WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1924, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Tuesday; aprtl s

The Council met at 2 p.m. Present: -Messrs T. AV. Duff (County Chair-; man), J. A. Murdoch, AV. Searle, AY. Jeffries, B. AVard, T. R. Chesterman, E. A. AA'ells' and Hon J. Grimmond. The minutes were confirmed . and outward correspondence approved. VOTE OF CONDOLENCE.’ The Chairman made reference to the loss sustained by a member, Mr AA r ells, who had lost a brother since the Council last met and moved that the Council convey to the relatives their deepest sympathy in their bereavement.—Seconded by Hon J. Grimmond and carried in silence. TNAVABD CORRESPONDENCE. From Treasury, notifying accrued revenue.-—Received. From Minister of Public AA’orks, stating he would have enquiries made respecting request lor mooring piles being fixed at Flower Pot landing stage, lir.uce Ray.—Received. From Prime Minister’s office, notifying request for lcglisation to bo passed making the payment of travelling expenses similar to the Land Board same would have careful consideration. —Received.

From Attorney-General’s office, promising if the Minister of Finance approves of legislation to fix a scale of travelling allowances, the Minister will give assistance. Received; Consideration deferred pending receipt of a further reply. From Jas O’Brien, M.P., giving an assurance that he will do his best to have the matter of allowances satisfactorily settled when Parliament is sitting.—Received. From Controller and Auditor-Gen-eral, explaining the provisions of the law under Section 83 ot the Counties Aet,' 1920.—Received. From Department of Agriculture, regretting application for subsidy to prospect for lime in the AA anganuiAA’ataroa district could not he granted, but asking samples of limestone or information be placed at the disposal i the Geological Survey officers for 1 lives tigat ion.—Received. From Main .Highway’s Board, in view of the proclamation of main roads in AA’estland, asking that the work of maintenance be carried cut to tiio present standard pending definite arrangements for the delegation of powers from the Board to the Council.-—Re-ceived. From Commissioner of Crown Lands, submitting locality plan showing track needing repairs at AA’ataroa and AA’altangi rivers; also track on north bank of the AVaiho river.—Received. From Jas O’Brien, ALP., enclosing reply from Minister of Public AA’orks for the rebuilding of the bridge over AA’aimea creek at AVrights, Christchurch road.—Received ; copy of letter be sent to settlers affected. From Same, enclosing Minister’s reply to representations made by the deputation with respect to promised grant of 9 for £on expenditure lor Kakapotuhi bridge and the success was greatly duo to the efforts of the County Chairman.—-Received.

From Same, reporting the Public AA’orks Department would make a start with the AVaiho bridge works this year. —Received.

From Mines Department, supplying copy of field log of drilling operations in connection with the scheme for the prospecting of the -Mananui Flat area. —Received.

From Hokitika Savings Hank, agreeing to grant a loan not exceeding .21000 for the purpose of assisting to rebuild Kakapotalii bridge.—Received.

From Malfrov and Co., Arahura Road, applying for permission to erect a culvert across the main HokitikaIvumara road.—Received and request granted, subject to conditions outlined liv Overseer.

From F. Gunn, Telahu, asking assistance to build a small bridge to give access to Section 2365, where he intends building a. dwelling.— Received. Air Searle moved that £ls be granted towards the work on it being completed to the satisfaction of the Overseer.—Seconded by Air Jeffries and carried. From Alanera Bros., Ferguson,s drawing attention to the had state of Duffer’s creek track and requesting the Overseer inspect and report.—Re-, ccived; request granted, the Roadman reporting in favor. From 1). AV. AlcNicol, Totara, urging better access to bis land as the river fords arc very rough during tho rough weather. —Received ; a vote of £2 was passed for the work of keeping the fords in order.

