WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1924, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER Jtli

The Council met at 2.1.1 p.m. I’rcft sent- y lessrs E. A. Wells (County Chairman), W. Jeffries, \V. Senile, .T. A. Murdoch, T. W. Duff, Is. Ward, and M. Keenan. The minutes wore confirmed and outward correspondence approved. IN WAft I) Cult It ESI’ON DF.XCE. From 11. Ward acknowledging letter of .sympathy.—Received. From Treasury, notifying accrued revenue.—Deceived.

From .Minister of hands, Wellington, re tract of hush country on main south road between .M ikonui river and Ferguson's, and advising matter had heen investigated and stating that State Forest Service was prepared to grant to Stuart and Chapman Coy., a block of standing timber equivalent in value to the area which the Company will allow to he taken from floss liorough Endowment for scenic purposes.—Deceived ; a copy sent to Stuart and Chap-

From Department of Public Works, Wellington forwarding copy of Proclamation re taking and closing roads in filock 1, Toaroha Survey District, Westland County.—Deceived. From .Minister of -Mines, Wellington, stating that application for prospecting assistance from Havill and Straight, could not be granted.- deceived. From General -Manager, N./C. Kailways, Wellington, acknowledging letter re running of sheep trucks on tramway from 11 oss to Kakapotahi, and stating same was being considered.-—Received. From Agricultural Department, Wellington forwarding certificate of Slaughter-house license for John Hewer Snr., llarihari.— Received.

From Inspector of Health, Hokitika, forwarding report.— Received ; it was tesolved to forward a footnote on the report to the Hospital Board, which recommended a nurse being stationed at Olira.

From Jas O’llrien -M.P., Wellington, ' forwarding letter received from Minister of Public Works, with regard to deputation from Council in reference to (Jorge bridge, acknowledging support. —Received ; referred to Overseer as to probable cost. From same, with regard to Okarito Hailmur acknowledging support.—Re-' ceived. !

From same, informing that Cabinet did not think it would, he possible to bring down legislation to return halves to local bodies this session.—Received. 1 From same, 'stating deputation waited on Prime Minister re question of Timber Royalties.—Received.

From same, advising that Prime Minister had referred the timber royalties to a special Cabinet meeting.—Received. Mr Jeffries asked that, the letter be published. Mr Murdoch said he would go a step further. He did not think Mr MaSse.v had treated the 2-1 members of Parliament who had formed a deputation, in a satisfactory manner. The Council should voice their disapproval of the delay which the flovernnienl was making over the payment of royalties.

Mr Ward said he was not unsatisfied with the contents of the letters. He was pleased to see that Sir Francis I Jell was agreed that the local bodies were entitled to one half of the timber royalties. He was surprised at the admission of Sir F. Bell that the Government could not pay the limber royalties at present as otherwise the ’Forestry department would he unable to carry on. He thought this was an extraordinary attitude to he taken up. The Chairman agreed with the previous speakers and felt that the Council should make a further appeal pointing out that they were disappointed at the treatment the Council was

leccivmg. From County Clerk, Taumurunui, lorwardino copy of letter forwarded to Prime .Minister re Timber Royalties.— Received.

