LOCAL BODIES’ CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1923, Page 4

LOCAL BODIES’ CONFERENCE.

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TOWN' If ALL, HOKITIKA

WEDNESDAY, .1 AN. 3b-t

The conference of Local Hedies "'as held in the Town Hall at 7.50 p.m. Present : Messrs O. A. IVrry nil the chair). W. Jeffries, 11. M. (/oui-.oii, F. McGregor, A. Carkhill. W. J. Butler, l I). .1. Kvans. !!, !'. i’erlian . . J j Nightingale, J. Xiven and Hon H. L. 1 Michel. j The Chairman hrielly opened the, meeting and suggested that Xu. 1 motion be deferred till later in i In* meet-j ing to enable a deputation from ICoi- j tcrangi to he | resent. I ins wits a creed to. EX HI BIT lOX REPORT. The proposal for the Exhibition to j be opened at the end of the rear to mark the completion of the Midland ■ Hallway to the Coast and to celebrate j 1 the diamond jubilee of the province has been steadily advanced by the Lseen tire. The Committee has been in _ close touch with T. AA . Woodrolte. Esq. of Christchurch who directed so successfully the late Industrial Kxliihition in that- city. Cnder his adi ice the site in and about the Town Hall and taking in the large part of Camp St rtf t has been provisionally decided upon. Mr Word ruffe was supplied with a ground plan of the existing buildings and open spaces, and is preparing a preliminary plan of the proposed exhibition buildings to submit to a public nceting to he called on bis arrival here at an early date. Cnder Mr Woodr life's advice the scope of the Kxliihition ha-' j been extended from that of purely industrial to British and inter-colonial. Mr Woodrolfe considers dial the occasion will lie an unique (hams' tor all those trading firms which deal in Iniiisli end inter-colonial goods (-"'ding into direct touch with the public, as the i scheme of exhibitions which are going ! to be run by the Industrial Corporaj t ion of Xew Zealand, are absolutely I dosed to them, while there are not i liselv to b: anv further exhibitions in ; which they can take part lor some | time. j It is proposed to open he Ksh bii tion on loth December. I!)'-!•'!■ ami tun j over the Cliri.stnuis and X’ew Avar holi- - days well into January, which "ill he i the anniversary month for the Province’' tit)ill year of Inundation. in tile second week in February following, the industrial exhibition for Xew /.<•»- lam' i- to r.n 11 at Dunedin, so that exhibits here could go straight away and

Ik trail-ported to their fresh (h-tina tion -within two days’ travelling time.

I Many enquiries regarding space am! • terms etc. arc being received front all parts of the Dominion indicating a i certain interest already in the venture. : Several of the Government Departments have expressed a desire to assist • l b rails, and milch sained support ■ may he counted upon particularly from the Industrial and (’ommcrcia! . Department. With the advent of Mr Woodruff. ■ v. it hi n the- next icsv das-, the "he!. project vs ill iit- focussed dehnitelv and ' nt; time v.iM he lost in dually bum. ho g tlv- whole sehetne. 1 hose ss ho have moved aboill of late hear flic event spoken of with a good deal of antiiipatory interest by tin outside nuiiiii . and there is no doubt tin occasion will draw If tlie Coast many hundreds of special visitors "ho svill move about Pie various iretrc- for the period of iheir holiday. The eutornri-c itself will iuv Jve a large amount of organisation. hut sritli the active support of the various sub-emumittees. and .sustained enthusiasm by the directing executive. the measure ul success hoped for .should lie attained. 'I he towns- ! eoiilo iii particular "ill he expected to co-operate fro* ly and to Ii -lu wherever possible, end by united a ■ ion the dt Iriet should witness a memorahle , !e----liiatiou worthy iii-every any -of the oeeasion. Mr Perry then moved: - That the Conference learns with nit asiii'c ami gralilication of the enterprise of the South Westland settlers, to assist themselves by seem mg a boat to render improved .service to the y. i llene.ms. and that the project be si; piiorted by all willing to ln-ip in the (I ■ ir- to .-,('!■ the remote.' parts of PJ:i 1 ;• it W -ilatid brought into elosei' touch with the available markets lor pastoral and dairying products. 'The Chairman in moving the motion said it was desirable to give every facility to southern settlement. The locality was an isolated one, and ils progress in regard to steady development depended greatlv on sea transport. !l the settlers could he assisted at this j,picture, line would icon raged

with the proposed enterpi is** in regard to dairying. The boat proposed to he purchased would he ol service at the outset, and a larger boat could be procured later as circumstances warranted. Personally lie wished the movement uverv success. There was a fair amount

