WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1924, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, JUNK lOtli

The Council met at 2.10 ]>••"• I‘i't—sent:—Mcssrs K. A. Wells (County Chairman), T. I!. Cliesterman, U\Vanl, W. Jeffries, ,1. A. .Murdoch, M. Keeiiiiu, T. W. Duff, W. Searle and lion Criinmoiid. The minutes were confirmed and correspondence outward approved. I N WAR I) CORK RSI’ON HENCE. Erom Treasury, notifying revenue accrued to the County Eund account. Received. Knim I’riuie .\linister. slating the report ol the Timber Royalties Commission was homo printed as a Parliameutnrv paper and its contents could not lie divulged.— Received. Erom .Minister of I’uldic Works, replying that line holts for mooring purposes were being fixed at 1* lower I’otrod:, Bruce Bay landing.—Received. Erom Eostma'tvr-Cenernl, legrct-

ting the cost involved did not warrant the Department sanctioning a second weekly mail to Waiho Corge.— Received. / Minisiter in charge Tourist Department, replying that a report was being obtained as to the condition ,f Eos (itacier track.—Received.

Erom Mines Department asking for list of works on goldfields for consideration in collection with the estimates. -Received : referred to town members to attend to.

Erom Internal Affairs Department, forwarding list id motor registration hollies in the Dominion.—Received. Erom Highways Board notifying procedure in respect to expenditure oil ~:ciu roads which would lie supervised by the Highways Council and all pro-:,u-:ds should pas; through that holly. -Received. Erom Commissioner of Crown bands ■lijeetiug in the purposed diversion ol :he route lor IVter'on Road extension. -Received. Erom Westland Hospital Boaid, unliving a charge of 7 per cent., on levies outstanding alter II days from tin- date.—Received. Erom Westland Committee, Cantcr;uirv Erogies, League, forwarding copy of annual report. -Received. Erom Hokitika Borough Council, expressing thanks lor grant ol L'Jn towards upkeep of Hokitika cemetery. ■ Received.

Erom (btinness and Kitehingham. notice of an application hy Midland •-awmill Coy of tram crossing on Ross road.--Received : to be recommended, subject to conditions outlined by Over*

seer. Ibom Overseer .Milner, reporting on application by N. D. McNicnl regarding tunnel tail-race at .Mikiuui, giving specification of timbering required. -Received; eojiy sent to Warden’s Court. Russ. Erom .!. T. Eolev. Waiho. tiskiug attention to Callery (huge track tor prospect iug party. — lieeei veil. Erom I*. .McCormack and others, similar request for Onlwny lilulf track. Received ; Roadmau Nolan to re-

Erom Okuru Distinct Cninnni tee. notifying repairs to .laek«on Bay road and urging necessity lor LH>d grant. - Received and approved.

