LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1923, Page 4

LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE.

WED.XKSDAY, SEPT. 20th.

The Local Bodies Conference look I lace at tlic Town Hall at 7.30 o'clock. Tin; .Mayor (.Mr (I. A. Perry) presided and there were preseiil— -Messrs H. .M. Coulson (Hokitika Borough Council), T. AV. I)rifY and Ifon. Griminund i Westland County Councili, -I. dannau r.\. and I’. Associationi. C'. .1. \iglit ingale Win. Wilson, A. G. I’dkington. .1. Niven. D. .1. Evans. and Ur. Ti ichelinann. Apologia- v. etc made i.,r the absence of lion. II 1„ .\li«lad. and Mr J. AY. .Morris. Hun. •). Grimmoml stated lie had been asked to represent the Boss Boi one 1 1 Conned.. Mr ,1. Jarnnui moved: -(D "'i'lint the strongest possible ofi'oit l;e made to have the Westland County and the boroughs of Hokitika, Kuniara, and Boss excluded from the Greymouth Harbour ratine area.” Seconded by .Mr C. •!. Nightingale, and supported by the Mayor, who said they were all agreed on the matter. Tim motion was agreed to. Dr. K. Teichelmann moved:--2.—“ That consideration he given to the following list of activities for the promotion and development of Westland, and suh-enmmittcos he set up to take in hand the respective suggestions for united action: (1 Concentration on development of tourist traffic; (2) Widening of road to Lake Kanieri and the featuring of the attractions of the Lake, with a road round the Lake, and return route via Styx : (hi) Tariff rates over the Midland Bail wav ;

(I) Promotion of industrial, pastoral and agricultural interests, of mining research work, as also drainage of sivnmp lands ;

(•V) Advancement of the town of Hokitika, including the improvements of ocean front, park lauds, and municipal reserves, streets and footpaths; Ml) Advertising the district by collection and publication of reliable data, and intormntion regarding productivity anil general resources ;

(7) Kailway services, improvement and extension, including use of motor feeders from branch districts; < N) Ke-alforesiation in Westland ; '9) Hydro-electric development ; (10) Improvement of mail services to South Westland :

f ll) South Westland railway extension ;

(Id. Need lor closer settlement.” Dr. Toiclu-lnpinn said the Progress League Inid written to the Department in lelereuee. to a number of matters slier! ]iig Kanieri Lake. The Acclimatisation Society had been running the hatchery and launch at Kanieri Lake. At one time they had received a suh•'ddy from the Government, but Dus had Iren discontinued and now there vs- a possibility of the hatchery being rio.-i i! ihmn. I hey hail, imped to have received a substantial royalty from tie opossum ~kins. but they had heard the 1‘ orestn Department were coming in and were going to grab one half of the royalty, which would mean a big re-

duction in their hoped for income. Keici ring to the ocean front, be said he fell Hi t; 1 lie B "rough Council should ■make the iesidents fence off their freeholds, and then they would bo able to have a readway and plantations and so improve the condition* of the foresin :c and improve t!m appearance of I he >ea. limit. Dr, Tcirhelmnun reI erred at some length to the various matters submitted in the motion. Seconded by Mr T. W. Dull', who heartily supported the proposals put. forward. Mr H. M. {.'unison supported, considering the time hud uirived when these matters should be urged with some ginger and vim. there being an. urgent n.-tt::-sn\ to jut*lt then !, aut-., lorn aid. He mentioned that the Korestrv De-

pan men i had .submitted a report on 'beach improvement, and this was now receiving their consideration. Bon. .1. Grimnioncl supported. Mr 1). 4. Evans supported and suggested a small committee b,-> appointed for each subject. Air Wm. Wilson rel'ening to section said the condition of the streets in Hokitika were absolutely disgraceful. ll' imiinneed the road between the dock tower, and the convent cornet. I hey had a new Council, but what had they done to improve matters. 'I lie road to Kanieri near the town boundary bad eettainly been improved, bid it was only a. solitary instance. It wa* impossible to ride even a bicycle without, almost being humped off. owing to the holes and hollows. They certainly should urge better attention to

the streets. -Ur Coulson said it was recognised that comprehensive action would have to l:e taken to systematically improve the roads. 'file motion was then earned. In connection with the appointment of sub-committees /it was suggested that the several .sections of the motion he ielerred to the following for attention : ■ » | Sect. 1. and it to Progress -League; 1 ■Sect. 7 and I I to the Chamber of I Commerce. j Sects, d, G, and 12 to the A. and I>. I Association. Scot. s—Hokitika Morough Council. •Sects. 8. it, and 10 —"Westland Countv Council. -Mr l’ilkingtnn thought that it would be Letter to appoint separate sub-corn, mittens, not connected with the various botucs, to urge on the subjects mentinned, but tbe meeting upheld the I attitude of Dr. Toiehelnmrm, who | thought it inadvisable to make a iiuiii- I , lier of committees as they would on- . tail too many meetings which would not be attended. The various appoint- ; men Is wote then agreed to. j | -Mr H. M. Coulson moved:— i ,

Ik —“That the Conference write to the i Tourist and Public Works Departments • urging the construction of a road to: Lake -Maluuapna to give vehicle access . to the attractive holiday resort.” !

He felt the time had arrived when 1 the matter should be taken in hand ! seriously. There had been a vote on 1 the Estimates two sessions ago, but it had been allowed to lapse. He be-lic-ved that Lake Mahinapua- was one of our greatest assets, that was not avail- ' c.l of to any extent. When the road "as made it would prove of great advantage to both the settlers and tour- 1

ists - . ! -Mr Dull seconded, stating the "Westland County Council had been urging the Government to form the road for many years, recognising that it would have been of great value to the dis- ‘ triet. At one time the railway timetable had been suitable lor visiting Lake Alahinaptia but that was now a thing of the past, and the people wore not able to use the trains for an out- : ing to the lake. Mr X ghtingale supported stating the ; road was urgently needed, and he hoped I the agitation would be pushed on. j The motion was carried. | Mr Evans moved that the Railway ! Department be approached with the ; request that when arranging the sum- ! mer timetable, that suitable train nr- J ranj|einents bo made to enable Lake Malunapua to be visited at least three times a week.

Seconded by Air Coulson, and carried. Air Perry moved: 4.—“ That a special committee be set up for the purpose of co-operating with the Canterbury Chamber of Com-

raerce in watching tbn freight charges on tho Midland railway, and endeavouring to have reductions made whore considered necessary.” | Seconded by Mr Grimmond and carried

Air Horry ru/rced : s.—“ That a joint committee of local body representatives he set up to wateh the interests of the district in respect to the railway service to Westland, and particularly in regard to improved passenger connection by the through service.” Seconded by Air Grimmoitd. who mentioned as an example of the preson t. timetable that he had to leave Boss that morning at 6.30 to attend this meeting, and it would be 8.30 p.m. the. next day before he would arrive back in Ross. The motion was agreed to. A vote, of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, terminated the Conference.