WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1924, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, FEB. dth

Ihe t'uuncii met at 2 p.in. Present: Messrs T. W. Duff (Chairman), .15. Ward, W. Sea tie, W. Jeffries, J. A. .Murdoch, E. A. Wells, .\f. Keenan, lion ,1. Grimmond. The minutes were coniirmed and onlnard correspondence approved. IXWA H l> ( ORUKSPOXDEXt K. From tho Treasury Department, advice notes. — Received. From IJon .1. (i. Coates, telegram re flood damage and advising will look into same and advise further.— Received. From Postmaster-General, Wellington, advising that the telephone circuit to metallic working of the Rossllarihari line was commenced on tin 27 tli ult.—Received. From Public Works Department, Wellington, re Hokitika to Mahinnpua road advising that there is at presold no provision on the estimates tor thiv.'ork hut the mill for has been noted. -Received. From Minister of Public Works. Wellington, advising that the restoration of tfungerlord bridge at the upper crossing Arabian, will tic gone into and the County will be advised later.—Rey | ceivod.

From Minister 0/ Lands, AVclling ton. re proposed rorul Hokitika to Ma liiiiiipua and lliat same will lie prim into.— Received. Kroiii .Tames O'Brien. M.T’., Grey inoiitli, enclosing the Minister of I’ulj lie Works reply to the deputatioi wliieli waited on hint in eomieelio! with the Wa.taroa Gorge road. Ite reived. From Kokatahi Dairy Co., askini for the iniprovenient of the lowe; Kokatahi road hot ween Kanieri am the sawmills.— Received; referred ti Overseer to report. From .1. .Mel,can. Otira. re tin Children's (tala Day ai Otira to r ( .]e hrate the Tunnel opening. Received. From Andrew Sent l, Karangarim asking the Council for a pram to male a road to his property on son llt sidi of Karniiguriia river. Received. From John Condon. Mnhitnhi. rt A. Scott's application for a grant.— Received ; vote iff CIO was passed. From Andrew Scott, Karanparua advising that the tiaek from mail road to Yineenl’s property needs repairin':;.—Received : vote of Wiis passed. From AY. D. Nolan. Oknrn. re works etc.— Received. From Public Work- Dlliee, Creymotitli, re main highways. Received. From Win. Millner. Kanieri, re several County road works. Received. It was resolved to ask the Kanieri Timber Coy. to have the necessary repairs clfcrted to the Shenandoah Creek bridge to save further damage to the structure; also to have the promised turnouts on the tramline made. It was resolved to grant Baxter Bros Clo towards cost of making bridge near Fox's ('reel; .suitable for foot trallic. On the reeoiiimemhitioii of Air AYa.nl it was. resolved to have a faulty culvert in the same locality repaired. From X.Z. Government Railways, acknowledging receipt of letter of L'lth i 11st, applying for permission to construct a road on Railway reserve near Manauiii.—Received.

From Sir F. D. Bell, replying 111 position in respect to the luidges 01 the Ros.s road had been referred P ilie lion Minister of Public Works. Received.

From I’nblie Works Department, notifying gazette notice regarding declaration of Government tot'd in Kanioii S. D.— Received. Front Bruce Bay Advisory Commit tec recommending exfenililure I’m iinprov-

From V.'. T. Owens, Kanieri. niging attention to the boxed drain and cnlvei I .el Kokatahi road which carries off the surplus water near TaininelliV..— Received : rcfenctl to Overseer to attend to. From I). A. Roberts. Fitkekttra, i:t;r attention to the drains on Evans’ road.—Received ; deferred for report to he obtained. From Overseer Milliter. reporting subsidence on approach to .Shenandoah bridge, Kanieri : stating repairs to bridges on Ross road would cost £2793. including £IOOO for bridge at Kanieri. Received. From Roadman Xolan, Alatainui, reporting on district works and rct|iiirenienls.—Received; it was resolved to ask the Land Hoard to find £7 10s towards river protection work near Fccleslield. Front Dr Telford. Christchurch, in reference to notice.

Front Rush County Council, forwarding resolution disagreeing with (lovernmenl proposal for distribution of petrol lax.—Received. From \V. Olderog, Arahura, asking for leave lo place a gate across road near 11nngerford’s bridge.— Rccoired. From Henry Friend, Okariro, declining to accent Council's offer for

orry service at Oknrito.—Received, t was resolved to give consideration it ;i later period, if I lie shipping work uereased.