Erom .1. Stewart, Kumara, .1. Mmidy. Stafford. O. I’. Rea. Ross, application lor renewals of slaughter-house licenses.--Received ; to lie recommended. Erom Stafford l.ihrary Commiitee, reporting expenditure. L"11i: credit balance, Lid. Reeeiied. 3 Erom l> iinii Library ( ointoii tee. rep riiug exjnuiditiire, L 2-7 ; credit balance, L-b. Received. Ernni Okaritn l.ibrarv ( oinnii lleo. reporling expenditure. Ll2; credit balance. LU.. Received. Erom Welieka l.ibrari Committee, reporting expenditure. Lib--Received. Erom Cluiirmaii. Ml. (Ireetilaiid C.O.M. (.ay.. Totara, applying for rcmis*iou ot mining rent.-- !{<•/ eivcil ; tine reiummouded. from Rit 'hie Dilllna list r>w n. ap plying 11 o* leiuission ol mining lent on ahandoiied residence site. Received : reiplesl acceded to. from Wataroa Raring ( iub, iliiinking Cniiiieil for approving erection .McBride's Creek bridge.— Received. Emm Eolev and l.oekliead. ap|)lying for prospecting .-atbsidy. upper ( allery. Received; to be sent oil to Inspector ot .Mines for consideration . Erom Roadman Nolan, reenuimeiuluig apnlieatinn.— ({eeeived. Erom C. J. Nightingale, asking attc.'ilioii in Mahinapiia Cieok road as uroiui.-ed in April. Received. It was re-olieil to tuake enipii it.-. as to the posi tion. Erom Wataroa l.ibrarv Ciimnii't tee. nii I i lying credit of L‘J to literary account.— Received. Ernm Motoi man Robinson, report on >v ik !:v motor lorry for month ol May. Er: in Roadman Nolan, niniithly lopoi't, stating small works required in the district; draving attention to sea ero-inn icar Waiho uiniiih affecting safi'iy of small cemetery. —Received. In eoiiaei-i icn with the latter, it was r-'solv* d in refer the report to the Minister of internal Affairs for attention. !b on <J verst-or Millner. estimating '-'.-t o! sio',-back at T.oeinaka.u would li' In Hi" vii inity of L2.it'ill; approving l with special con litmus) ii t lie liai:.w.'y eros-iug 'ii Ross road : staling cn.t i f mad drain asked tor by .1. IVron Kumara lie-mil read would la Lf : *,:gg,.. ting ire prcteelion work at i'rembat h's, Waitalia ; recoin mend - mg a setond motor lorry was necessary to (i-.ee with County work as horses and drays were ten costly compared with lorry it suit*; pointing out danger from the steam tramway ai Kauieri drawing loads after night fall.—Received. Ri.si'ii**ing ilte Overseer's report in i faver of obtaining a second motor lorry, the Chairman supported the suggestion, siaaing another one was necessary to Pliable the works of the Council to T.o curried on successfully and expeditiously. •Mr Ward endorsed the valuable v.V.rk oi the motor lorry, Inii he tlnnghi the Council should not involve itself in any further purchase of machinery iill their test ease in the Courts was decided. If they had word through that they could eolle'-t the motor fee* he would support the obtaining of another lorry. •Mr Searle thought that for short run* horses and drays were best and lorry foe*long runs, lie urged the ue e**ity of continuous repairs at llerih.ari. lor which a horse and dray wouhl 1.0 the best and most economical. Mr DuTT approved of the suggestion of Mr Searle for the Council to procure a hor*e and dray oi it* own for tr.e Hnrili.tri roads. He al*o approved of tile necessity ol obtaining another motor lorry for the middle and northern district. hut suggested holding over the proposal for a month.

Tin* suggestion to Isold tin; question of a motor lorry over was agreed in.

Mr Scarlo asked for leave to move that a horse and dray he procured, hut later stated ho would deter moving until a later meeting. Mr Ward said that in view of .the financial stringency he did not favor the obtaining of a horse and dray.

At the present time it was the motor cars that were cutting up the roads and till they had an opportunity of collecting fees from motor car and lorry owners he did not ,see the necessity of improving the roads. There were no pot holes till the motor car came along. It was resolved to request Messrs Stuart and Chapman to take the steps required to saleguard traffic ou the tramline, the Chairman to interview the firm on the subject.

Erom the Secretary of tlie IvokatahiKoitemngi Farmers’ T'nion, urging votes for Station road at cost off LRiOU; flood traffic bridge at Wliilev’s to provent hold up on Kokatahi road ; si : !i(l ojK'ii crossing Jit Koiterangi near Mr (bidfrey’s, at cost of 1712. Received. Mr Jeffries took up the attitude that these matters should have conic* through the riding representatives. This attitude was endorsed by the Chairman, Messrs Keenan, Ward and Cliesterman.

Erom James Mancra, applying for position of roadman for Ilarihari district.—Received; to he filed.

BOLD HEAD ROAD TRAMWAY. Messrs Stuart and Chapman, T.tit., wrote as follows: —

We duly received yours ol the 1-lth inst., and have to apologise for the delay in replying. This was due to the writer being absent from Ross for Mime time.

