WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1923, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

MONDAY, APRIL 30. The Council met at 2 p.m. Present:—Messrs W. Jeffries (County Chairman), T. W. Duff, B. Ward, \». 11. Chinn, J. Ritchie, E. A.Wells, T. It. Clicsternum, L. H. Morel, and J. A. Murdoch. Tlie minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Treasury, notifying revenue accrued to credit of County Fund Account. —Received. From Minister of Public "Works promising careful consideration to request made in respect to the maintenance of Ivumara-ltoss road and particularly the condition of Knnieri bridge.—Received. From Mines Department, granting a subsidy of .Co 67s to Honey and Cook for driving a tunnel at Stuart’s To r m ce, C»1 dsborough.—licce i vod. From Same, promising to look further into the question of the manner of carrying out the expenditure of Taipo track repairs.—Received. From Inspector of Mines, on same suhieei.—Received and action o‘ Chairman in asking the Inspector to cany out the work, was approved. From Same, detailing position with regard to boring Mnnanui Flat, and indieating that as only one plant was available it would lie as well to await the return of the plant from Callaghan’s Flat.—Received ; held over till a drill was available.

j From das. O’Brien. M..P., forward--3 iitg- the reply of the Minister of Eail--3 ways as to the tramway of Stuart -J and Chapman Ltd., to Waitaha, being -« hrought up to Railway Department's j standard.— Received. The Chairman j outlined the progress of matters in .1 this connection, stating the result of J the representations made to the Min--J isler, and General Manager of Railways. The position now was that as J soon as Stuart and Chapman had their 3 tramway bridge over the Waitaha J river completed they proposed putting =8 their staff on the work of bringing =s their tramway up to the standard rc'j quired by the Railway Department. 3 lie thought the position was very sntJ isfaetory. J A general discussion Look plaee on 3 the matter. Councillors asking if there 3 was any possible chance of the tramj way being ready for the use of i southern traffic before Lhe next iburying season, ll was stated that if this * was possible it would give great satis- | faction lo tin- southern settlers. It J was further mentioned that Messrs 1 Stuart and Chapman were going to : carry through the required improve- | incuts almost immediately, and it was 1 eonsidered 4 to 5 months would he | sufficient. , It was pointed out that it was first J necessary to get the permission of the !* Minister of Mines, and this was not xt'l available. I Mr Chinn then moved that the Mim ister of Mine* he written to, and ask- , ed to expedite the granting of pennts- | sion to Stuart and Chapman Ltd., to , carry goods, timber, stock etc, on I their tramway below Ross.—Seconded | by Air Ward and carried. From Same, agreeing the reply of the Minister with regard to road damage trom Forestry traffic was not satisfactory, and promising to take the matter up next session.—Received. I' rum Fuller County Council, agreeing to joint by-law for motor vehicles, with the exception that the ago of drivers lie reduced from IS to Hi years. ’ ---Rceohed. Mr Murdoch moved that j I> .tears be maintained.-—Seconded by j Mr -Hull and carried, j From Commissioner of Crown Lam’s, i p’otai-.iug to look into the matter of j iivs f '_•!>.i roaehmonl at Wnitnngi ap- | ptva-'ai t" M.ilninui I,nan lilrr k. ReI c. mod. j !• iem C. Matishij), l lercp i, risking : |.ni inis-bm to jnif. a culvert across i drain at main entrance, the Council ;i" provide a subsidy.—. Received : £2

id- was granted. From Oliincinun County Council, •suggesting amendment to the Counties ■Act to give all Councils power to license vehicles similar to the restricted authority tinder the Amendment Ait of 1915.—Received; to’ he supported. From Returned Soldiers’ Association, Hokitika, applying for grant to building fund.—Received ; Air Dud moved that the use of the lorrv lie placed at their disposal for two days to carry material.—Seconded by Mr LTeslerman and carried. From Ferryman Thompson, Okarito, protesting against ferry boat brought ii'om Throe Aide being taken to the Avaiho. Received. After discussion

no action was taken. Front ,J. C. f-lill. Dobson, enquiring position with regard to Tai|n> track repairs, and forwarding report of late exploration.— Received : information to lie supplied of the work' alreadv carried out.

