WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1924, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

- COr.NTV CHAIRMAN'S RKI’ORT. DISTRICT VISITS. In the interim since last moetiiip. portions of the Central and Southern Ridinps have hcon visited. At an early opportunity a further iiispeetion will he made of roads etc. in the Con tral Ridiup, also of portions of the Northern Ridiup. The visit to the Kokatahi-Koiteraupi district was made in company with my eiilleapiics. Crs. (Tiestermaii and Keenan, and the roads which were traversed were I'onii.l to he in fairly pond order. We had the benefit of the advice of the County Overseer in repaid to several matters Inoupht under our mitpe. and several minor works in the di-ii'iui were authorised. At Koiteranpi a deputation from the l.m-al Rraiu-h of the l-kirmers' I’niuti "'amet. and several district matters were hroupht forward. These had reilsoiiiihle attention a- far as luiuls permitted. Some m-w roadinp i- reipiired which must lie the suhieel of a special plant. A wire bridpc is rc'iiiircd at Hokitika Curpe, and this matter I put specially before the Minister ol I üblic Works when lately in Welliuptoli. I am Impelul the necessary assistance will he pi ven. when no time will he lost in the creel ion of the bridpe which " ill lie 111 useful public service. Tile vi? it South c:\ti-nde.l over llirce 'lays, a iluy shorter than inl-mdcd oripinally. owiiip to my recall to Wcllinpt, a in reference to the royalties (piestion. Cr. .lelfries aecnnpanied me on the iourm-y, Cr. Searle heinp absent unavoidably, while llmi Orimmuiul was

,-npapeil in Welliuptoli. Several of the district roads were inspected almip ih- rniite, iiieliidinp Ruatapu, W aiiaha, l'vaii', l-'erpusoii. l iltcr-W anpaniii. Haddock. Roliertson. Watarna Flat. Hr.null. Scally. Whale. I ."an Rpi.-k and Okaritu roads. Here apain t |,e di'irhl roads were lonnd in very sati'laciory order. Several r«-t|uirc-i,„ ill, were limiiphl under the notice of the party, end as tar as pussiPle llies-- "ill lie at to tided t-<>-TPe fullnwinp recnmiiletulatiniis are

Waitatia Set I P-nii-iit Road. Creek diversion to avoid t"o open erossilips. iiil! iM r 'll receivinp shed at mad jioiei inn. anil improvement "I road approach. [•Pail' Read.— Kxeelleiit drainape w,„k lias been carried out with the suPsid.v iilVered liy the Council. and this should lie extended if pussiPle. ’ll . Roadman resident in the district was. directed In spend a lew days clear--1.. ~ ~ u to prevent overtlowiup the ~.a-l. and In pravel the mad where nei -. ssary with the suitable spoil I rum 111., drain.

I’erpnsoii Road.-After a i-iinferemo with Cr. .lellries. il was decided to send the motor lorry to the district tor a month when tl"- days are lui.per to a ~ ; si In ora velliup a purl ion ol the | . J.R,, ~|-|.| t a culvert. tin- tim-uldi-P will he supplied at a ei-neessii II price hy one o| the set l lei s. Tetaliu Road'. - Tin- approach l" I". CJmin's was approved. *1 he approach U, Hie post uftice ivnuires "ideiimp lor Hie eoiiveliieiM I vehicle Irallic. and a. iPe road i- in cl.arpe ol the I’ul.lie Works D.-pa'-imciil. ih" matter has Pee,l r.Terred to that 'piariei-. di-aiiuiee allei lilio an uueuil'truiT- ,..|’ was asked for. hut can hardly Pe entertained al present.