From A. I!. Green, accepting position as road roTJer driver.—Received. The Chairman stated Mr Croon had taken up his duties. From County Engineer, Greymouth, offering use of County scarifier at a rental of 25s per week.—Received : left to Ch airmail to arrange. From Automobile Association, Creymoutii branch, drawing attention to state of road between Teremakau bridge and Kumara Junction.—Received ; consideration held over until after sitting of Supreme Court. From John Rea, Ross, applying for position of roadman on Ross road.— Received. From J. T. Lyes, Kokatnhi, drawing attention to condition of drain on Mall road.—Received; Overseer to report. From Roadman .Nolan, further report of district works.—Received. Ihe tender of Tf. Flevoldt fur Waitangi track at €22 was accepted. From Motonnan Kobiuson, report giving particulars of work carried out during Dec. and Jan.—Received. from Nolan and Mulvane.v, asking lor repairs to track up Totara.—Received.

REPORTS. FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT Your Committee has the honor t, report that the accounts presented foi the month of January, 11V24, have heer carefully examined, and beg to recommend that tile amount as approved. I totalling £BB7 13s 9d. lie passed foi payment.—Received. OYKRSEER’S REPORT. ! CENTRAL RIDING. fvokatahi Bridge repairs were continued under the direction of Bridge Foreman R. Boucher. Very good piogress wa smuintained for the period. The completion of repairs is a w in sight, and future work will be confined C- the renewal of faulty decking and handrailing. The reiw val of |)ie lvltole of the understructiire is £ompleted, and after tite end of the present month the structure should be in a safe condition for ton years. The following timlier has been removed and renewed: Transomes 15 x4if 54/18, 18/16. 14/22,. back stays 8 x 5 46/16.

Filling pieces 12 x G 30/3. .Six docking 3x4 1.000 superficial feet. COUNTY AYORKS.

Repairs were effected to portions of Kokatahi and Koiterangi iPads by tilling motor worn holes with gravel irum the roadside dumps. This method tit repairs is proving very economical and effective on nil County roads used by heavy .traffic. Pifjoon Creek (bridge, .] f feet in length and approaches was completed and open for traffic on Deci ember 17th. Defective decking was removed and replaced on several bridges and culverts in Koiterangi and Kokatahi districts, the subsidied approach to Municipal Bridge caused by flood was restored to its former condition. and the grant of £1 10s expended in cleaning and re-opening the northern road drain on Cropp s road. Panson's read drain was cleared for some ; distance to take the drainage off the I low lying portions of the road. Ihe ! expenditure on this portion amounted to CO. A few chains of the drain on ; .oiith side of McArthur ''..ad was chared, and will he completed during the present month. A concrete pipe drain eight inches in diameter was eonstrueied to take off drainage from Rilev's and Alulholland’s holdings at Upper Kokatahi. Wat enables and j drains were cleared on Take Kanieri. i Ross, Hokitika. Mail Dan. Blue Spur, and Tfokitika-Kumara roads, and slips removed from Lake Kanieri and Blu" Spur-Humphreys; roads, l’lood damage repairs were effected to a portion iof Him Hun. Blue Spur and Lake Kanieri roads. Repairs were effected to several culverts that were badly scoured and one culvert on Blue Spur road destroyed hv lined wits removed and reconstructed in silver pine tim- ; her. V .subsidence in Bin'll road was j Idled with stone and gravel, and a j defective culvert on liimn Hdl reinov- | ed and the unused waterway filled with ; gravel. A low-lying portion ot Ross road, near AYonlstoii Tanneries tailings was repaired with river beach gravel, and ~ supply of gravel dumped in readiness for box culvert renewal oil the same road. Minor repairs were effected where necessary to the lower portion of Adair's road and the i Milling of culvert above the dredge renewed 'and filled with gravel. The Roadmans' lint on Kanieri 'Forks was dismantled in readiness for removal to Knnie-i. and several wind blown trees removed from Lake Kanieri and A\ all mads. Repairs were die. led with gravel to motor worn holes on the main road between Hokitika and K.inieri and 12} cubic yards of crushed metal dumped at the roadside for fuinre repairs. Afotor worn holes vein repaired on HoUitika-Kumara road, and 7-7 cubic yards of crushed nieial placed on the road boa woo 11 the Borough boundary and I luce Mile t reel, bridge. SOFT 11 FUN 111 DIM-. Flood damage repairs were ' Heeled to portions of Ross road and a temporary bridge constructed al Horse Shoe bend to replace the old tralhe bridge destroyed hv flood. dcleoiive and broken planking was renewed on a number of bridges and culverts between Rimu and Donnelly - ( reek, and