From AV. J. Hewer, Ilerepo, asking further attention be given to the matter of selecting a gravel site in that locality.—Received ; referred to Chairman and Overseer to attend to. From Jas Donovan, Okarito, reporting the Okarito Forks-Canoe Point track is impassable and asking a small vote to repair the track.—Received ; referred to Roadman Nolan to attend

From Roadman Nolan, submitting plan and specifications for diverting the river at AA'ataroa Gorge estimated to cost .£‘so.—Received. From District Committee, Okuru, reporting heavy rains have caused washouts in the Arawnta to Cascade road and asking authority to effect repairs. —Received; action of Chairman ana .Mr -Jelfries in approving of work being carried out, was approved. From Same, requesting assistance to the extent of £5 to provide a drovers paddock at Blue river along IfaastParinga road ; asking Government be urged to grant £IOO for tlie Jackson llay Port road, and £IOO for the Ara-

wa ia-Cascade road; recommending grant of ferry subsidy Okuru river, be divided between Nolan Bros and .1. C'ultanee in proportion of 2s 3d to former and Is 3d to the latter.—Received and approved. It was resolved to offer £ls to Nolans and £lO to Cuttance.

From Overseer Alillncr, reporting on various district works.—Received. From Main Highways Board, stating that any requests for reconstruction of bridges on main roads, should come through the Highways Council with its re commendation.—Received. From Resident Engineer, Groymouth, stating tiie Department would undertake the following works: Hanst Pass road, £450; Bruce Bay Inland road, £200; Falls Glacier track, £SO; Turnhull river road, £lso.—Received. From Hokitika Borough Council, conveying request for an annual grant of £25 towards the maintenance of the cemetery owing to the revenue not equalling the expenditure, and stating over fifty per cent of the interments were from the County district.—Root 1 ived ; referred to Finance Committee to report at next meeting. From Baxter Bros., Ltd., Arahura, offering special line of bridge timber at 12s per 100 where it lies on the roadside.—Received. From J. W. Hende, Heude’s Ferry, asking for renewal of ferry reserve lease south bank Wanganui river.—Received. From County Solicitor, advising the legal conditions governing the granting of transfer of right to lease the Big Wanganui ferry reserve.—Received. Air M. Houston waited on the Council on behalf of Air J. C. Hende, in connection with the renewal of the lease of the ferry reserve. Mr Houston said he was prepared on . behalf of Air Hende to accept a renewal of the lease on the terms' offered' by the Council. There was 9, general discussion and

then Mr Jeffries moved that one month be allowed to -enable Mr Houston to confer with'’the iiew ouner, Mir Herlihy and" that when his reply" was received the Council ton Id tlidn'definitely decide, what action they Should take, after considering' the advice ef their solicitor.—Seconded by Air Searle. Air Jeffries said be was of opinion that the whole area should be thrown open. The amendment was put and carried and becoming the motion was agreed to. From James Donovan, Okarito, suggesting works in the AVataroa district for' which grant's might* be applied'for. —Received. From- Overseer ATillner, in reference to gravel reserve at La Fontaine road. —Received. From R. J. liewer, on same subject, and suggesting’amicable arrangement. —Received. From Overseer Alillner, reporting drainage improvements to Evans road would cost £2o.—Received. From Same, reporting R. Boucher would be leaving the Council’s employ on the 12th inst, and suggesting a leading bridge carpenter be advertised for.—-Received ; applications to bo inat £3OO per year. From Same, monthly report on works carried out during ATarch, and reporting on progress with contracts. —Received. From AV. Olderog, in connection with dispute over road reserve at A raliura.—Received. Mr D. Agnew waited on the Council on the subject and read correspondence between himself and AA . Olderog. Mr Alurdoch moved that the Council take no further action.—Seconded by Al,r Searle. Air AVard moved an amendment that the time of settlement be extended one month further for the parties to settle the'trouble.—Seconded by Air Chesterman, and after discussion agreed to, members generally expressing the opinion that. it was time this neighbours dispute was settled. From Roadman Nolan, reporting on works in the AVataroa district, asking consideration for loss of draught horse; suggesting Ale-Bride's Crook bridge he done by day labor at the estimate; stating position in regard to AVaiho Bluff track and Five Alile creek bridge; also explaining absence from duty without leave. —Received. From Same notifying list of works fot application for grants.—Received.