Watarna Roads. Mel!rid-’s PrideSe,,|iv “uadi was on the point ol eoinpleti-M, "hen er -I. At '--a" |:Jock an apprnach to the lesi'leiue ol Mr Wal-h "as approved on a siih-ely basis, and al Ihe reipn-'. of the -'-t----11.. i.. (P . (eruii.-ut has Peeii ur;;cd t„ ,n-oee.-d "ith the . oust rm-tion of I!ii-Pardson road. The l.o"er Watarna mcK a little cxiciisinn, hut sonic drainiue is to l.e attended to tiist. Improved aci ■» is rc(piir.-d ahmil the (tax null "id'll I' to re-tart slmrtly. •j p, (iei ye lea l I'-'i'iU' '•••"»«•• 'l'' ' v. 111, (lie mao' read as a- a vote is ,-n ailaiilc. A -lock route is In he exphir-d I rum l ower Watarna to Kotopi,',,,. The Watarna river e,.mimics to make .-erious inr. ad- into the line land j[.,j, ,|ie valley, hut effective protee-;i-.u is a prnblem. (Ikm-ilu road reipiires regular atleii- , j t< „ ran-, the Ila Hie sal i-laei orily. an I some -mall work is m-e,-ssary m tin* nr.iin Some minor work- roipiired ahont !!oailm:in Nolan’s di-tl i. t were miihorj..,.il. Sal isl’.ietury aiTTUioeim-nts were |, |- i In, i-einterun’eiit ot the expeseii I-Milin oil Hie c-eaii liearll helo.v (,p.Some attention was authorise,| a!-,, ia Has track leadiit" t" the (Mlloeroa. | W almamil mad-. r ad was ui-p- i.-.l hy Ovei-'.-er -MillPut repairs will not l.e ant horise T , i{| 1 1 p. av\ ia rl ill" i i lire wood ... Tim road "as not built for Huil heavy . ill's ot tratlie. anti where (P,. soil lei- aliU'C t!:e mads they will Pa-,-,. io put up with the inconvenience caii-etl hv themselves. I!addoek-Rob-eri-i-,1 l oad eamioet ion should lie made a- Siam as pi.s-ihle. With the lorryin the district Inr a ii-rio.l. and the coed work «H the resident roadman. , !,c loealiiv should he well served with mail- over the eomiiic dairy season. If eii-i-miistaiu-es permit I pnrposi.

cniiiiuiiio my visit further South i11,,-mi October n.-xl when I will travel at Ica-t as lar a- Mahilahi. ROY ALT IKS RKI’ORT.

.Matter' developed rapidly in reyard !.: th«* (.’oimnission ivpori, and Cr. Munl.ieh who was in Welliiiyi,.,, 1,,.,1 the opportunity of eonfeirint; w-;,|i ihc C.-a-T ti'-mhe-i-s ol Parliament as io !’.,. I, oT i- inr-:• of action. An early mt-rvic-.v with iha Priii’e Miuister wa: decided ui'oii, and ii was arrancyd lor the Coast and North Island Counties to lie represented. A preliminary conference with Member- of Parliament wa- held, whereat the

whole subject was ventilated, and the deputation followed next day. It was unfortunate that the Rt. lion. Prime Minister was indisposed and was not able to take the deputation, which was heard hy Sir F. i>. Roll, Sir Heaton Rhodes and the Hon A. D. McLeod, on behalf of Cabinet. It was unfortunate also that Cr. Murdoch was called away, hut before leaving he prepared a precis of the ease and this was placed lielore the Ministers. The ease for the Counties was supported hy the representatives of the local bodies present. .Many members of Parliament were present, and we had their assurance that when the matter cues helore the House, the Royal Commission report will 1-e fully discussed. Cabinet has yet to consider the report and at the same time tlie Ministers at the deputation "ill report to their ealleacues. I believe the claims will have some rocoettition, for a striuie ease was made out. and will l»- supported b,v a number >T im inkers ol Parliament "dm arc now well vcr-i-d with the position. It is the most important matter, I believe. which has cropped up in the history of tlit* local bodies concerned in the royalties (piestinn. The matter should he watched closely, and a small committee set up tu work in conjunction with the other local bodies and the members of Parliament rocardin.i: de-velopie.'-nts to ensure thv fullest consideration r.f the matter hy the Cuvrriimeiit. PI’IU.IC M’ORKsT At an interview with the Hon Cuates, Minister of Public Works, arraiicemenis were made lor the earlier expenditure of "rants under a new system, the details nf which were briiiß worked out with the District F.uuiticcr at (! rev month. This should en-

sure votes heme cxii-elided. liiueli ear!

irr. and avoid the necessity (,f so maiiv . votes reeim-ino each year and so h.-ad-ine the Iv-timates. ; The lb.ii Minister made an important statement also in regard in the main south road wlii'-h it is proposed to put in e"ud order and permit idl Ira flic- yvitheut undue r-eolations. fresh votes asked tor which am- cut of the recent inspect inn of the Ridines. were noted, and "ill he duly considered as funds permit. r l lie inistcr "as v-.-rv cm-dial and tricndl.v amt seemed anxious to belli as tar afuuds would permit. In eoliellldi lie this outline report. 1 desire to aikimwlede" the ready help Ilf Mr O’Rrien M.l’.. in n-eard to .several matt-r-, a- also for eotiri.-sies extended. Also .M.l- Holland M.l’. and ollu-r melidiers who si,owed not iinly „ lively interest in the claim- put forward. hut also a well erounded knnw|,,,lec of the facts and h-eal p.isitiini relatin'' t" the claims ol the local bod-i,-s for royalties. The Hons Michel mid (■ rimmnnd "ere present at all mectinns, and joiaed in ready help t" „ssi-l not only this, but all the other local bodies concerned.