WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1925, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, DEC, Silt

Tho Council inot at 2. p.m. Present -Messrs T- It. Chcstermnn (Countv Chairman), H. A. Wells, J. Donovan, W. Senrlc, W. Jeffries. Al. Keenan. .1. A. -Murdoch. T. \Y. T)uil. ami 1!. Ward. The minutes were continued and outward correspondence approved. deputation. Mr I). .). Kohoris waited on the Council in reference to road access to his property at I'.vatis Rond, lie expressed IDs willingness to carry out die work, at the engineer’s estimate. t„ complete the road. The Conned later discussed the matter, and it was decided to accept the offer of Mr Rohcris to carry out the work at the price stated. , INWARD CORK ICS POXI >FNCF. From Treasury, notifying accrued revenue.— Received. Kroni 11. J. Reynolds. Hokitika, thanking Conned lor expression of sympathy in recent herenvement. —Received. From -Minister of Public Works, acknowledging schedule of classification of rnaiis'within Westland Comity, and stating same would receive consideration.—Received. From Public Works Department, torwarding eopv of letter received from Chairman Main Highways Rond re contributions towards upkeep of Alain Highways in No. 12 District.—Received! From same, forwarding mileage Main Highways in the four counties.—

Recioved. . . From .Mines Department:, advising that the Minister of .Mines had approved „f „ grant of CSO. and Tourist Department agreed to provide another foO for the opening up of Buster I rack to the Callery. and asking Council to -ulim.il proiiosals to Inspector ol .Mines. Reel ton. for approval. .Received. It an- siali'd that proposals had been drawn up h.v Roadman Nolan. and supervised by I lie Overseer and bad lecu forwarded on to tlie 'Minister oi Mine-.

From same, with regard to rent due !, v Messrs llyndmaii and party staling same would ho treated as not recoverable.—Received. From Tourist Department, advising that CTO has been voted lor repairs to Dorothy Falls landing: also with regard to landing and track at Fake Mahinapua, stating an inspection was („ he made by the District Fngiiieor. when a reply would he forwarded. Re-

ceived. From Acting Dost master, Hokitika, re silver pines poles on Okarito Road, stating same are not the property of the Department.—Received. From Westland Progress l.eague. Hokitika, thanking Council for vote of Lot) towards cost of booklet.— Received . From .lames Park, County Solicitor, with regard to Bruce Bay Inland road. Received. From County Clerk. Otautau. forwarding circular referring to Main Highway’s Construction for Council's con side ra l ion.—- Received. From Secretary, Kumara Goldfield* Jubilee, thanking Onim-il for generous vote towards .luhileo Lund. —Received. From R. S. Cunningham, .Jacksons, asking for grant to put road leading front main road to Jacksons Station in order. Received: referred to Oversee r. From F. Faiigosen, Hokitika, as I i further sum plan d nit the I-climate* Inwards completion oi kumara -Kapilen road, hoping that, work can he Marled before Hist .March. I Received. From W. 11. l.ittlo, Koitcraugi. applying to have drain cleaned out in front of private property. Received: referred to the Overseer to deal with. From A. Brooks. Rimu, applying for aid to drive a low level tunnel at Soddon's Terrace, the distance to lie driven 2511 IT.- Received: recommended to luspi;pt”r ol Mines. From .1. I!. I.ootiev , on India ll ol Rualapu residents forwarding petition to have the Runtapu road put in repair.—Received ; already attended to.

From F. F. James, Okuru. with refi rciit-e to further complaints as to wimdenling stock.- ■ Received ; relerred to Okuru Advisory Committee for report. From J. A. Cut tame. Hokitika, forwarding petition with regard to road between Okuru and .Jackson’s Hay, and asking Tor Council’s co-operation in same.--Received : to he supported. From \Y. D. Nolan, Okuru, asking for authorisation ol €ls lo repair track up the Waialolo River: also reporting on complaint made by !'.. James... Rece i veil.