1' font Overseer Milliter, drawing attention to the disgraceful condition of the Borough refuse dump on Matt Hau road; reporting regarding works and employment affecting Ivuniaralloss main road.—Received. Air Duff proposed Lhat inspector Yaniev be asked to inspect and report.—Seconded by Air Alurdoch and carried. From Roadman Nolan, agreeing that Brandt’s road and AVataroa Flat road now forming portion of the main south road .should be handed over to the Government.—Received and approved. From Rt Hon AY. F. Afassey, Oamaru, stating timber royalties question will be dealt with on his return to AA’ellington.—Received. From Tnumaruniii County Council, stating to prevent the question of timber royalties being sidetracked the North Island local bodies affected, proposed to wire the .Prime A 1 blister 011 the 22ml of every month till the Commission promised by Air Alassey on the 22nd February last was set up. I —Received. From Alines Department, deferring question of subsidy to J. J. .McIntosh and party for prospecting tn the high country till a more favorable season prevailed.—Received. • From Same, hoping matters regarding expenditure on Taipo track works would he adjusted.—-Received. From liiaugnhua County Council, stating the draft joint by-law re motor traffic had been referred to the County solicitor who had not time yet to peruse it.—Received; it was resolved to give the other local bodies 1 14 days to come to a definite (?e- 1 vision, otherwise the Council take separate action. From James Nolan, Alntaimii, c thanking Council for recommending 1 slaughter house license.—Received. From E. A. Gibb, AA’aiho, suggesting 1 a vote of £2OO be applied for for Docherty creek road—Received; Rond- e man Nolan to report. 1 • Front Overseer .Milliter, stating con- * dition of Kanieri bridge for which an 0 expenditure of £4OO was now necessary for repairs for light traffic.—Received ; to be attended to. I’ Front Same, reporting there were -A five spans of lvokatahi bridge still re- P

quiring attention, which would occupy about five months’ time, and cost approximately £Boo.—Received; action of Clerk in approving for further vote of £4OO, £ for £ was approved.

From Same, estimating the cost of extending Ferguson road, Inter Wanganui, ten chains, at £9B ss.—Received; grant to be applied for. From Same, advising the cost of extending Petersen’s road to the river bank, 21 chains, would ho £2Q3 15.—Received.

From Same, reporting G. Holley had taken up tho duties of roadman on Kuniara road on the 23rd inst, and W. Holley would start on tho Ross road on the Ist prox. Both are very reliable men.—Received and approved. From Roadman Nolan, reporting or. district works; notifying lorry traffic on Okarito road; and forwarding list of works for road grants.—Received. From Minister of Health, Wellington, stating the Borough of Hokitika had been valued in 1907, but that adjustments had been made and that the Valuation Department was of opinion that a new valuation was not necessary.-—Received.

The Chairman said the reply was very unsatisfactory. He moved that application be made to the Valuation Department for a new valuation of the Borough to he made immediately. —Seconded by Mr Morel and carried. DEPUTATION.

In connection with the Mikonui ferry reserve, tho matter was further dealt with, Mr Pilkington and Mr Boyle waiting on the Council in connection with a proposed settlement of the holding of the area, each party to hold one half. Overseer Millner’s report was read and received.

Mr Murdoch moved that two leases he granted, subject to the legal position being defined.—Seconded by Mr Wells and carried.

FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. I.—Your Committee has the honor to report that the accounts presenleu for the month of April 1923 have been carefully examined, they to recommend that._ihe amount as approved, totalling .9910 6s 2d, bo passed for payment.

2.—Your Committee recommends that the following annual amounts he voted to the respective bodies, Chamber of Commerce, 920, Acclimatisation Society 1;10, and Progress League 920. The two first mentioned grants will he payable under the Public Revenue Act as unauthori-od expenditure, and the last mentioned under the specially authorised legislal inn foi the purpose.—Received. OVERSEER MILLNER’S REPORT. MONTH OF APRIL. CENTRAL: RIDING. Kokntnhi Bridge Repairs £ for £ grant. Excellent progress is being maintained by the working party under toe direction of Bridge Foreman R. Boucher. A considerable quantify of defective timber lias been removed, and replaced during the month ; work being confined to the spans at the southern end of the Bridge. The felh.wing timber has been removed and renewed: Lower chords 13 xB. 1 38, -.27. 2/3(1, 2/2-1, 1 <22. Trnmomes lo x -Ll, 1 /20. Cap 12 x 12, 1/22. Corbels 12 x 12. 4/7. Struts ox 4, 10/16. Four temporary piles were driven and staging. erected to support spans under repair and temporary piles drawn am! staging removed from completed work, and cue span was screwed up to give the necessary camber to the chords. A quantity of ironwork was also iepnired and rendered fit for future use. COUNTY WORKS.