From ATotorman Robinson, particulars of work performed during the month ; find supplying list of motor lorry parts on hand.—Received. hi connection with the application of Roadman Nolan lor leave, the Chairman stated he had refused the request. The Roadman attended the sale at Harihari that afternoon. Air Jeffries objected to the Roadman absenting himself from work and said the Council should take action. ATr Searle thought the reasons for attending the sale were quite satisfactory and lie recognised the roadman was a good worker. Air AA’ard thought the roadman should have his attention drawn to his absence from duty, but did not think drastic action should be taken on this occasion. He moved a letter be written notifying that in future ’ the roadman must abide by the directions of the Chairman.—Seconded by Air Searle. Air AA'ells supported the attitude ol Air Jeffries. He opposed the motion. Mr .Jeffries said it was ridiculous to take this action. The: Council had decided some 8 or 9 months that if men absented themselves without leave then their pay should he deducted. He knew of another case where another Roadman had been absent without leave for two days. The motion was then agreed to. A request for consideration for loss of a horse that died alter being engaged on a County work was not upheld. A tender for COo was received from J. Nolan and party for the erection of .Mcßride’s Creek bridge. It was stated the Council bad offered to find £•SO, and Mr Mcßride had offered £5. It would he necessary to find another £lO.

Air Searle moved that the tender be accepted. Mr Jeffries rose to a point of order, and the motion was ruled out, as a previous motion was on the books against spending more than £SO. From 11. Kurnbaoh, for permission to erect a gate across Blmlier’s road. Received. An objection was made by Jansen and Williamson to the proposal. It was resolved to send a copy of the letter to Air Kuril bach and to adjourn consideration till next month. In connection with Air Pamment’s application for a gate across Kapiton track, made at the January meeting, was agreed to, there being no objections made. From J. Nightingale and others, asking for the short portion of the road from the golf links to Manauui to be formed as soon as possible.— Received; referred to Overseer to meet representatives of the Golf Club as soon as possible. From AA’estlaml Hospital Board, notifying proposed levy for ensuing year as £2IOO 10s sd. Received. FINANCE COMA! ITTEE’S REPORT. Amur Committee has the honor to report that the accounts presented for the month of March, 1024, have been carefully examined, and beg to report that the amount as approved, totalling £1751 15s B<l. be passed for pay-

ment. A'mir Committee /wither recommends that steps be taken to recover outstanding rates, and where necessary the amount owing if not paid within a reasonable time, be sued for. Received and adopted. COUNTY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. I have the honor to report that in the interim the town members dealt with tenders for Kumara-Kapitea road, tender of Ferguson and Inglis £404 was accepted. No tender was received for AA'all road, and the Overseer was requested to arrange for the formation and draining to lie done bv day labor and the metalling by contract if possible. Repairs to the Kokatahi bridge which have been under way for the past seven years, as funds permitted, have now been completed. Tile expenditure has beep as follows : 1918 ... 546 15 7 1919 658 11 3 1920 535 14 0 1921 388 18 7 1922 706 15 5 1923 1646 13 5 1924 1120 8 4 Total £5603 16 7

Of the above £3,326 was contributed by Government grants, and the balance £2,277 provided front the County Fund account-. Bridge Foreman Boucher has completed a very substantial work, and the structure should stand for some years. The tarring and sanding of the bridge should if possible be arranged for when circumstances permit.

It is necessary to have side railing placed on Pigeon Creek bridge and the approaches improved. A Tourist vote should be asked for to extend the roadway from Diedricli's Creek bridge to the Hokitika Gorge, including a large culvert over an overflow watercourse. The matter of. linking up "Whitcombe and Municipal roads, by way of the Doughboy, should be taken in hand also to open up the sections at the hack, as also to afford a new route for a round trip covering a large settlement area. The road generally in the Kokatahi-

Koitcrangi district were found fn veryfair order and give promise of standing tho winter traffic with ordinary- attention. The protection work above the Kokatahi bridge will require constant attention, as also some extension. The matter of endeavouring to divert the main stream to a. more central channel well up the river to prevent tho present south bank erosion has been referred to the Overseer to look into. As there is considerable bridge repair and reconstruction work in sight an endeavour should ho made to organise a capable bridge party under a good leader. It is regretted that ATr Boucher is leaving owing to his departure from the district. He has done excellent work, hut as there is much more work of a similar nature ahead, he should he replaced by tho best man obtainable to ensure both thorough and economical work. /