From Roadman Nolan, reporting damage to roads caused by recent Hoods.—-Received. From Alain Highways Hoard notilyiug visit to Coa.-t leaving Wellington after 15th January.— Received. From same stating statement regarding im reused payment required for main highways would he considered al the .January meeting of iln* Board.— Received.

From F. Newman. Kanieri. objecting in regard to tailing land lor Kanieri l ram road. Received. From County Solicitor advising course of action thereon to the effect that objector he asked to attend next meeting of the Council.--Received. It was resolved on the motion of Air Jeffries that 12th January be fixed fur receiving anv valid objection by Air Newman to the taking of the land. Seconded hv Mr Searh' and carried. From Wataroa Farmers' Union protesting against the County roadman being employed on the expenditure ol grants. Received. Air Jeffries moved the letter he referred to the Chairman, Treasurer and Southern members to report at next meeting. Seconded by Mr Searle and carried.

From I!. IV right. Christchurch Road, urging Unit the bridging ul’ \\ nitiion ( rock be "cue mi with at once.— Reccivoil : applieai.ion in be nnulc Ini' special authority to carry on the work. I'Ymn Kllcu Sullivan, Stafford, asking I'm* subsidy lor protect ivo works to proven l overflow of Waim-ea ("reek on property.— Received : referring 10 Oversee r to report. From •). Taylor. Kokntnhi. oilerinp: to as-ist with repairs to Xeilsen road, i lu* work being urgent to permit i iii |i| n* m reaching school.— Received: referred to Overseer to attend to. From C. .1. Nightingale, South Hokitika. urging Maliinai'.Uit Creek road be carried as tar a*. Atkinsons to give unpro veil access.—Received. From same, drawing attention to the bail state ol the beach route. -Received : referred to Overseer. From 11. Iloulahan. Ross, a.-king assistance with the improvements ol McLeod's road, Mikomti. Received: referred to Overseer. From das. Minehun. Mt. Ilenailes, asking that the road in K.K.R. I--. Little Wanganui, be improved.— Rei cived : referred to Overseer to inspect. From P. F. A. Arndt. Oknrito Forks, asking for grant of £s to repair MeRonaid's Creek track for prospecting purposes. -Received. Mr Donovan moved that Roadman .Nolan be authorised to clear the track. Seconded by Air Searle and carried. From Alotorman Robinson report oil lorry operations for past month.—Recei veil. From Roadman Nolan, reporting on district works, with special report on fi a x in i 11 road.—R eeei vei L From Overseer Alillner, monthly report on district works.—Received. Mr Donovan mentioned that there were a number of motor drivers in South. Westland who were not licensed.

It was resolved that drivers should be notified that they must lx? examined on their first visit to Hokitika.

Dealing with the Overseer’s report, it was resolved to apply lor a pound foi pound subsidy for Hood drainage at Kokatahi bridge. It was resolved that repairs to the approach of Arahurn bridge he attended to, the Council to find out of the €75 involved. It was resolved to vote a further €lO to complete tiic protection work near Moynihans. A subsidy of £ for € up to €lO was granted to Mr J. llowat. for drainage works at Artliurstown. L’rom Highways Board in regard to licenses for motor ears and lorries and urging prompt collection of fees.—Received. It was resolved that action be taken against those who have not registered. From same, in regard to the cost of detour roads in Wataroa district, stating no assistance was likely.—Received. From J. J. Mclntosh, asking in respect to the route of Petersen’s road extension that consideration he given to the suggestion made so as not to interfere with his section.—Received, and deferred to next meeting. From Diggers Sawmill Company complaining of state of Artliurstown toad and asking for early repairs.—Received. The Chairman said the road was in real good order, only heavy liom

continuous wet weather. From L. Gibb. reporting serious erosion in Dochert.v Creek and asking for urgent grant for repairs.—Received and Cl 5 voted. TENDERS. A tender from Hewlett and Mitchell was received for erection of Palmer’s Creek bridge and approaches at Co 10. Consideration was delerred, the Overseer to he relerred to.