Fli'lll ( nllllly* ( li.'i 1,, Recl'lnli, sl.it in;; that .Mr Hudson had been advisee to co-operate with Mr O'Brien re Timber Royalties.— Received. From County Clerk, To Karaka, advising that tlie member lor the district had been informed to support agitation for restoration of timber royalties.- Received. From County Clerk, Heathcote, stating that representative had been communicated with to co-operate with •Mr O’Brien re timber and Flax royalties.- Received. From J. Hilbert, ICumara, applying that the rent due on claim Xo id 7 0.1 situated at Shamrock Flat, he recommended to the .Minister of Mines as not recoverable. Received; to he recommended. From Stuart and Chapman, Ross re loading stock on railway trucks for transportation over railway from Wnitaha Junction to Ross.—Received. A general discussion took place with a view to the carriage of stock and it was resolved that the town memliers he a committee to wait on the Railway Commissioners at their approaching visit with authority to arrange for the reipie.sL for carriage of slock to he acceded to. From Foley and l.ockhead, Waiho (huge, asking that the .tyrant for prospecting, he held in abeyance.—Received. l''rom Mrs 11. ilaretta, Kiimara, enquiring about County track situated outside Kumara Borough Boundary leading from Hillmans road, and asking if same could he made into a dray road.-- Received; referred to Overseer and .Air Murdoch. From Overseer Milliter, Kanicri, statin'' it would ho advisable to send County Motor Lorr.v south in November or December to cart gravel from Wanganui River to Fergusons Road.— Received and agreed to. i It was resolved to ask Overseer Mill-] tier to report on the most feasible I scheme for overcoming the flooding off Kokatahi road near Whiley’s and probable cost. From Roadman Nolan reporting on district works.—Received. From Prime Minister notifying Armistice Bay would lie observed on 11th November and suggesting suitable arrangements be made to mark the occasion.—Received. From (!. and B. Davidson quoting C2O for providing under carriage for transport for power plant for crusher. —Received ; consideration deferred. From Bridge Foreman Reynolds reporting progress with pile driving for Kakapotahi bridge and stating the structure would he ready for lamb 1 traffic.—Received. 1

From Roadman Dale expressing disinclination to act as stock ranger respecting witndoring cattle.—Received. The Chairman said he did not think any harm was done by appointing the roadmen as rangers. He moved that Mr Dale s be asked to reconsider his position. The cattle question must be attended to and he thought the roadmen were the most suitable men to assist in keeping down the trouble. Seconded by Air Searle. who gave an instance of damage done by wandering cattle.

Mr Keenan said he thought it was a good job there were some wandering cattle on the roads ns they protected the pedestrians from damage from motor cars.

Air Ward said they were only asking the roadmen to do a fair thing. All the Council asked the roadmen was to be loyal to the Council and report any wandering cattle that came under their notice.

Air Alurdoch said lie thought that

there was a great deal in what Mr Keenan said. The motor car drivers had much to be blamed for a.s they were sometimes unreasonable. They even objected to pedestrians carrying pocket knives and similar articles a.s they were liable to cause punctures to their tyres, in the event of the pedestrian being knocked down. (Laughter.) Mr Searle denied the suggestion of Mr Keenan that motor drivers ran down cattle on the road for the joy of doing fio. The motion was agreed to. From Roadman Nolan reporting on district works, stating wandering stock was not serious and asking for the lorry and grader when the weather is favourable. —Received. From Overseer Millncr reporting on alternative routes to proposed bridge site at Hokitika Gorge.—Received. From same notifying arrangements made regarding wandering stock.—Re-

ceived. From same reporting regarding collapsed bridge on Ross-Tvokatahi track £2o. Received.

From same estimating loading site for sheep at Kakapotahi would cost £2O. —Received. From same monthly report on district works in several ridings.—Re-

reived. . Fmin Motoimnn Robinson supplying particulars of work performed by County motor lorry.—'Received. From F. .T. Andrews applying tor :> grant towards the upkeep ol track at Kaniei'i Lake.—Received. A petition from W. J. "Donnelly and live others was presented by Mr Senrle, in connection with a request for road access at Wataroa Flat near R. Adamson’s. -Received. Mr Searle saul the mad required was an urgent necessity and he urged the request he acceded to. It was stated there was d} acres that Mr Adamson wanted lor, while the valuation was .C. 3 per acie. If the County secured the right lor a road the (iovernment would make a grant lor the work. Mr .1 elf lies said the position was that on the north hank of the A\ a taro a there were settlers who did not reside there permanently and they wanted access to the south hank to their holdings. The proposed road would have the grave danger ol river encroachment, lie said a suggestion had heen lnadt lor a request to ho made for a committee of the Council, the Commissioner of Crown Lands and those settlers interested, to enquire into the extension of a permanent road from the J.ittle Wanganui. he’.ow Mt. Hercules to open out the country on the sea side oil the north of Wataroa. He moved to that effect. Seconded hy Mr Cliesterman, who considered the proposal very favourable. Mr Ward said he could not quite grasp the position. One proposal was for an expenditure hy the Council of a small sum, while another proposal brought forward meant an expenditure of at least thousands of ]founds. Re thought that the request of the settlers for the smaller scheme should have their 'favourable consideration, and lint allow a lew pounds to block the request of the settler*. ; }lr Seurle said he was not in iavot of the motion. It would east the | Council half the amount to make a temporary mad 'that would not lasi 1 more than a season, and then the green ' Has would not he able to lie carted out. ! Mr Murdoch raised a point of order ' that the matter was dealt with at hist