We have read the letter sent to you hy the Farmers’ Union and in reply we would point out that we have carried and art* carrying all goods offered to us according to our agreement with vour Council.

Regarding the ballasting of the road so as to permit of stock traffic we may say that since the New Year we have repaired our tramway bridge over (trant’s Creek and have replaced tlio close decking so ns to make it availaide for stock driving. We have also ballasted that portion of our tramline between (Irani's Creek and the point a here the line junctions with the Hold Head Road, just south of the (now destroyed i Mikomm Mill. Without this portion of the track the Hold Mead Road route is quite useless for any e1,:.*., of trall'c other than our own and we had already completed this work before receipt of your letter, with the interests of the Southern settlers in our mind.

There are still a lew places on the road where the ballasting has suffered owing to horse and stock traffic, but these are now being repaired and in a few days there should be an excellent stock track right through from the Kakapotahi river to Hrant’s creek. Received; a copy to he sent to the Ilarihari Farmers’ Union.

llt IK 111 K A-ROSK ROAD Bill DOES. The Resident Engineer (Mr .1. D. Millies) advised a, follows: I have to advise you that the Minister has now agreed that the bridges at the following creeks he fully reconst meted : L Ornuite Creek at I-7f miles reconstruction ion K rutty Creek at 0 miles reconstruction 7-70 Horse-hoe Bend at U miles reconstruction 100 Totara at 17 miles reconstruction 1-700 Lift 1.70 Besides the above, a stun of Lfff'O will be required for necessary repairs to the following bridges ami culverts: Smith Creek Bridge 10-7 Deep Creek 1.7 ( lari'* Creek .'to Kir*! Bridge Hokitika side Kokatalii Track 2-7 Platform Bridge »V Culverts between Ross Track ,V liuatapii 20 Small Culverts 80 ,C2?O Ii i* therefore proposed to issue Lilt 1.7(1 Ireo for new construction and LI Oil LI for L2 for repairs. Will you please send me in proposals tor the new i-nnsl ruction *n that Hi" authority can he applied lor. Received as very satisfactory: Overseer Millner to draw out prnpO'iil* as souii as possible. DEPUTATION. Mr M. Houston waited on the Council in ro fere nee to the lease of ihe ferry reserve at Big Wanganui, stating I hat Mr Hurley was not prepared to offer more than L 2-7 per year for the lease. Mr Hemic had made very large improvements totalling over C 2700. while the allowance lor improvements was only L 1.71). Mr Hemic wired stating that he considered a fair rental would he C2O per

.111 Ward slated the Council had based it* rental on I to .7 per cent oti lhe nnilupioveil value ol the reserve. It bail been reduced from Lfi.'l to Llo per year, and he did not see what grounds the Council could reduce it further. .Mr I>o tf said Air Mende bad apptir*. eiiilv made a good deal. The Council expected to get the rental it had fixed and lie did not see how (hey could rej dime the rental arranged which was a j reasonable one. Mr Jelfries said lie had no sympathy with Mr Hemic, tint he did have sympathy with Mr Hurley who had apparently Im-cii liii'led. The renewal of the lea'" had been eliered to Hemic at L 1.7 and u had been point blank rcj fused. They could not give a eoiiees- ■ xion to one and not give it to all th ■ I oi bet reserve lessees. Mende had pro viiiUsl;. bad a lease for 171 years itl I.T ; Mr Cliesterman said the position was I an linlortunate r.iu for the le w h i.see, | but he did not see wliat the •Council ! < mild tin in the matter. The Chairman said the question was !an union unate one for Hurley, lie was afraid that the rental would have to stand. Mr Murdoch suggested that the subject be again deferred for a month, the ( lerk to siihiiiii a report to the Council oil the whole points involved. ! hi* v.a* approved and being seeeiided !i\ Air Jelfrios and carried. TENDERS. For Little Wanganui Track was received from T. Molly and It. Kodden at Lldl). The only tender, and it was accepted. For culverts in Wanganui district a tender was received from A. J. Searle, Ilerepo. at L!>.7. The tende r was accepted. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 1. —Your Committee lias the honor to report that the accounts presented for the month of May, 1021, have been carefully examined, and bog to recommend that the amount as approved totalling LI 100 10s 2d, be passed for payment. 2. That L 2.7 he appropriated for a libraries’ grant, the amount to he allocated similarly to last year, omitting M ehoka where there is now not any accommodation house.—Received.

