WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1923, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY. JAN. 9th

The Council met at t! p.m. Present: Messrs \V. Jeffries (County Chairnuni), 1,. 11. Morel, T. W. Duff, J. Hite hits, W. 11. Chinn, IS. War.T, It. A. Wells, T. It. thesteniiaii. The minutes were confirmed and outward < orrespoiulence approved. INWARD (OR It KHPON DP.NCE. Prom Treasury, notifying amounts forwarded to credit, including £390 advance on subsidy on rates and £495 18s oil payment on account of royalties from Midland railway reserves.—Received. The t'lmirman said the latter payment \v;o> satisfactory. Prom Minister of Public Works, authorising expenditure of grants, Ivokatahi bridge repairs CSOO £ tor Iff and Petersen road L’dflo. Received as satisfactory. Prom same, stating that the expenditure of the followingg votes was under consideration, namely Lake Kanieri road C3OO, Kumara Junction to Awatuna CIOO. Received. Prom Public Works Department, not if vi ng the control ot the Kumara Junction to Ross road would be handed to tlie Council.—Received. Prom District Engineer, stating that the control ol (lie road referred to would date from Ist April, and enquiring it tiny of the five men employed oil the section could he taken over by the Council.—Received. Prom Minister of Public Works, continuing the foregoing arrangements to take place alter ."Ist March—Received, consideration deferred till later in the meeting. Prom Mines Department, replying that as White and Ifareourt were not proceeding with prospecting operations at Ulue Spur, the application for assistance did not call for further action.Received.

Prom Labour Department, notitying the requirements under the Acts to declare week I v hall-holiday lor the I utility district.—Received : dealt with in order

paper. Prom Health Officer in respect to contributions to Inspector's salary, stating the Council would require to make provision for the increased coutrihutiou next financial year. —Received. Prom same, pointing out sanitary requirements necessary at the Man llari hotel.—Received, licensee and on tier to he notified.

Prom Hokitika Borough Council, again expressing the opinion there was no necessity to fence the approaches to Mahiuapua creek bridge.—Received, with regret. Mr Ritchie said he would prepare a pdi'ioii in regard to the matter.

I-mm Mnllro;. and t'o . replying that the ballasting of tramway on Duffer's track would ho started early in the now vein'.— Received as satisfactory.

prom Stuart and Chapman. Ltd., replying that ike works required on Mjkuuiu bridge woo'd hr- attended to during Hu- holidays.- Received and approved.

Prom I*. Doagla.s and others. Wallahs. suggesting id.at the Mikonui wire hot bridge, llov, unused, be siiiited Lo the Rig Wait.tha crossing at Douglas road. Wailulm Settlement.Received. Mr Chinn moved the Overseer rejioil at m-xL meeting.—Seconded by Mr WCIIs and carried. Prcm . Siunkoy, Pergusmis, complaining of wandering cattle nuisance along W'nitaiiS bench road, and asking the Council to take action in the matter to abate the nuisance.--Received. It was resolved to draw attention ol Roadmen to the instructions to notify wandering cattle, and to advise writer accordingly.

From J. Rossonbeck. Fergusons, asking 1..!• necessary repairs In Wnitnha beach nniil. -Received .; reforred 10 Roadman Wright to attend to. From Overseer Alillnor, asking for

further iiifnrinatiun 111 respect to tlic sanitary requirements at Itoynl Hotel. Wood,stock. Received.

From same, statingg tlic drays used for tlie cartage of timber on Ross road mi’.v bad loiti-iuch tyres. Received.

From same, reporting damage done lo plunked culvert, Koilerangi, by heavy lorry Lrailie, and .suggesting this class of t radio bo prohibited oil Sundays wlum the heaviest loads are transported under speedy conditions, no one in authority being available to notice the cause of the damage done.—Received. It was resolved to demand payment For cost oi repairs. From same, reporting repairs necessary lo various culverts in the Rlue Spur district, including Blue Spur creek bridge, over which heavy lorry trallie should he prohibited, otherwise a high cost would have to be incurred to strengthen the structure.—Received. It was resolved to replace with concrete culverts and to limit the loads over Blue Spur crock bridge. From same, asking authority to repair the grader shed at Kanieri. —Received and approved. From Roadman Nolan, reporting on cost of stop-hank at Rower Waitangi at kill, were road reserve would he affected.—-Received; referred to Air Chinn and Overseer Milliter to report.

From Valuation Department, replying at length in regard to valuations in the far south stating that in the opinion of the District Valuer the revision of values would not result in increases of unimproved values.—Received. The Chairman said the tone of the letter was not fair or logical. The properties there were now worth 70 to TOO per cent more than when valued in 1007. .Mr Ward said the whole valuation was inconsistent and unsatisfactory. and it had taken an outrageous time to carry out the portion of the valuation that had been made, lie thought the Council should express its dissatisfaction to the Department. Mr Duff said he thought the wrong man had the job and the Council had to pay the cost to the Council for its share, being .£298. Tt was resolved to express the dissatisfaction of the Council at the decision of the Department.