a good many chains of u alert abbthat were blocked with scour and small slips cleaned and re-opened between Rimu and Donelly's ( reek bridge. A deviation ol two chains in length was constructed to pass the subsided portion of roadway between Donnelly > Creek bridge and the Ross cemetery. Roadman Wright attended in ordinal' \ repairs to \\ ai ta I m Set t !cment and Waiiaha Beach road-, and to repairs in a culvert on Waiiaha road, also In the dismantling and salving of tin timber in the spans of the destroyed Lower Kakapotahi bridge, the whole of the tilittro' being iiii.'e t. excepting a lew piens of pier lining that were 1;i 1 1 i.l to sea. During the dismantling Roadman Wriglii sustained an injury to his hand, which ha- incapacitated

Whiiiskie attended to repairs on liu-herison’s-Wanganui Flat Vmd i’et.r-

gravel and raked .with the king dr.-g Washouts were repaired and water'd on I’eteiwetr's road, and a i|uantiiy of metal broken on Robertson's road. XORTIIKRX 11 1 FIND. Repairs were effected to decking nl Malfroy's river bridge and guard planks placed on northern approach, and on both approaches to IJradleys road bridge. I(okitika-Kumara road was repaired with gravel drains end water-tables cleaned out at Stafford township, and track cleared beyond (iohl.sho rough. Defective culverts on Loopline road were repaired and motor holes and ruts repaired on Watson's, Larrikin’s, Loopline. Kiimara bench and Knnmra .lumiion road-.

TEXDF.R. Only one tender was received for road improvement work at Koiterangi, that of A. Fleming tit £O2 Ids, which was accepted.

ORDER PAPER

The Chairman moved: “Thai the accounts presented for the month of December, 1P23. and authorised for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to ClflSl 3s Id. he approved and payment of same confirmed.” Seconded bv Mr Jeffries and carried. The Chairman moved:- “Thai the accounts presented for the month of January. l!)2t and recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to £BB7 18s Oil, he now approved, and passed for payment aeaeoordingly.”—Seconded by Mr Jeffries and carried.

The Chairman moved:—“Thai the Council reappoints Arthur Clifton Est(., as its representative on the Hokitika High School Board of Governors for the ensuing term.”- Seconded by Mr Jeffries and carried. The Chairman moved:—“That Wednesday afternoon of each' week he declared the weekly half-holiday for tlie County of Westland, for Ihe ensuing year.”—Seconded by Mr Jeffries

and carried. The Chairman . moved:—“That public- notice ho given of the intention of the Council to ndil ten per cent, to all rates outstanding after Saturday. February 9th, 1024.—Seconded by Mr Jeffries and carried. The Chairman moved:—“That the Public Works' Committee report n< to ways and means for restoring Knknpotahi bridge, and visit the site as early as possible in respect to providing the best temporary means of crossing, pending the rebuilding of | the bridge.”—.Seconded by Mr Wells

and carried. The Chairman movedThatrepresentations be made to the Commissioner of Lands with respect to opening land for occupation adjacent to Lake Knnievi suitable for week-end dwellings on such terms and conditions as may be thought desirable to fix.” —

Seconded by Air Jeffries and carried. Mr Murdoch to move:—‘‘That the Council recognises the economic benefits that would follow the fullest possible use of all sawmill tramways, and it will support as in the past, any constitutional action that may he taken with a view to ihe foregoing economic benefits, but the Council deplores the utter lack of all sense of

justice and ctpiify shown hr certain public bodies which advocate the violation of the rights of suwmillc-rs, in tlie direction of vesting the control of their property in a Onveriimcnt Department . whose interests are at variance v.itli. or who may have power to commercially compete with those whose property they seek to control, and this Council further affirms the principle that no man’s property should be used against his will in any