OVERSEER'S MONTHLY REPORT. I have the honor to report upon the nrogress of works during the month of .May : NORTHERN RIHINO. Kutnara to Kapiton Cleanup; Old Formation £do. This work was completed for a distance of 70 chains in a fairly satisfactory manner. Kumara to Kapiton. £doo grant. The contractors for tliid work were occupied nearly the whole of the month in clearing the old formation of gorse and blackberry and in consequence only completed two chains of "rubbing and ten chains of formation.

Wain;on Crook Bridge Protection, £ - JdO grant, tvas commenced, work being confuted to blocking ait overflow

channel that was causing'damage to the road; also to cartage of material for the upper retaining wall. Continual small Hoods prevented the work being continued without interruption. Wnimeu Creek Bridge Protection £'•7o. was commenced, on the Ith. of the month, and continued to completion. A very substantial job lias been made of this portion which is constructed with manuka scrub in layers well loaded with large stone. The County motor was employed for a week in the haulage of manuka scrub from Callaghan's Bond, and stone from between Stafford and Wainiea. The cost of haulage over this distance by im'se team, would be prohibitive. Kumara Junction Road was repaired uitu gravel, being cut up a good deal ly heavy traffic during wet weather. Portions of this road are worn very thin. In some places tile lormation is showing indicating that a coat ot gravel will soon be necessary to carry ordinal\ traffic. Had holes and ruts were repaired on Lanikins-Loopline. Watson s. Kumara Beach, Ilokitika-Kumara. and the lower portion of Awate.na Road. Flood damage repairs were completed to Chesterfield Road, creek channel* and bridges, scrub and gorse growth cleared from Kapiton and Callaghan s Road, culverts repaired and decking renewed on culverts on Kumara .lunction and bridges oil Hokilika-Kumara roads. Water-tables were cleaned on Kumara Beach, Lnrnkin’s-I.o.'pliiie. I lokitika-Kumara, Awatuna and Blue Spar to Arabian roads, and a culvoit recently destroyed by ffond on I’.rad!av's road reconstructed and filmed m order. Manuka scrub was cut lor upnirs to A rnlmrn River Protection above Mnlfray’s and HungelToni bridges, hut not carted owing «'» ,lu ' County motor not being available for haulage. Deleetive decking was moved and repaired on W nimea ' reek. Kapiton Creek and Waiiiua dees Bridge at Awatuna. CENTRA!- HIDIN':!.

Wall Road Metalling, Lb7t) grant. Wilmot and Chance, contractor* «n* s t a fit'll, hut owing to wet weather were not advanced sufficiently to allow a progress payment to be made on the work. Kokalahi Bridge protection. J-d' "rant, was not proceeded with owing to Hie river being above norm.il for the "■ renter portion of the month. Repairs w,.,v i Heeled to I lokitika-Kumara Road by filling the worst lades with gravel. ' Water-tables were cleaned on Blue Shir, Hokitika-Haii Hail. Hati-llau Hake Kanicri, lower Kokatalii. Buck Creek. (Taylor's and Ro*s road*, aim eiiero.l. king gorse ami blackberry growth removed I rom Hake Kaincii. Tiokitika-1 lau I lan. the upper end oi Blue Spur. Ai t hui'.- town, and the approaches Hokitika River Bridges. Boss Hoad motor worn hide* were repaired. ami water-tables cleaned on I lokitika Kauieri Road: al-o deleetive decking r*. iiewed on Shaiiamloah Creek