In regard to maintenance of the main roads it is suggested that enquiry he made from the Highways Board as to assistance to he given to enable a considerable length of the main road radiating north and south from the Borough of Hoitika being tar-sealed or otherwise specially treated to carry the increasing traffic. The present cost of maintenance would go a long way towards defraying the capital cost of the work, while at the same time affording a much improved highway. It is suggested the Council should go carefully into this matter. OVERSEER AULLNEU’S MONTHLY REPORT. CENTRAL HIDING. Kokatahi Bridge Repairs £2 for £1 grant. The working party under the direction of Bridge Foreman Boucher, completed repairs during the month with the result that the whole of the structure is in fair order and should not require much attention for a lew yeas. The decking will ho tarred and sanded during the next month. Kokatahi Bridge Protection £20!) grant was commenced and completed for a distance of 450 links and the whole of the work will he completed early in April.

Koitcrangi Road Improvement County Road Improvement Grant, A. I'laming, contractar. The formation and metalling of the lower portion -9.0 links also concrete pipes culvert was completed, work ceasing on Alarcli ]<)th. owing to the non delivery of timber for the large culvert construction. Koitcrangi Hoad Drainage £lO 10s grant, L. Jamieson, contractor. was completed the full distance of 700 links. This work which consists of an outlet approximately 9 feet by 2 feet is constructed to allow the escape of the flood water and prevent Hooding of the Koitcrangi Hoad now being improved near the Scenic Reserve, Koitcrangi.

Flood Damage Repairs to Outlet Drain, Lower Kokatahi Road £SO grant was continued at intervals during tho month and completed on Alarcli 31st. The work consists of strengthening partly destroyed sections by driving (i x 0 piles and lining with Bx3B x2 sawn timber, packed with manuka scrub and stone.

Flood Damage Repairs, Lake Kanieri Road consisted ol the removal of frequently recurring small slips from the load at Slip Hill near the Power House also cleaning of blocked water tables and repairing of >m:Vi scaurs with gravel. Portions of Lower Kokatahi and Koitcrangi Roads were repaired with gravel, and decking renewed on several bridges anil culverts on Kokatahi and Koitcrangi roads. A temporary trcsLle was elected under a very defective bridge on Cropp Road to prevent collapse. The stream pier cap and one corbel were renewed on No 1 Dark Crock Bridge, also hand railing and decking renewed and southern span strengthened with 3/16 13 x -t stringers. Heslan’s Creek Bridge was also attended to, and decking and railing strengthened oil No 4 Harris Creek Bridge. A defective culvert on Kokatahi Road 800 links beyond Kanieiu River Bridge was partly tilled in with stone, and faulty decking renewed on a covered culvert Imyoud Lake Kanicri Road Junction. Water-tables wore cleaned on Lower Kokatahi, i lokitikaKanieri, llokitika-Hau Man and Itoki-tika-Kumara and Ross Road. Partial repairs were effected by gravelling a short section of Arthurslown Hoad. Motor worn holes were repaired with broken metal and blinded with gravel on .1 lokitika-Kanieri Hoad. Ho-kitika-Kanicri Road was .scarified, metalled and blinded between the tramway crossing, and Shenandoah Creek Bridge. Kokatahi Hoad was ginded. crowned with gravel, metalled and blinded and rolled between the Ross Homhjunction, and tho Anglican Church, and graded and crowned with gravel, and rolled in readiness for metalling when the County motor is available. At pri-ent the machine is engaged on more urgent work at Kokatahi. The County motor has been busily employed during the month carting crushed metal gravel and blinding for 1 Lokitika-Kanieri and the lower portion of Kokatahi mail in