From James O’Brien, M.P., intimating Rt Won Mr Massey would endeavor to meet Counties deputation in the early part of next session on the subject of royalties.—Received. Air Ward moved that the Chairman, Air Duff and Air Evans he appointed to represent the Council in Wellington.—■ Seconded by Air Alorel. The Chairman referred to the report of the conference at Greymouth. A suggestion to include Air Ward was declined by the latter. Air Duff regretted the decision of Mr AVard. and expressed his willingness to take part in what was a very

important delegation, also expressing doubt as to the future of the Council in the matter. The motion was then agreed to. prom Jeffries and Coy. applying for the renewal of auctioneer’s license. —Received : request granted. Prom Sullivan Tiros., V cheka, asking the Council to urge the erection of Waikuktipa bridge, tbe timber for which was left along the roadside.— Received ; representations to ho made to the Public Works Department. Porm John Mumly, Stafford, applying to close unused right-of-way adjacent to the Wesleyan church site. Received ; left to Overseer to arrange. From Overseer Alillner, reporting on state of main road and bridges proposed to he handed over to the Coun-

cil : also monthly report, on district roads and works.-- Received ; and recommendations generally approved. Prom Roadman Nolan, reporting on district works, including covered culvert required near Wataroa hotel ; also desiring instructions lor work lie sent thiongh office, am! drawing attention to the speed of some motor ears oil the south roads. Received.

Prom Mutorman Robinson, reporting transport of 25 loads of broken metal, loads stones, and 180 cub. yards of gravel ott County roads, together with load grading and cartage of planks for the period ended Dec. "21 : also six half days delivering metal lor Hokitika linrough. average 10yds daily.—Received. Prom District Engineer, Grey mouth, enclosing request by Mr Hurry, lor permission to fall bush on road reserve, or County reserve at Wataroa.—Received ; and consented to. MAIN ROADS. Discussing the proposal of the Minister to hand over the main road for the County to maintain, Mr Ward stated for about. 25 years the road had been maiula.ined by the Government. Here we had a long narrow strip of country with the alps on‘one side and tin* sen on the oilier. Now the Council was asked to take over the maintenance ol the iiia'iu roadway. This was very unfair to the Council. They were being asked to maintain 15 miles ol main road. He suggested that a request, should be made to the Minister of Public Works, and if he persisted in that request, then they should ask that ihe roml and bridges should be placed in perfect order, and that a substantial grant towards its upkeep be made by the Department. This matter could be brought before the Minister by the deputation that is to visit ‘Wellington in February.

The Chairman moved:—"That, in view of i lie very heavy cost involved in placing the main road and bridges in satisfactory order, that the Government bo asked to defer the handing over of the roads to the County Council until the Main Highway legislation is determined and provision made lor the upkeep of Hie main roads by State funds and Stale control.’' Seconded by Mr Duff. The matter had been before the Council for years. Some years ago a similar proposal had boon made and ihe matter had been -helved. Pot- years past Ihe main roads had been starved, very little attention having been given, lie thought- the estimates of Overseer Millner were very much under stated.

Air Chinn supported the motion. It was quite unfair to casl the burden on the County compelling the far southern ratepayers to find additional rates for rlie upkeep of the northern roads. Mi- Ritchie considered the proposal of the Government was most unfair. The motion was then agreed to. FINANCE COAIAHTTEE'S REPORT. Your Commit Lee has the honor to report that the accounts presented for the month of December 1022, have been carefully examined, and beg to report that the amount as approved, totalling Cl.Ofi!) Ss lOd, be passed for pavment.—Received and adopted. ORDER PAPER. The Chairman moved : "That the accounts for the month of December. 1922, as revised and recommended for pavment by iin* I* mailer Committee, amounting to Cl JlfiO 8s lOd, he passed for payment.” -Seconded by Air Duff and carried. 1 The Chairman moved "That pursuant to the provisions of the Shop and Offices Act, Wednesday afternoon of each week be fixed as the weekly half-holiday for the County of West-land.”---Seconded hv Air Duff and carried. The Chairman moved : "That A. Clifton Esq., he reappointed the representative of the Council on the Hokitika High School Board of Governors for the ensuing term.’ —Seconded by Air Duff and carried. The Chairman’s’ motion:—“That j the Council resolve into Committee of tiio Whole to deal with matters (1) re- < biting to royalties revenue, and (-) re- ' •specting the taking over oi the Ku- : mara .junction to Ross main road, t was heftl over. Air Duff moved :—“That aj vote, of S' 1A be auihorisod for grading j jiiid j£r«ivc*il i hjjj i\ uni nr; i .Junction to • Teremakau road.”—Seconded by the Chairman and carried. Air Alorel moved that the Roadman . attend to repairs to creek to prevent flooding near Winter's, Koiterangi.— Seconded by Air Chesterman and car- j lied. _ j Mr Morel moved that the blacx- - Ivories he cut down on gravel reserve, j Koiierangi.—Seconded by Air Chester- ; man and carried. j The danger of loose sawn timber : falling from lorries and lying on the roads was referred to as causing a grave danger to traffic and-it was resolved to warn drivers against a recurrence of allowing the timber to remain on the road. The Chairman moved that the track from Gibbs to the beach be repaired. -Seconded by Mr Ritchie and carried, cost not to exceed CIO. Air Wells moved, that the home of the motor lorry he at Kanieri."—- Sc- ■ vended by Air Chesterman. ALr Duff opposed the motion as inadvisable. Air AVard opposed, considering that the present conditions were satisfactory while the lorry was not costing anything for its standing room. The motion was lost. SPECIAL AIEETTNG. The Chairman's motion :— -‘ That the Council proceed to pass by special order, a by-law as before the meeting for consideration, providing for the !i- 1 censing of vehicles, using the roads s within the County, and prohibiting i the use of vehicles on such roads with- I out a license : also appointing fees to | bo paid to the County Fund Account

in respect to the licensing of vehicles us passed,” was deferred. A letter was then read from the Buller County Council dealing with a proposal for the four Most Coast Counties to draw up a joint bye-law. The Chairman outlined the proposal made at the conference held at Greymouth recently. After discussion Mr Ward moved that, consideration he deterred with the object of carrying out the suggestion made at the Greyinoutli (■(inference.—Seconded by Air Duff and carried. The Council rose at -1.20 p.m.