~l' hind available. hut, the Inch of traosPert cmisefl the development which .-tumid going forward. Mr Evans seconded and said if was understood a party of men were leaving in the morning '.<> hring the heat down from Auckland. In the past the local public had done well hi supporting a local steamer. ..lid it was unfortunate that .successive

Units had Imen lost. Now that the southern settlers were showing a disposition to help themselves it would he in !be interests of the distriet for the townspeople to do what they could to help their southern friends. '1 lie molion was agreed to. Mr AY. Jeffries moved: — That the Coiifoienee suggests to the Borough Council to consider ways nieaii- for asphalting a considerable section of Revell Street, thereby improving the road for traffic. and minimising the dust and other nuisniifcis arising from the present state ol the principal thoroughfare. Mr Jeffries said he did not wish to encroach on the duties of the Borough Council hut lie suggested that the proposed improvement would be of distinct advantage to the town.— Seconded by .Mr Evans who spoke of the necessity of making an improvement. The street would lend itself to a much needed improvement that v odd help to make the town all the hotter. Mr Butler said in connection with wavs am! means ii would be a. good thing to see they had the most up-to-date means for carrying out the work before they commenced operations. The motion was carried. Mr AY. .]. Butler moved : That the Conference joins in the desire to see traffic operating through Arthur's Pass tunnel at the earliest possible date, and to this end suggests that the Progress Teague arrange for a representative t- ’ stntionea at Otira to supply authentic weekly reports as to the progress oi the works and offer suggestions as t-i hew cornplot ion may be speeded up. Sneaking to the motion he said it was on right lines to indicate what would he best to have the line completed as soon ns possible. Mr Jeffries seconded, stating it was a common report of the discovery that the levels ef the funnel were off their base and that altera*ions needed would delay the opening for a considerable time. He could not vouch tot flu* accuracy of the report, but suggested that enquiry be made from the

Minister as to when the line would he I open for traffic. j Mr Kvans said he had heard that the | overhead electric line had not sufficient j space between the roof and tiie carriage hue. One statement mad" was to the effect that it would he necessary lot lower the floor of the tunnel. If that I was tin l case it would mean consider- j able delay. It was agreed that enquiry . he made from the Minister, the motion 1 being agreed to. | Mr lb J. Evans moved:—

That the Conrerem e while appreciating "hat has been done m a preliminary way in attending j,<* the drainage of tho swamp lands of Westland, urges that the actual works recommended should bo put in hand a.s soon as possible, and that where private ('ul' rpt iso can he assisted by road and other main drainages, the Department ho urged to co-operate on reasonable lines.

Mi Kvans added that there was much swamp lands in the district, some h“Ui by the Crotni and some by settlers, that required proper drainage to make it suitable for use. He mentioned the Botnkiuo swamp, for which the Govern- ; ment bad refused any assistance. Re- | fere nee was also made to the swamp at j Kokatahi over which a proposal hail ] been made by the Government authorities', and the matter was now in the hands of the settlers themselves awaitilig their coming to an agreement a- to proposed notion. Some (lisenssion took place as to the actual conditions offered to the settlors, and it was resolved to add to the motion that a. committee consisting of Messrs Perry, Jelfries, and Butler wait, on Mr .Morpeth (Commissioner of Crown Lands) to discuss the subject and glean particulars of the Government proposals on the subject. The motion as amended was then agreed to. Mr IV. Jeffries moved: i That the Conference having heard the report in respect to the preliminary arrangements for the proposed Jubilee Exhibition at December.Tunnarv. and noted tho wide and varied applications already being made for space, desires the Executive to pre, with the project on the lines proposed. and inter alia take the necessary steps in a-king Government to pass : the l"gi'Jation required to give local bodi.s: full power to co-operate in regard to the event; as also in respect to the celebration of tin; diamond jubilee of the province of Westland at the same time. -■-Seconded In- Mr (.'outsell and carried. Mr I). •!. Evans moved: That the Conference approves l lie publicity campaign proposal in regard to We-ila.il'!. and that steps b ' taken to .sustain the campaign to mv- , r an all the yar round season for lisitors L.i tour the di.stii'-l. it being recognised that, the winter season has special charms to please and deity