meeting. | The Chairman ruled in favor of the

point of order. At the suggestion of Mr Jeffries, the motion was agreed to on the voices. Mr Jeffries retorted oil three matters reierred to him to retort at hast meeting. Received and approved. FIXAN'CF. COMM ITT KK. Voiir Committee has tlie honor to report that the accounts presented for the month of October have heeu carefully examined, and beg to recommend that the amount as approved, totalling; £|lo> 10d. le passed for pivincnt. Keci'ii c-'l and adopted. OVHRBKKR M L1.1.N F.ICS MONTHLY REPORT.

Hand Branch and Boucher’s Trade. Water-tables were cleaned oil Baku Ivanieri, Blue Spur, and Hokitika-Hau Ilati Bonds. Minor repairs were effected to Sunny Bight and short portions of Mill-town Hoads, and the branch track repaired and cleared between Milltown and the Araliura River. Urgent repairs were effected to very bad holes on Hokitika-Hau Hau Hoad. Defective decking was removed and replaced on bridges and culverts in Kokatahi and Kniterangi districts. Traffic planking was placed on a small bridge between T.ang Hoad and Baft Creek bridge. Portions of Bobinson Hoad drain was cleared of growth and small slips, and a short section of road drain completed below Bang Hoad. This work was abandoned until finer weather sets in. "Windblown trees were removed from Doughboy Road and over-hanging scrub cleared from sides of Municipal Hoad. The B.W.D. motor lorry was constantly employed during the month carting timber. pipes, stone and gravel in various parts of the ruling. Crushing operations were continued for a few days at Slip Hill, and the storage lull filled with crushed metal in readiness for urgent repairs. XOBTfTKBX RTDTXO.

Portions of Araliura A alley. One Mile, and Davidson’s Mill Hoad were repaired with gravel, ruts raked, and stone broken on Araiuira Valiev Hoad. Repairs were effected to damaged portions of Araliura Hirer protection below Palmer’s Creek, and holes repaired on TCumara Beach Hoad. KOFTHF.RX RTDTXCL \ collapsed bridge oil Boss-Kokatahi track was renewed with :C‘2o stringers and decked with'B x 3 planking. A portion of Wonlhouso Hoad was cleared and gradded with the large grader All low places requiring metalling will lie attended to during Xovember. Drgent repairs were effected to the worst portions of Petersen’s l’oad, pin tions of Wanganui Flat Hoad and defective stringers removed and replaced on a small bridge on 'Wanganui Flat Hoad below Haddock Hoad. A short drain was construeled on l.a Fontaine Hoad, between l.a Fontaine Creek Bridge and Purcell Creek.

Lower Knkapotahi Bridge—The working party under the direction of Bridge Foreman 11. Reynolds have made fair progress with the work of pile driving. The hard nature of the river bottom, and the wet weather experienced have prevented the work advancing more rapidly.

ORDF.H PAP HR. The Chairman moved:— “That the accounts presented for the month of October 1921, as revised and recommended for payment by tho Finance Committee, amounting to £‘lb33 10s 10d he passed for payment.”- Seconded l>y Mr Duff and carried. The Chairman moved: “That John Peake he appointed Valuer of Mining Property within the County of Westland for the ensuing year in accordance with the provisions of the Bating Act, and its amendments.” Seconded by Mr Duff and carried. Mr Chr.storinan referred to the request of Kokatahi settlers for a track round the head oi bake Kanieri to connect with Dorothy Falls. It was stated that application had been made for a grant, hut it had not been recommended by tho District Kngineer.

The next meeting of the Council was lixed for December Olh. The Council rose at 1.20 p.m.