MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1926, Page 4

MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

VISIT TO WESTLAND. DEPUTATIONS MET at county office. The Main Highways Board arrived in Hokitika last evening by car, having left Tintaru yesterday morning. There were present:—Messrs F. IV . Fnrkert t.Engincer-in-C'hief) Chairman, .hill. Bruce, VValdie, Ward, AVyuyard ■members of the Board), Mr AVatkin-

son (District Engineer) and others ol the party. Members of the Westland County Council present were:—Messrs T. It. Chestcrman (Chairman), T. W. Duff, •I. A. Murdoch, W. Sonrle, W. Jeffries, E. A. Wells. B. Ward. The County Chairman (Mr Chcstorman) welcomed the members of the Highway Board to Westland. Ho hoped they had good weather and that their visit to South Westland next day would prove a pleasant one. Ho was glad they wore visiting the district to obtain a personal view of the requiremeuts. Air Fnrkert thanked the Chairman for his welcome, stating that the members of the Board were making the visit to enable them to have a personal knowledge of the reitiremonts of the

district. The following matters were then brought under the notice of the Board : I.—Maintenance of Highway. Westland County. Counties' contributions as proposed. No. 12 District: County. Mileage. Bate. Total. Bullet* 105 CIO Cl 050 Inaugahua ... JO 10 ‘IOO Grey 33 20 06C

Westland ... 153 12 1836 Memo: District Roads Mileage, additional to Alain Highway:— County. Alileage. Bn Her 183 Inaugahua HO Grey -10

Westland -00 On 200 miles, Westland County spent last financial year £10,133 or £3O per milt 1 for mainteiinnee. Alain Highways Maintenance by the Public Works Department averages £73 per mile. N.B. The Westland County for the past 20 years has paid and is paying £3O per annum for maintenance of New river railway bridge (Grey County) and Teromakau liver railway bridge limit in Grey Countv) for combined traffic bridge.

In 1018 the Westland County purchased from Stuart and Chapman Ltd the Afikoitui Tramway traffic bridge on the Main Highway to South Westland for £1,(500. and the structure in good order and condition, is now used by nil south traffic traversing the main highway. For several years West-land Conuiy lias maintained all traffic using detour road by way of Brandt s, Scully and AVataroa Flat roads, to serve Alataiinii. a distance of 3 miles, average main- 1 tenauce cost. CIO per mile, or £l2O per annum. All heavy material foi Wailio river bridge is passing over the detour road. Air T. W. Duff, speaking in support, joined in the welcome U> members of the Hoard. He regretted that their stay in the distriet was not longer, so that they would have been able to inspect more of their by-roads, which were feeders to the main highways. Their Chairman (Mr Fnrkert.) had a special knowledge of the district. They felt it necessary to stress the very high cost involved in the upkeep of their roads, and trusted the Hoard would see its way to meet the Council in connection with financial

matters, which were of great moment. Air Ward said he felt limy should make the position very clear Lo members of the Hoard. He was glad to find that the weather was wet as it would show the members some ol the difficulties that t:be people, of Ibe district laboured under. He wished specially to draw the attention of the mem hers of the Hoard to the finam-ial position. He thought the- annual contribution asked from the County oi Cl Kill) was far too high. The members of the Hoard would pass over a long stretch of country that was not revenue producing to the County. He wished to stress this point. At the

present time the ratonayers were hei nix taxed no to the limit, aml he* trusted tlmt the amount asked for annually would hi* reduced. .Mr Murdoch said the Council look on llie charge as an increased burden that could not he met. I hey had roads passing through much country that was not revone producing. Much of it was Crown lands, and owing to the nature of the country was not. availaide for taxation. The linaneial condition of the Council, though sound, was due on 1 v li) the care ol members of the Council. The Council had lost