the Kanieri township, also timber and pipes to ICoiterangi, gravel for Arthurstowii, Lower Kokntahi ami Koitcrangi lfoad repairs,- and manuka scrub and stone for Kokntahi Bridge Protection which could only Ik? obtained 5 miles distant from the bridge; the haulage cost by motor lorry being half the cost .of haulage by horse teams over this distance. Concrete pipes construction recommenced during the last week in March. NORTHERN RIDING. Repairs were effected to portion of Kumara Junction, Teremakau Beach, Larrikin’s Loopline, and Teremakau Settlement Roads. A defective culvert on One Mile Road renewed with 86 in. diameter concrete pipes, the gravel filling on the culvert not being quite completed. Defective decking was removed on Malfroy’s Bridge, and on No 1. and No 2, Palmer’s Creek Bridges. Defective covering was removed and replaced on a culvert on German Road and water-tables cleaned on Blue Spur Arahura Road. Also several motor worn holes repaired with gravel on Arahura Valley Road. SOUTHERN RIDING.

Repairs were effected to Ruatapu Reach Road between South Spit and Ruatapu and a defective culvert repaired on Ruatapu Road. Watertables were cleaned and a number of motor boles repaired and ruts raked, also metal broken on various portions of Ross Road and deviation, and repairs completed on the hill side between the Ross cemetery and Donnelly's Creek Bridge. Urgent repairs were effeetd by gravelling the upper portion of Wailaha Settlement Road. Repairs were effected to Wanganui plat. Petersen’s. Robinson’s and La Fontaine Roads by breaking metal, in the worst ruts and raking with tho horse drawn King Drag. Works laid off and plans and specifications prepared, include Little Wanganui Track Widening, £l6O. Waimea Creek Bridge Protection £2OO. Contracts in progress are: —Kumara to Kapitea, La Fontaine Road Extension £3OO. Kokntahi Bridge Protection £2OO is being completed by day labour. Koitcrangi road improvement and drainage—the two latter works will be completed before Easter. ORDER PAPER. The Chairman moved:—‘'That the accounts presented for the month of March, 1024, as revised and recommended by the Finance Committee, amounting to £1751 15s Sri, be passed for payment.”—Seconded by Mr Clicstennan and carried. Tip; Chairman moved:—‘"That the necessary resolution be adopted empowering the Council to borrow by way of overdraft from the Bank of New Zealand a sum not exceeding £3,500, such oveidrafting to be secured bv revenue outstanding and uncollected as at 51st March, 1025.”—Seconded by Mr Senile and carried. Tlx? Chairman moved:—‘‘That to secure the repayment of a special loan of £1,600 at 01% for the purpose of assisting to rebuild Kakapotalii bridge, (the repayment of the said loan to be spread over a period of ten years) the Council authorise the necessary procedure to be taken by special order to pass the requisite resolutions authorising the striking of an annually recurring bridge rale for security of the loan of one-fourteenth of a, penny river all rateable properly in the Southern Riding; the annual repayments and

interest- charges on the loan to bo repaid from the general account.”—Seconded by Air Jeffries and carried. The Chairman moved:—'“That the list of proposed new works for application for grants, as prepared by Overseer Millner, now before the Council, be approved, with such additions as may be thought necessary, and application bo duly made to the respective Deparmonts for the inclusion of the works in the annual Government Estimates.”—Seconded by Hon Grimrnond and carried. .Mr Grimmond moved:—‘‘That urgent representations be made to the Postmaster-General pointing out the necessity for a twice-weekly mail service to Wailio Gorge. Note: At present twice weekly mail service is provided as far as Hari Hari but after the present month only a weekly servicewill bo run to Wailio Gorge. The rapidly increasing business between Hokitika and Wailio justifies the additional mail service during the white months, also to Wailio Gorge.”—Seconded by Mr Seiirle and carried.

In connection with the Kanieri Sawmill Coy’s tramway, it was mentioned that there was a grave danger on the tramline owing to the practice of pushing trucks ahead of the engine and that unless proper precautions were taken there was a possibility of a serious accident resulting owing to the curves in the line near Kanieri preventing the driver from seeing approaching traffic. It was resolved to draw the attention of the Company to the danger and also to request that the turnouts agreed on when permission was granted to lay the tram, be at once made. The Council rose at 5 p.m.