WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1924, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, MAY 13t!i, 1021. Tlio Council met at 2 p.in. Present: .Messrs T. \V. Dull (.County Chairmunli), W. Jeffries, 11. Marti, J. A. Murdoch, E. A. Wells, T. 11. Chesteriiiuu, -M. Keenan, \V. Searle and Hon .). (Ininmoml.

The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence was approved.

1N WAKI) COIIItESPONDENCE. From relatives of late 1). W. M’ells, acknowledging letter of sympathy.— Received.

From Treasury, notifying credits to C'ountv Fund Account.—Received.

From Prime .Minister, thanking Council for offer of assistance in regard to the strike situation, and asking everything possible he done to organise motor connections to lessen public inconvenience.—Received. From same, stating report of Timber Royalties Commission was under consideration of Cabinet, and would be presented lo Parliament in due course. —Received.

From Highways Hoard, intimating there was as yet not any road plant for hire.—Received. From Commissioner of Crown Lands reporting decision of Land Hoard to allow grazing rights to F. Yroblfski, at Woodstock, over road reserve, subject to Council's approval.—Received; The Chairman stated that an objection to the grant had been made. It win resolved to take no action.

From Department of Health, circular regarding disposal of refuse.—Received. From District Traflic .Manager, N.Z. Railways, on behalf Ccneral Manager, conveying thanks for oiler of assistance in regard to the late strike posit ion.— Received. From N.Z. Counties’ Association, suggesting action regarding rural advertising on roads; and supplying copy of letter from hands Department regarding conference matters. —Reeeiv-

From Westland Hospital Hoard, notifying levy on C'ounicl, L'2l(io 10s oil, payable in nine instalments of .£2lO Is 2.1 per payment. —Received. From J. O’Brien, M.P., acknowledging list of works asking for grallts, and apologising for not advising regarding Minister of Agriculture as

notification was not received in time. —Received.

From \Vataroa-Waiho Farmers’ Union, asking that proper provision he asked for in regard lo the carriage of settlers’ goods by the tramway of Stuart and Chapman Ltd., and that steps he taken to ballast the tramway for stock traffic.—Received, Mr Jeffries said they had a promise from Stuart and Chapman some six months ago lo have the line ballasted and this had not yet been done. He would move that application he made to Stuart and Chapman for the ballasting lo be carried out. Mr Murdoch suggested that Ihe letter lie sent on to Stuart and Chapman for their information and when the reply was received the Council could deal with the matter.

Mr Ward thought the proposal of Mr Murdoch was a sensible one. The suggestion was agreed to by Mr Jeffries and endorsed bv the Council.

From Guinness and Kitchingham, asking permission for the Mildand Sawmilling Coy to cross the IlnkitiknRoss road with a tramway.—Received; referred to Overseer for report and to fix conditions for permission. From Kumara Long Tunnel Coy., application to treat rent due as not recoverable in view of the operations being ceased.—Received ; to bo recommended.

From Mrs L. Neville, Kumara, npplieation of a similar nature in regard to residence site abandoned. Received ; approved. 1 * I. ,i • ln-o darn t Jt From J. Trcmbiitli, senr., Wuityha, applying for assistance with regard to liver protection.—Received; referred to Overseer to report. From .fames Donovan. Okarilo, reporting Hood damage and asking attention.—Received. •Mr M. Houston wailed nil the Council in connection with Hondo's lease of ferry reserve at Rig Wanganui, and on his application it was-resolved to defer fnither consideration till next meeting Lo enable him to further cruller with his prini'inuls. Mr J. Cultiiiiee waited on the Council in reference to the ferry subsidy anti it was agreed that Mr Cuttance shell Id attend to the ferrying across the Turnbull river and Messrs Cron Bros to ferrying over the Oknrti river, on the terms formerly agreed 10. From Roadman Nolan, report in respect to the foregoing.—Received. From J. S. Thompson. Karatignriin, asking for a grant of £ls to £2O to repair Hunt’s Reach track.—-Receiv-ed ; request granted to £ls, flic local Committee to have charge. From Warden’s Court, Ross, notice of mining applications for privileges alfeeting public roads.—Received; referred to Overseer to report. From Overseer Milliter, reporting in regard to Hood damage throughout the district; giving particulars of river <lovcrsioii work tit Dcidrichs’ Creek to avoid threat cued danger.— Received ; to be attended to. From Roadman Wright. resigning position as at 30t!i April.— Received and accepted. From Roadman Whitiski, llcrepo, asking permission to fence in unused gravel reserve lor own use.— Received; request granted. From Roadman Nolan reporting on flood damage and district works.—Received and attended to. From District Engineer Railways, asking permission to place portion of promised loading yard at Sea View, north of the abattoirs, on the unused portion of road reserve.—Received. Mr Jeffries moved the request he granted, i Seconded bv Mr Chestcrman and , carried.

I-Ttoin Pinko County Council suggesting fresh departmental regulations alfeeting font and month disease.—Re-

ceived. From K. Kirby, Tlariliari. asking small creeks on Robertson road bo bridged to facilitate motor traffic in wet weather.—Received ; referred to Overseer to report and also as to cost of a culvert over Rooster’s Creek. From Baxter Bros. Ltd. asking that rents due on sawmill license and reservations at Kawhakn be treated as uonrecoverable as there were no assets in the company.—Received : the requesL was agreed to. From Overseer .Milliter reporting Willmot and Chance liad taken up the Wall road contract at the amount of the estimate £-150; that the protection above Malfroy’s bridge was scoured and needed attention; that the culvert on Spencer's road needed renewing, cost about £2O; forwarding report on works for month.—Received and approved.