Bridge. Bad hoics were repaired with gravel on Bower and Ui>;er lvokatahi. bake Kanicri. Koiterangi. Arlhurstnwn. 80-* mol I lokit ika-l lail Han lload*. The upper end of Artiiur.1 1 iivn road wa* partly eleauetl ol gorse und hlaekherrv and bad bole* retair.-.i with gravel between tile l.inlge am! Ihe old Maori Mill. One defective box fillvcll on Koiterangi Hoad wa* renewed with 12in. diameter concrete pipes, and one small culvert on bower Kokatalii Road ivar V. into •'• ,: "al renewed with Pin. diameter pipes. I >cfeelive decking wa* removed and renewed on Kanieii River Bridge. Kokatalii Road. Also on ,everal small bridges in the Kokatalii and Koiterangi district and on Ro-s Road. ( onerele

|ii;»e roust met ion wa* eantinui'd at Kanicri, and .'« i-Sin.. :t-7 P-’m. and I-. (tin. (liameter pipes lonifileted and rimivod from the mould* ready lor use. Lower Kokatalii Dram* were cleared ol blaekerry and other growth between R. Whilcy’s Mill and » ninmiug I'oad. a total .li-tanee of .72 chain.* A delective riilvelt on Lower Kokatalii Road at th" ii-! i haio peg imt oi any

|., r rou'l 'Jra'ieige w.i- reuiT-eil. uni the i.U'i-way iilb il in t > road I*, 'el with large stones eoateil with gravel. Faulty d"oking was renewed on Hokitika River. Deeii Creel., and Irosiy ( reek Bridge.*. Ro*s Road, and between oil and li'l eitbi;- yard* of broken metal used in rep.airing Bo.** I’qad between Mannuui Tram Crossing ami Irosly ('reek. W.'IU'ITIEBN RIDI.NC. l a I'Tintaine Road ixMemion .C-ltiti grant. The contractor lei' this v ors ha* made good progress, having e.anplet'.'d the clearing. IP> chain- oi :nl'iiialion. an outlet dieiu 2dli links in length, and a 12m. diameter concrete pipe culvert 21 let ill l"iig;b. Wanganui Flat ami l a Eontaii.e Roads were raked with the I'.ing drag, and nr. ltd

hrobiOi ..a 15c>!:.wt*o:i l’o.ad. Wanganui Elat and Petersen Road- ''ere repailed with gravel ever short distances. and lined damage repairs effected to a i iilvert. oil Wanganui I'fin Road. The upper oat tion of Waitalia Settlement Road w.-.s attended to !'• making rut* anil breaking metal ill the worst places. Saadi slips were remove •; from Ro.-* Road and slip.* partly clear c-.l from Totara Road ami i;.a <. wat".'ta!Jos th.ani'd. and bole- lepniivd on Vi n illiun.se Rond. Pits sti'inned a; ; tlooci SO!, til's icpaired cl! (. "Mietery Lid: and oilier portions of llo** P.c..01. and cleelor.g removect on Totara l.’i'.er. Sc 'title f'reo!;. and -'wei.ei ..inalloc

(lap::! i.ORIC,' WORK. | have- lb. !. i to re p.irt idat an

igher motor I'..ry i; neee.'sary to co. with lb ineie. 1 load mainteaii.r hi the Northern. < •eat::.' and iv.irtion oi ill" .'southern i id' .!: -. A horse and d'-v is also iec|Uii'c':i imtly at Ilarihari to cope with tit- it; leasing road i. pairs ."iitsec! hy heavy tr:c!li.i/iiring last month two hor-e.-, iml dravs were eintdoyed at Kumar::. :"-i> at frtaii’ I'd., ola at Kauieri and Weed stock, one at Kokatalii. one at Koiteiangi. two: on the Ro * Road. i.i:o* i; ail. Evv a with this uamii 'r ihe