commercially t'omv»t- litivo manner, or otherwise than in accordance with the conditions under which such properly was legally acquired.''--.Seconded hy Mr DufT ail'd carried. Mr Criinmond moved " Thai provision tie made as soon a, possible for Hie restoration of AVntaroa Gorge track, and Overseer Millimr hr: instructed to report oil the ro-r ~:f same forthwith. ’* —Seconded hy .Mr Jeffries and carried. Mr Grimmond moved:—‘-Tliat the Wailio Mu![ river track, north hank, he safety and convenience ol iru!ric."Seconded hy Mr Jeffries and carried, cost not to exceed £lO. the Exnmrnox. The Chairman stated that la thought it lit tin;;- to refer to the British anti Intercolonial Exhibition just successfully completed, a- the Eotiuty had taken such a promiiicttl pari therein, lie thought ii lining that the Council should' jda.ee on remit I ns ih*ep seine of appreciation of tm- very Committee Imd carried out iI: ,-s c re-spum-ibC laliofs i , a;d, w ty co--lid conclusion. 11.- spoiiai'ly wished to mention the work i f 1 1 1 ,- Secretary nl' the Exhihition a- it was their ( !••• i. (Air Evai.si win, had Idled that onermis po-iti, n . ably, and hud l oon instrumental so map redly in assuring that general ■ - of w| ii b tin y « ere all pi, |. The di-• iri'-t « :i.- also great ly i:n!o'-:.-d to the pn.’>". local am! Coe .. that of t!:e (hi i-inlpir, i: p..; > \. Id- !. had do la ■ -tirh In,.- v. .: I: io ... i jng the progress of the Ex hi hi ib >n am! helping to adveitise our ,osoiiri'os. ife would move: -Thai tin t'nuneil phi, <• on roc-uni it- high -ell •• of aiipreiiaiii>ll of the splendid work aehieved by the Excelifive Council ol ilm Exliihi lion. v. it h sJh'i ial menu./:: nl i■ Secret am , in the ■at i". in:. on: ol the Exhl hi lion to —u e h a - i.cce I ill i-slle : and i uni lii'i- ilia I l la- ( otinoil al-o place oil •coni its ial i ll ol till' generous a-si-ianeo given the moveiaenl hy tie in e-s Xe\> Zealand. and not a hly that ni the t hri.-trliurrh papers, u hi,di had done >n mill It to place Westland so lolly 1,.-fore lie pnhlie of New Zealand. Mr .Murdoch had mtieli plea-uie in .-'■aoiiding the motion. N'ol one. lie leli sure, I'egn-tti'il the step taken. The Executive had dune credit to ihem'-, selves, the town and district a i all through New Zealand tier, v.as p.cuctal i ommgndaliiin for the ve:;. able manner in which the whole arrangemen t < were earried oat. Tim Exhihii itm had given a lot of eiiinymeid and had iloim tiitieh to advertise the v. a Jo district, the lii'iielil- of wi'ieii tiiiilil only j !v reali-cd in the years to come. Reference had l:emi made to the pi All the i nr -t and Cliri'tehureh papers had done tlietr utmost to iiirthor the ad , amvineiit ni the < ■ am! di.— t riel gv i a tally, it. was only in tlm j years to conic that thev would Vvali-e I lhe full value of i lie Exhibit ion to llc (II -t I iet. fleu Mr 11 ritn neeid -aid ibai of the siicee - va- die io Ibe -pl-ndl ! j had leti. no atom- nun,",md that wouM j add f, the general of a very | mUublo undertaking. \ .Mr E. A. Well- |. tecognis-j i ing the go,id work ~f the Executive > i I a hly led by their cccivta:" Ik- j J gratlilafed t.licm all on tlm -in r:</-• "■ J enjoy him elf. It ame/ed l-:.- t e think of than, who com-: iig.lth" idea, of holding a:i exhibit lea, her,'. Me iv had thought it Wits imposs’!;!:, to make ii a sllCi-as . Now it Wils over they l"Cogniw'il that it had been a gr< at sticce-". 'll ley had ill Mr It'll I■' r a- jil'.sid -nl and Mr Jellrivs a- ( hniriliaii. •nett who had put in much m ■ e-, fu| work. It seerned a great' pity to have to pull down the > trncl tire erected. Mention had l-ecn made of tlm- fin • work , f the S-r re!ary. Mr IN aits. He recognised that as fa, a- Mr Evan was concerned !w was a trite ptitrioi n Hokitika and what lie did was not I’ot his own lion bit, but for pure love ( the lov.'ii. In his work for the Exhihii ion, Mr Evans had put the climax on his work for his town. Everyone recognised ilm great sacrillccx Alt Evans had made during the period nl tile Exhibition. He convoved p, (hr Executive of the 'Exhihiiion his hearty eoiigrii'tiilal ions on the verv hrtppv success achieved. The molion was I hen put mi l agreed 10. Tlm Council rose at i. 5 n.m.