No tender was received for Adamson Road, Lower Wataroa. FINANCE COMM ITTFF’S REPORT. I. —Ymir Committee has the honor in report that the accounts presented for the month of November, 1920, have been carefully examined and beg to recommend that the amount as approved, totalling- C 1.157 -Is 5d he passed lor

payment. 2. IT is Worship the Mayor and the Town Clerk waited on the Committee with respect to the visit of the Govet-mir-Oetieral. It was decided to recommend the Council to co-operate with the Borough of Hokitika in presenting a joint address of loyalty and in entertaining the A ice Regal Party by visiting Lite Hokitika Dredge ami Fake Kaitieri. ;i.—With respect to the claim of €:it> As from Wataroa Flaxmill Compnay, the Roadman’s report indicates that the Council has contributed €2!) for authorised work on a 9 lor C basis, and that in respect to Lite additional work done w ithout authority the ( outmittec recommends the Council should accept no liability.

I . Your Committee recommends ihitl the Council strongly supports the petition from the residents ol the far South urging the (oneminent to carry out a land set I lenient policy by opening no road access between the port of Jackson Bay and l Ilium. - Received nltd approved. PUBLIC WORK'S COMMITTEE’S REPORTI.—Your Commit toe he*j;s to ixx-om-mend that the Overseer lie authorised to arrange for the supply of 3(10 cubic yards of metal for Artliurstown road, anil also to clear the side drains for the length of the road. ■J.. With regard to Lake Kanieri ro:js| the Committee recommends the Council lo utilise the accrued amount from royalties in drilling with the constant trouble "ii Slip Hill by sluicing the dangerous portion awav, and that the (.'ovoriimciit grant lie used m widening a narrow portion ol the road. :i. Regarding a suggestion to obtain a tractor for haulage purposes in road works. the Committee recommends that the Chairman and the Oversee! visit Canterbury for the purpose ol seeing one or more tractor plant- wink ing on i l c riiads, in jc,certiiiii if i-aim are siiilahle for the local repair works. Received and considered clause by clause. On Clause .‘I. Mr Jeffries gave the Council the result of his enquiry with Mr Keenan, when in C.inlerhury at the retpiesi oi the Chairimiii. in regal'd to the procuring of a lorrv or a tractor for work' on the road-. A lengthy dis- , i: .sioti on motors generally took place and then the whole report was agreed

to. OVERSEER’S .MONTHLY REPORT I have the honour to report upon the progress of work during llm moiilli of November. 1925. NORTHERN RIDING. Repairs were effected to motor worn holes, ruts railed, and metal blinded on portions of Hokitika to Kumara Road, between Kapiton Creek and Snmlys Hill; overhanging scrub was cleared from the l.iopliiic Road, and a wind blown tree removed from DutI'ers Road. Portions of Duo Mile, Amhura. Valiev and Humphreys Roads were repaired wilh. gravel and rough metal blinded on One Mile Road. A small deledivo culvert, was removed and renlai oil with 12 inch diameter euicreto pipes on llareourt s hill and walertahles cleaned on a portion ol the Christi lun ch Road and Rluo Spur to Arahura Road. CENTRAL RIDING. Kokaialii River I’rotrei ion 9200

