge L'OPd !) r, 1 lokitiiiit Rive r liridg- ‘ lit-

Kanieri . 2 i, HOKITIKA TO K I'M A 1! A Ko A!) Till o Milo Crook briil*. bid 1 i. Siw.il! oiilvort dookoj . 2 17 «; Cul«. ri at Hospital .. .. til t) u Cnlvo it. Haslet's siding 2 17 <• i''nur Milo Crook bridge Id 11 f.'illvo rt past Ktiliinati si LaMoil 2 2> 11 Sni:> ii oiilvort top blow-i ■V ( u ok Hill s r» (; I’lnnT ;ino otdvoi'L near C lllam 's lillllv :'» :> ti Stafford bridge .“>2 s -Appre inch railing Ij 11 Cnlvei rt, top I’ipor's Hill •i 7 0 Cnlvei ■t In tween Stalford ;i nd Waiiiioa IS AVnintea Crook bridge 17 ii Hooking platform cnlvo rt (.1. Itoberts’) 1 •> ('over t-d culvert. south of Larrikins Looplino 1 s Kapiton, Crook bridge .. i) Lb ii! iiiSandy's Hill .... 2 0 o Two covered culverts K uWMW a to .1unction ill'll iitika Hoad} 2-") 0 0 SIioiio ndoali Crock bridge " ;i ii C3, 5Sd in 0