ale being destroyed faster than they an b repaired by this melli-ri. I!.’- 1 knr.sc and dray averaged six voids c material daily, whn-h co-.l Is L’d j • . nhie yard. Over tliis distant e the Comity motor could deliver !’J to cubic yards daily, equivalent to the output of seven horses and drav“. at a cost of ds (id per yard, and in .suitable pin cos where nits are mailable with a reasonable height oi grave!, the cc-i ( odd hr .-nil further reduced. In addition. if the eost in each taso about tin - same. the more ra;in. method of delivery ol material i- iia - I he. - .;: r. With two machines available for it. : - ! v.i.r!;. greater ccntioitiv end:: }; . ex. raised than is possible with one machine. For ist-Jance. one luiy cridc ir i i.i Koknt.ihi for a wee!; or a tortnight. or to Kumara. and star there until the road uo.k was {hustled. instead of bring forced to run to and fro to work for one day here and then - with no time to oomph t - any work. The repair work on bower Kokatahi Road now being effected by tbe County motor, was authorised hefore Ea.ster but pressure of work lias prevented it being put in hand before this week.

ORDER PAPER. The Chairman moved:— “That the accounts presented for the month of May, 102-1. as revised and recommended for payment i>y the Finance Committee, amounting to JL'l 19(5 Ifls 27! he passed for payment."—Seconded by i- Ward and carried. The Chairman moved:— “That all existing; committee-- !e discharged, and the Council proceed to appoint fresh Committees as follows: (a) —Finance Committee: Crs. Duff. (Chairman). Searle, Keenan and Ward. (l)) —Public Works Committee : Crs. Jeffries (Chairman). Chesterman. Murdoch and lion Griniinond. (<•) Mining Coniiiiittvo : Crs. .'iurdoch (Chairman). Dull. Chesterman, and Hun Crimmond. ((| j— C uiin illors to chei|U's and contracts: County Chairman. Crs. Dali. ~ard. Jeffries and .Murdoch.—SecutUeu hy Mr Ward. .•■r Jeffries favoured the Council as a whole lieiny. the Finatnc Committee, considering all members should have a lull Ltra>p of the linauecs. especially as the coining year promised to he a stringent one.—Supported by Messrs Searle and Keenan. Mr Ward thought the suooestioii unnecessary and unwiehlly and approved of the course followed in the* past.

The motion was agreed to. The Chairman moved:— “That the Council consents I i the pro(liimaliell hy hi- Kxcelleliev Ihe Covc-ruor-tfeneral i.f the Dominion of Xew Zealand in the New Zealand Gaz-

ette as a road ail that portion of laud hoi no part ot Lit I ol Seel ion I Til. pluck 1. Toar.dia Survey Disiikt in the Westland l and District, cob red led on the plan uumiierod I’.W.D. as now heltir.- the t ouucii ; ami 1 a

like iii'oclamatiou agrees to the ch.-my of I lull poll ion of the road iv.-erve nmarked on the saul plan and colored jereen. which is not required, and may erant sin h closed portion oi the said road in oxeliant'e lor the iirsl. men-tinut-il poitioii of laud “iveil lor a lead hy the owner fho root." —Seconded hy .Ur Dull' and carried.

Mr Crimnuind moved: — “I hat a vote of I’li! he authorised for poncra! renairs to the Callery (ini'ye trac-k i<> re-open same for prespeetors. the expenditure lo he approved hy headman Nolan."—Seconded hy Mr Jeffries and carried.

Mr Crimmond moved :—“ I hat a further vole of .CIO lie authomed in assist in ro-oi.i-ninn I lotara V-iao lintelv badly damaged by slip- and Hands."-—Seconded liv Mr Searle and carried.

The Chairman, by leave moved “Ilia! I lie members oi I la* ( ontral Putins be a sub-eoinmittco to licentiate with tin owners and 'others interested in eftions niljoimujt McA r! Imr .Poad for the extension ol the road at the easti-m end. a distance of about ill chain at an estimated cost ol L'ldit. the f ouni-il to provide not inert* than CiO t.ouaids lin* cost of the work." -Seconded by \lr Duff and carried.

Tin I nicotine was fixed Tor Tuesday, duly !•). The Council rose at 1.1(1 n.m.