From Roadman Nolan report on district works for the month.—Received: work outlined on Okarito road to be carried out at cost of £5.

From Motorman Robinson reporting on works curr-iedrout by motor lorry for April.—Received.— From Win. Olderog. Araliura, asking the Council to settle dispute re road reserve. —Received ; consideration deferred for a mouth.

From Diggers’ Sawmill Coy., offering motor truck for sale at £BSO. —Received ; referred to Oversew for report to Finance Committee.

From Overseer Milkier, submitting plans for Kakapotahi river bridge.— Received. It was resolved to submit the plans to the Public Works Department for approval.

FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. 1. —Your Committee lias the honor to report that the accounts presented for the month of April, 1921, have been carefully examined, and beg to recommend that the amount as approved, totalling £llOO 15s lid, be passed for payment. 2. —Regarding the application from the Hokitika Borough Council, your Committee recommends that a contribution of £25 be paid for the current financial year, towards the upkeep of the Hokitika Cemetery. 3. —Your Committee has instructed the Clerk to deduct from certain roadmen’s wages, amounts covering the period they were absent from duly without leave.—Received.

The Treasurer’s report (already published) was received. BRIDGE CARPENTER.

From LI. J. Lovett, Kokatahi ; R. •J. Scott, Ross; 11. J. Reynolds, Waitai.a ; Charles Travis, Nelson Creek, applying for position of bridge.carpenter. Subsequently 11. J. Lovett withdrew his application. A ballot was taken resulting as follows : Reduced to two.—Reynolds 9, .Scott 5, Travis 4. Mr Howard Reynolds was then appointed to the position. ORDER PAPER.

The Chairman moved;— "That lh<* accounts presented for the month of April, 1921, as now before the Council, and recommended by the Finance Committee, amounting to .Cl Kill 15s ltd, he passed for payment."—Seconded by Mr Ward and carried. The Chairman moved;— "That the report of the Treasurer, as before the Council, on the proposed allo.-a-tion of estimated revenue for the current year, lie now considered and approved mid the report adopted.”—Seconded bv Mr Chestermnn.

Mr Jeffries said he wished to refe: to the paragraph in the Treasurer's report referring to the Hospital Hoard, dealing with the levy. Referring lo the levy oil the Council he pointed out in 1922 it was reduced by L'.ki.T, in 1923-1 it was reduced by £159. Up to tlie present there has been no increase in the amount of subsidy received from the Government. That would only lie payable this year. Of the £13,0(10 expended on buildings, £OOOO was found by voluntary subscriptions, and £7OOO by the Government. Hospital Hoard administration has increased lliriiiighuut New Zealand. The average cost per lied in hospitals foi New Zealand was £lßl and the cost at Westland Hospital was £IOB per bed per year. The increased valuations nf the County had caused an increase in the amount of levy on the County and the Hokitika and other Boroughs through not. having n revaluation, were getting off with a lighter levy, lie had been opposed to the purchase of the. laundry, Imt he was now prepared to say it had been a payable proposition. Under all the circumstances he did not see how the Hoard could have dime better than it

was doing. The Chairman endorsed that the a ! ministration of the hospital was careful and efficient. The costs of ht'“nii..;- •" .-••• c ' Z«vd"•re ’ J. v'. . \ 5 : I H .... ; money m that they could not look forward to any substantial reduction in the cost of upkeep. Mr Murdoch said in spite of the dosing oi the Kumara and Ross hospitals the cost of Imspiial ndminist ration had doubled. lien Grimmond and Mr Wells slip ported the remarks and the nioliut was agreed to. The Chairman moved: “That

public notice be given of the intention of the Council io make and levy on the Ist July a general rale separately in each Riding of the County of Westland, of seven farthings in tile £ on the capital value of all rateable property in ae(orda'iiee with sections 120 and 121 of the Counties Act; such rate to he payable within fourteen days alter being st i tick."—Seconded by .Mr Chesterman and carried. The Chairman moved:— "That

as a further concession to the County ratepayers and pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of the Rating Act

Amendment Act, 1922, the Council now resolves by resolution to allow to every ratepayer a rebate of 5 per cent of so much of the amount of rates payable by him as is paid before the expiration of thirty days after the due date thereof, namely on or before 31 sr July,- 1921.”—Seconded by Mr Wells and carried. The Chairman moved:— "Thai the Finance Committee report at next meeting as to the annual allocation of a vote for public libraries in the County, and the several institutions be requested to supply particulars of i lie financial position.”—Seconded by Mr Ward and carried. Mr Searle moved:—"That tb-> resolution of the Council ol 1111 i December, 1923. authorising a limit of payment up to £SO for the construction of .Mcßride’s Creek bridge, Walaroa district, be and hereby is, now rescinded.”—Seionded by Mr Grimitiond and carried. Mr Searle. moved:—"That !l.« lender of Nolan and Robertson of Mataiuui. offering to construct Mcßride's Creek bridge and approaches, in accordance with the specifications, and to the satisfaction of tlie Council’s officer, for the sum of .£OS, lie and hereby is now accepted.”—Seconded bv Mr Grimmond and carried.

!t7r Ward moved that repairs be effected to the protective works near Hungerford’s bridge, at a cost of £5, the Overseer to carry out the work. —Seconded by the Chairman and car ried. Mr .TefFries moved that Overseer report on cost of culvert. IlrJiertosn road and that the roadman clear the read of overgrowth.—Seconded by the Chairman and carried. The Council resolved into Cnninuircc and after resuming rose at 5.10 p.in.