grant was continued and completed according to specification for a distance of SOT links. The work has boon subjected to .several heavy Hoods hut inis remained undamaged. Portions of Lower Kokntnhi. Koitcrangi, Hokitika Flap, Municipal. Rlue Spur and Hokitika to Man Han Roads were repaired with gravel, defective decking was renewed on a culvert on Camelback Road. and on several bridges in tile Koiierangi ami Kokatiilii districts. A concrete pipe culvert* was constructed at tin' junction of T'pper Municipal and Kokntnhi lo Doughboy Road, and a defective culvert renewed with IS inch diameter concrete pipes on Lower Kokntnhi Road. Portions of Lower Kokmahi and Kokntnhi Bridge Roads were graded and rolled with the ten ton roller. Lake Kanicii Road was repaired with broken metal and gravel between Coal Creek and Ward Road. Wntcrtablps were cleaned on Blue Spur, llokitikallau Man. Lower Kokntnhi. Lake ICanieri and Adair's Roads, grose cleared from Hnu Hail Road and a pit stripped and cleaned out on Adair’s Road. The northern side drain on Lower Kokntnhi Road via - cleared and cleaned of growth from (Tminiing Re.ad o' Robertson Road a distance ol tin cbaijis. The southern side drain is badly choked wit It weed growth and requires cleaning at a cost of £ld. SOI riIFRN RIDTXfi. Harvey's Creek Bridge. I he working party under the direction of Bridge Foreman Reynolds have made good progress with the bridge construe! ion during the month, and bad coniplcicil the driving of tile stream pier piles and litting of cap and corbels. also placing of sills and cap*- in the eastern and western abutments and stringers in one span. The work will be advanced suflicielilly to allow vehicle traffic to cross on Dei ember !)rh. Repairs were effected to worn port tuns of Wanganui Flat Road and Peter-en’s Road. A drain cleaned on Petersen's Road and drift timber removed from La Fontaine Creek Bridge. A concrete pipe culvert was const meted on Wanganui Flat Road, and approaches levelled. Portions of La Fontaine Road were cleared of overhanging scrub and blackberry cleared from Waitaha Beach Roail in readiness tor grading. Portions of Totara Trac.i were cleared of trees ami growth slips removed and the covering of a defective culvert renewed on Woolliousc Road: the watertnbles on Ruatapu Road were cleared and drains rtf opened from the Ross Rt.?.d to Ruatapu. TR ACTOR SPECIFICATIONS. I have the honour to report having examined the specifications of Tractor and trail-

ers for haulage of material for road construction and other purposes and consider it is not suitable for general ' work in the Westland County. The average rate the machine is driven on the road is between four and five : miles per hour which is too slow lor haulage of material over long distances • even at this rate of speed the wooden wheel of the trailers would not stand the wear and tear of travel on hard roads and would require rubber tyres and springs the same as an ordinary lorrv. Tn the Kokatahi district between Kanieri and White Road, a distance of six miles, the material tor road repairs requires to lie carried irotn either end which means a six mile run over the middle distance; this would occupy the tractor 90 minutes or thereabouts allowing for tippling and turning. 'I he County Lorry can dclixer 2'. cubic yards over this distance in 35 minutes. Rapidity is the greatest factor in present, day road construction. and maintenance especially on the West Coast where so much wet weather is experienced and this can only he attained by the use of a suitable motor lorry which can be used lor all classes of cartage, haulage of grader, etc. The tractor is only suitable for one class of work on good roads and the outfit with rubber tyres and four trailers similarly tyred will cost, neralv as much as a Duplex lurry.

The utilitv of the motor lorry cannot he overestimated: a few weeks since several planks were ' broken on Rualapu Road Bridge and m> available timber was nearer than Kanieri. The motor lorry anti one man was despatched from Kanieri with 300 feet of timber, had the planks' renewed and hack at work at the Kanieri pit in Hi hours, and had delivered 38 cubic yards of gravel on the Kokntalii Road by -I p.m. No other machine of the tractor type could do this work in two days. ORDER RARER. The Chairman moved:—“ I hill

the accounts presented tor the month of November, 1925, as revised and tccommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting; to Ll.lSi Is 5d he passed for payment.” Seconded by Mr Jeffries and carried. Mr Donovan moved: —” I bat the Wataroa Bluff track he cleared and necessary rcairs effected at a cost, not exceeding C 15." Seconded by Mr Jeffries and carried.

Mr Donovan moved that the Chairman telegraph to the Premier urging the making ol a stock i rack on the south hank of the Wataroa. as an ltrcent work. Seconded by Mr Searleand carried. The Council rose at 1.15 p.m