Itepaij's were ell'celcd to largo motor Vt'orn holes on the main road between Hokitika and Kanieii, 271 eubi;: yards of metal, nml a. similar amount of gravel for blinding being carted oat, a suflieient quantity of material va.s used to repair the badly worn places, the remainder being dumped in small heaps by the roadside in readiness IVr further repaiis. Lower Kokatalii road was repaired with gravel between Rohinson .Road and draham’s Hotel and one del'eetive box cnlveri removed near the Kokatalii .Saleyards and another removed immediately below While Road on Lower Kokatalii Road. In be.th cases renewals were all’eeted with twelve iiu.li diameter eeiierotc pipes Tb.e County rale for surface forming a portion of Oladiers Road Kxi.ensiou was exhausted and the appioaeh from Upper Kokatalii Road on the line of liladiers Road was metalled, to give improved access. Attention mis also given t. the renewals of defective decking or several bridges and culverts in the Kokatalii district. One defective culvert on Koiterangi Road was repaired hut. will require removing as soon as a set of r'-Hereto pipes are available. The timber for Pigeon Cieek Bridge. Whiteomhp Road, to the amount of 2,020 superficial feet was carted front Kattieri to the bridge site by the County .Motor. The settlets interested intend starting with the erection of the bridge same time during next month. A portion of Wall Read was repaired with gravel, growth cleared and had holes faocined with manuka scrub and coaled with clay on the formed portion beyond the present terminus of metalling. Advantage was taken of the line weather to attend to repairs on Upper Municipal and Upper Kokatalii to •iJcughboy Road, and the County Motor has been engaged on this work during the week. Repairs were effected over a nortioii of Lake Kanieii Read and the large grader, drag and roller were used, but the roller being too light had very little effect in solidifying the metal. The 8 x ,‘5 decking mi Stnney Creek Bridge was removed and replaced with 8 x -I planking, and the necessary timber carted for St-riplnnd Creek Bridge repairs. Water tables were cleaned and cleared on J[iikitika-lln 110 Road from the Lint to .Mark’s Cutting, also in several places on Blue .Spur Road. A defective box culvert on Blue Spur Road was

replaced with twelve I,neb diameter

concrete pipes, and a new drain constructed 011 the Flat below Crane’.'T Gully to divert Hoed water from the

read. Repairs were completed to Blue Spur Creek Bridge, all faulty hand railing standards, deck beams and decking being replaced with new timber. The buck lining at the northern abutment was renewed and one of tne piles strapped which will render the structure safe for two years or possibly more. Several loads of gravel were also placed on the road between T. Brown’s residence and the boundary of the Northern riding. Back Creek Road was repaired in several places beyond tile mill, and the decking of faulty culverts attended to. Ruatnpu Road was repair-

ed with gravel in several places and water tables cleaned and outer sides

of road reduced between South Creek and Ruatnpu. Defective decking wits renewed on several bridges and culverts on Ross Road between Rimii. and the 14 mile peg, and one defective portion of the Hokitika River Bridge was repaired sufficiently to carry light traffic in safety. AVater tables were cleaned on .Morris Hill and the culverts at Camp Street intersection lengthened nine feet with twelve inch diameter concrete pipes. Broken decking was also removed and replaced on the first culvert on the Hokitika to ICumara Road and a broken box culvert renewed at Three Aide (Ho Ho). Overhanging gorse growth was cleared from Blue Spur Road at the southern end of Blue Spur Creek Bridge. NORTHERN RIDING. Defective decking broken by the Keystone Borer was replaced on Four Aide Creek Bridge. AAV.it 'spots repaired with gravel and a sixteen feet culvert tenewed cn Blue Spur to Araliura Road; Humphreys Rond was repaired with gravel front Harcourts to Hewlets and defective deck ing repaired on Palmer’s Creek ar.d German Gully Bridges. The old Christchurch Road was cleared of blackberry and other growth from the northern approach to Hungerford's Bride to Baxters’ Mill. Two culverts were repaired on Duffers Track and the watercourse of one large one filled with Stone. A portion of Fourth Terrace

Track was cleared of overhanging growth and short lengths of , water tables cleaned on tlio hills. - Three culverts on Kawhaka-Wainihi-nihi Track were renewed with silver pine and totara timber and the overflow retaining wall of silver pine, manuka scrub and stone completed at Kawliaka Overflowing road drains on Ro-kitika-Kumara Road between Awatuna Reach and Stafford were cleared by Roadman Cl Holley who also attended to several minor works on the same road. Roadman Olderog attended to repairs, cn Kumara Junction Road, which are not quite completed, also to cleaning of water tables on Ritchie’s Hill and metalling and Winding bad holes on the road between 'Dilhnanstmvn and Watson’s All'll Road, also renew iug decking on Kapitea C.eek Bridge, cleaning water tables, clearing gorse, stripping pits and repairing ruts and worn places with gravel on the road between Watson’s Mill and Hckitilra Kumara Road. Aralnira A'alley Road was cleared of encroaching blackberry ami gorse growth from Ag--1 lew’s Corner to Harccmrt’s Hotel and a good deal of stripping removed from the gravel pits on Hareourt’s Hill, and Two Mile Road. SOUTHERN RIDING.