the unifier royalties which nan neon taken from them. They had looked forward to the large revenues which hail lately lieett taken from them, in spite of repeated public statements by the lute Art* Seddon and the late AH* Afassey, Lite latter as late as 1922. Air .Jeffries pointed out the great difficulties the Westland County was under in the matter t>f reading. As it result the settlers in the out districts had to nay very considerable sums for cartage of goods, tin to £4 and £5 per ton. The settlers in South Westland were in a far different position to those in the more settled and betterroaded districts of Canterbury and other parts of New Zealand. Mr Fnrkert in renlv said no good

purpose would lio served in viewing the by-roads, as they did not ofleet the position. The Bonrd had given exeeptiojiiil treatment of the Council by ashing Cl in Co, as against. Cl ill Cl that most other Councils were paying, except in a few isolated eases. Mr I’rukert referred to some of the figures supplied, stating those supplied hr the Council and by the Forest Service did not correspond, in fact showed a considerable disparity which would lie enquired into. He pointed out tlial the Westland County rates were the lowest on the Coast, and stated that it the rate had not been reduced last year by one farthing that the amount that thereby would have been raised would have been almost sufficient to have met the additional amount the Hoard were asking the Council to

contribute. Mr .lull, ns one ol' the representatives of the Counties on the lloanl expressed his pleasure at meeting Councillors face to face. This teas his first visit to the Coast and they had experienced one of tlie cloud-bursts that they get here. The position put before the Hoard by members would receive due consideration. The Hoard had no desire to penalise any district. The question of contributions from the Forestry Department would have a distinct bearing on the position. The main highways must have a distinct value to every ratepayer wherever he resided. He hoped their visit to the South to-morrow would prove of advantage to them in their considera- j

tion of the position. They were prepared to view the position as reasonable men. They had to take a Dominion-wide view of the position, but would give every possible consideration to the matters brought forward by the several speakers. Mr Bruce said they were 'dealing with the whole of Xew Zealand and they had to see that they did not give one county more than they were entitled to. They would give every consideration to the representations made, and do justice to all, I

Mr AVyuyard saicl ho was representing the interests of motorists bn the Board. From that standpoint he was glad to bo present on the visit to familiarise with the conditions of the road and to meet those who were carrying out the functions of the Main Highways Act. There were numerous aspects that had to be considered. He congratulated them on the very businesslike manner ifn which they had placed the business before them. Others members agreed with the remarks of the previous speakers. A general discussion followed on many matters mainly in connection with the revenue of the Council from tho various sources including forestry, there being special discussion on the figures of tho Council and thoso supplied to the Board by the Forest Service. Various other aspects were discussed across the table in a most amicable manner, the meeting then passing on to tho next subject- for discussion.

umsiuii, 3, —Urgency of Bridging Smaller Streams. Mnin South Highway, including :—■ (a) Dry Creek. (b) .McDonald's Creek. (<•) SI a toy Creek. A deputation from the Automobile Association, consisting of Dr Teiohelmnti. Messrs Mclntosh. Coulson and Gnylor. waited on the Board, Dr Tcielielmaim urging the necessity of bridging of these streams Including McCullough Crock. AH* .1. .1. Mclntosh supported the request for urgent consideration.

Air H. Ar. Coulson extended a welcome as Dcputy-Alavor, to the visitors, lie strongly urged the bridging ot the streams referred to and placed before the Board a number of photographs of the recent floods in these streams. Art* Fnrkert, in replying, said they had nut their request very temperate-

ly. Ho knew the position. He realised the deputation were quite rightin their agitation, luit the Board had to consider the finances as a whole and could not do what their reelings might prompt them to do. Afr .Tull said that he appreciated

the difficulties that had been so well voiced and he assured them of his very hearty support. Alt* AVyuyard said as the representative of the Automobile Association on Lite Board he wished to say the Board was ready at all times to receive any complaints. He wished to mention that the Board was prepared to subsidise £ for £ for the erection of signposts on Alain Highways, subject