those on holiday. Xo less remarkable than the summer season. Mi Evans

stated that lie had discusser! recently with \lr Cliinie the is-ue ol a booklet of W -stland which tin* Canterbury I'roglV;s league proposed to issue -hotlly. It had been agreed to locally find !,'•■ 1 towards the purpose and this had Midv arranged for. tl:c Licon.- J Vj 1 i-i 1 1 ■e- bavin..' f’l’i; d one halt of the anvil,:t. Hv-. muled by Mr Ru.vr who suggested that the Bee re tar.' lay something concrete hetore- the local bodies with a. request for aid. Ik's addition was added to the motion and agreed to. Mr W. J. Butl.r moved: fb:U the Conference appreciate- enterpeise of (he various metropolitan n w-papers in devoting space to informative articles on the re-min - aud future of tite Coast, and in particular while thanking the Christchurch Bic-s Company for its stelion in sending an agricultural expert to We-tland to report on the prospects ol the district. ailthoi i-( s a request tor a reprint of ’JJII'J copies of the. special articles m pamphlet, form for distribution lor ad-\rr;i.-.ing j>cirposcs throughout the • !.»- I,.j ll j e>ii and overseas. S-eoud (1 hv Mr ,! ( ji|.jes. ]i was: agreed to hraeket this motion with the previous one as hearing on the same subject and was agree d to. GENERAL. ), |,. ||. M .Coulson moved that the (’it 11 1 ere nee urges tic Minister of I’ltblie Works to reinstate the vole for tin completion of the mad iron) Tatuttai to Buatepu. ’i he completion ot the road would he of great advantage K, the residents ol the locality and Mould also enable tourists to visjit Lake Maliiiiiipna and crick. It' the road were opened if would prove ol great advantage to the "hide district, and ve.-uld open up one of the beauty spots of Westland.

olid'd by Mr Jelfries and carried. Air W. J. Butler moved that the Government he congratulated on the pi,.gi o- made in bridging the South W'esllaud rivers since the last annua! in, i• ti = i■; of riie nfereiiee. Aim It good work had been done and the Government deserved their appreciati, e acknowledgement. Seconded by Mr Berry and carried. Air IVrrv stated that, the deputa-

tion from Kniterangi Imd not put in an appearance so the melting could hardly disem-s the proposed central dairv factory for tlm district. Ihe matter was one tor the selthr-s to deride themsflves. Needless to sa.v such .. movement would have the bearty support and approval-of Idle towns-

people. Coder the eireiun.sumcs tne.v must adjourn discussion oil the matter further at present. Mr C. .). Nightingale stated that when in South Westland recently. !n> had been requested by the authorities at the daily fat tones to draw the attention of tl.o Chamber to the necessity of having insulated trucks or vans on the railways ol the Coast lor the carriage of butter, cheese and similar commodities. Instances were given ol damag-ci done to cheese and butter by dirt and dust through the use ol unsuitable trucks, lie moved that the (iovernmelit he asked to provide insulated trucks and vans for use on tins Westland Section of railway-. Mr Evans said there were some insulated vans on the section at present, ns Im had seen one in the Hokitika station recently. The motion was second <1 by •'‘ l Jeffries oho stated the suggestion was a good one and worthy of support of the meeting. The motion was agre-.d to. Mr it. K. tVrhaiu enquired wb.n uas going to happen to the t Ind~t- < liii-.-.Ti t) Hokitika road when once the tmm: 1 was operating. He instant' s th" value ef the road for toiiri-ts who would use thi-ir own ears. A desultory dr mission took place oil the subject binno action was taken, it being cousideied advisable to leave the matter in abeyance at present. The meeting adjourned at 9.1 n p.m.