Roadman Whitiskie attended to repairs on Wanganui Flat, Robertson's, Petersen's and Haddock Roads, bad holes being patched with gravel and broken metal. The King Drag was used on portions of Petersen’s Road Extension where badly rutted. The main roads in the Ilari Hari district used for heavy motor lorry traffic show signs of wear, being worn very low in places. Roadman Wright attended to ordinary repairs on Waitalia Settlement Road, and with au assistant commenced clearing and repairing Happy Valley Track on the Kith, of the month. This work lias now advanced to within half a mile of the Waitalia River and will be continued until completion.

REPAIR WORKS NECESSARY. 1 £ s. d. Cropp’s Road repairs re- ’. quires metalling cost ... Id 0 0 Koiterangi Road requires patching with grave! cost 10 0 0 Municipal Road requires C patching cost ... ... 10 0 0 g Camelback Road requires rcr pairing with gravel cost ... 10 0 0 . One small culvert on Municiif pal Road requires renewi, ing with concrete pipes cost 3 0 0 U Box culvert on Koiterangi i_ Road renewed in concrete pipes cost ... ... ... 2 5 0 I .nke Kanieri Road upper ;. cud requires repairing r, when the motor lorry is s available ... ... ... ~10 0 r Culvert on Eel Creek Track requires repairing cost 0 0 0 i. Water tables on ft addon's a Tenaue require clearing 3 It 0 Two Turnouts require cmi- ,. struct ing on Adair’s Road 10 0 0 Stripping and cleaning bottoms out: of Lake Ivani-ri Rond Crave! pits 10 0 (! (Sgd.l W! 1.1 jIA At MII.LXKI!. r , ORDER PAPER. f The Cliairnian moved : ‘‘That t Sic a: f.'nuits presented for tile mouth of .April. 1023. as revised and recommended for payment by the FinI time ( niitinifcu’O. amounting to 1:1)10 ll.’s 2d, be parsed for payment.”—Se- [ couded by Mr Dili!’ and carried. The C hairman moved : ‘'That the report.:, of the Treasurer on the proposed allocation of estimated revenue for t!m current, liimiu ial year, he now e uisidered and approved. Seconded by Air Dull' and cari'ie;!. The Chairman moved : ‘‘That public notices he given of the intention of the Council to make ami levy itt 3rd duly meeting a general rate separately in cscli Riding of the County of AA’esfland. of seven farthings in the L on the capital value of all rateable property in accordance with Sections 120 and 121 of the Counties 1 Act. 102(1; such rate to lie payable within fourteen days after being struck.” The Chairman said he had given considerable attention to Lite finances with ilie Treasurer ami he had pleasure in being able to rad me the rate by one farthing to seven farthings.—. Seconded hv Mr Waul and carried. The Chairman moved "That a, a further rome-sion to the. County ratepayers and pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Rating Amendment Act, 1022. the Council now resolves by resolution to allow to every ratepayer a, rebate of £0 per centum of so much of the amount of rales payable by him as is paid before the expiration of thirty days after the due date thereof, namely cn or about -Ith August, hut not thereafter.—Seconded by Mr Ward who considered it an excellent move, and it was agreed to. The Chairman moved : "That the list iff works for Government grants as now before the Council lie approved am! scheduled for official acceptance.” —Seconded by Air Chinn and carried. The Chairman moved : ‘‘That the Council now consider the question of the purchase of an Acme stone crushing plant as recommended by the Overseer.” Air Chesterman seconded. Air Wells favored but suggested leaving it: to the new Council to deal with. The Chairman agreed to the necessity of machinery, hut was willing to leave it to the new Council. Air AAhird was in favor of the principle. Other members supported holding the question over and it was resolved to defer Lite motion for one month, the Treasurer to supply information as to the financial aspect.

The Chairman moved : “Thai application he made to the Public AA’orks Department to take over the control and maintenance of Brandt’s road and the AA'ataroa Flat Road in the Mataimii locality, now forming part of the main south road.”—Seconded by Air Chinn and agreed to. Air Duff moved:— “That the Finance Committee report as to the allocation of the annual vote for public libraries in the County and the institutions he requested to state tlieif financial position.”—Seconded by the Chair-, man and carried. The special meeting was adjourned to Aray 23. A reference by the Chairman anil members to the work of the Council appears under a separate heading in this issue. The Council rose at 5.30 p.lll.