to approval of their officer, payment to ho made through the County Council. Afr Fnrkert said he had received a letter from the Borough Council urging the erection of the bridges in South Westland, but lie had not heard that tlte Borough was prepared to find a subsidy to help the County with portion of the cost.. That would he the proper spiric to Kick up their request. AD- .lull said be fell sure that the Borough was not going to benefit by the traffic without assisting in Ibe cost of the bridges. They should assist as it was the boroughs of larger centres that reaped most of the benefit of the increased trade. Afr Coulson said the Borough bad given assistance by authorising an expenditure of £SO in advertising South Westland. They had not the money available to assist in the direction indicated, while they had not the power to do so even if the money was there

to spend. Air Fnrkert said tin* latter statement was not correct. 'I here was ample power to spend money in helping ‘o iidvam e the Borough s interests even if it were spent outside the limits of the Borough. 4. —Urgent- Culvert Crossings, Main South Highway, including:fa : Granite Greek (Fergusons). (o) Git me foil s Creek (Lake laiithe:. /(•) Cowhide Creek (Evans' Creek). Alt- Jeffries urged attention at once to these smaller matters which were of decided anno*, since Lo travellers at times. These were -smaller matters Init. the Council was prepared to help on a C for'£ basis if Urn works were put in hand at once. Air \\ . Searle supported, stilting these creeks held up the people this side of llariltori at times, and were particularly annoying to the residents of the settlement. Afr Fnrkert said this was a ease where the local residents were affected and should have at tent ion. I lie Council were prepared to help, and he thought he could sav these works would la* carried out at once. Afr Jeffries expressed his pleasure at the very satisfactory reply. 5. —Kokitlahi Road to lie declared Main Highway. 10 miles, cost lastyear £1.050. Alt* Fnrkert stated that the proper time for tin's to he brought, forward was at the end of Ibe year In Afarcb. through the District Board. This course will be followed, and it would

then come up for review. 6. --M'uintcnancc Dolour Rond, Afain South Highway, via Brandt, Seallyand Wataroa Flat road: 3 miles; cost £l2O yearly. This matter was explained I>v Air Evans, and was referred to Mr AYalkinson. who had the full particulars available, the matter to be shown to Hie Hoard next day on their journey south. 7. —Suggestions re Allocation Highway Fees among local bodies. This subject was discussed by Afr Evans and Air Fnrkert, the latter stating that this was not a matter for the Board, Lit( that other districts were allocating the money in various ways the most feasible and reasonable being partly on expenditure on roads, and partly on iniVs of roads, or partly on it population basis.

OTHER MATTERS. VISIT OF ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF, PUBLIC AVORKS DEPARTAIENT, F. W. FURKERT, C.Af.G. AIATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. t.—Expenditure of Government Appropriations for Public Works Voles considered urgent:— (a) Harris Bridge, Waimea Creek, C 225. C for L‘. Hi) Kuinara-Jum-tion to Kapitea, C4OO. (c> Wataroa South Batik Track, £l5O. (d) AYall road. Koiterangi. £350. <e) AVaitangi South Bank, £250. (0 Kokatahi road, £2OO. The opportunity of the visit was taken to bring forward tlte question of the expenditure of various public

works votes. In connection with Harris Creek bridge, Mrs Wright waited on the Board to urge immediate attention. Mr Furkert stated that the proposals for a swing bridge were, under consideration and would lie pushed on as quickly as possible. Beyond that lie could not make any promise. M aimea Creek—The cost would be far in excess of the vote. It was being enquired into but it was not urgently necessary. Other matters were promised consideration and attention.

2. Alternative to authorising (c), Wntaroa South Bank track, £150; to complete Adamson road (including metalling', to Gorge road; estimated cost £-230-£3OO. • 3. Be claim by Public Works Department for subsidy on Boss Road. 4. Dedication Bruce Bay Inland road. Each of the above were dealt with

and attention promised, advice of the proposed action to be submitted later. This concluded the business and after the Chairman had thanked ihe Board for careful attention given the matters placed before them and Mr Furkert bad briefly replied, the meeting terminated at 10 p.m.