WESTLAND COUNTV COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1926, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTV COUNCIL

TCKSDAY. MAIIC'II Dili, IMS. The monthly meeting sat at 2.5 p.in. Present Messrs T. R. Chcstennnn (Chairman). K. A. Wells. W. Searlo. M. Keenan. T. \Y. Dull'. W. Jeffries,. .1. Donovan. 11. Ward. Apology was made for the absence of Mr Murdoch. Before the Inisiness opened the Chairman moved a vote of sympathy to Mr Keenan arid relatives in respect to the recent death nl his brother. Ihe motion was earned in silence. The minutes of the previous meeting were eonlirmed. The outward correspondence was tipproved . INAVARD ('OKRKSRONRKNCE. Krom Treasury, notifying accrued revenue.- Deceived. From Tourist Department, with reference to letter re grant for road connection between Ibfkitika and Ruatapu via Mahinapua. tulvising that same comes under Public Works Department i.o which Department letter had been referred. Received. Kroie Public Works Department, acknowledging letter with petitions enclosed. regarding construction of road to link Hokitika and Ifnatapn. via Mahinapua. stating same would receive careful considcralion. -Received. from bands and Survey Department, forwarding copy of proclamation, proclaiming a road til Otira S.D. as closed. Received.

Kront same, relating to vole m connection with the clearing of Halt Creek, stating as amount would not he adequate for the work required, fur--tier enquiries were lound necessary.-— ( Received and further representations j to lie made. j

Krom Public Works Department, (I rev mouth, with regard to three small bridges on the main south road, advising that proposals lor same would he prepared at an early date. Received as satisfactory.

Krom X.Z. Sports Protection League asking for Council’s view on the qtiesdaylight saving.—Received.

Krom Local bodies ( 'oiifereucc, Oroymoutli, forwarding report of recent conference held at (Ireymouth in reference to allocation ol heavy traffic lees.

Received. Krom County Clerk. Milton, asking for Council's support with regard to circular forwarded regarding motor vehicles registration as affecting accident insurance cover. —Received, no action taken.

Krom Coif Club. Hokitika, regarding Council's proposal to construct a road on the seaside of Mahinapua Crock skirting the golf links, stating that the Club strongly objects to any further portion of the links being taken lor road ; also asking if Council would receive a deputation oil the matter.— Received. Messrs Cagney and Maelarlaue attended as a deputation and represented the hardship the proposed route would be to the Colt Club. After a general discussion it was resolved the members inspect the position and it was decided to do so later in the a I ternoon.

Krom Higgins and Fawcett Pros., Kokatalii. asking permission to take timber off road line on the south side of Kokatahi river to get to section.— Deceived, to he arranged. From same, asking for assistance to construct a piece of road leading info mil! site at Kokatahi.—Roooivod. Report read from Overseer Millner. Tn view of the large eo-.t and the fact that no revenue would lie derived it was resolved linam-ial assistance could not he granted. It was resolved to limit all loading mi Upper Kokatahi road to six tons.

From E. Janies. Okurn. asking Council to authorise small sum In clear track to allow pack party into Kp|>er Ok unißeceived and referred to Advisory Committee.

Filin', Norman Randall, Rn-.s. apply ing for position of motor lorry driver Received and filed.

From Overseer .Millner. reporting on Hood damages in the northern, central and southern ridings.—Received ami vote applied for. From Malirov and Coy., asking I lie Council to expedite the work on AlalIrov Rrideo as soon as possible.—Received.

Freni Overset'r Millner, reporting on Hood damage on eastern bank of Diodrieli’s Creek, staling danger could be averted by constructing wire net and stone retaining wall along creek edge at a cost ol £6(l. Received and referred in the Chairman to interview Ihe settlers aM'eeted in regard to eo-oper.i-

Fruin Roadman Nolan, advising interview had been held with Loan Block settlers who were agreeable to contribute half the cost of groyne to protect bank of Waitangi River.- Received. From Commissioner of Crown Lands, in rel’erelice to river erosion on left: bank of Waitangi river, stating settlers and Council wore prepared to find ball ■aim required. I lie matter would be forwarded to Head Office to ascertain what prospects there were of raising the remaining half, namely L'.Td.—Received and resolved lo contribute up to £ls.

From Roadman Nolan, forwarding report for month.--Received. From Motorman Robinson, forwarding list of motor spirit on hand. —Received.

From Overseer Millner. forwarding report of inspection of bridges on Okarito road; also supplying monthly report of works throughout County.— Received.

From Minister of Public Works promising consideration to request for flood damage grant.—Received. From Sawmillers Protection Guild. Greynnnilh, suggesting registry of timber reservations lie compiled.—Received and agreed to. From Public Works Department, agreeing In £2OO £ for £ grant for Harris (Waimea Creek) bridge.— Received and enquiry to lie made further before commencing work. From F. Gunn, Totaho, applying for £2O £ for £ subsidy to construct drain along r->:■ <! reserve.-—Received, no action taken.

From Overseer .Millner asking CO for removal of large tree in Ara-

hura river: reporting on excessive speed I, v motor driver on December 22m1: reporting on Upper Kokatahi roads tn lie used extensively for timber haulage and stating upkeep would be C'tlper week. Received ;£6 voted; prosecution to take place in respect to last driving. From Roadman Nolan asking £5. to clear Three Mile Bluff Track. Okarito; reporting on roads and traffic used in euniioction with tlaxmill operations; asking to lie supplied with a motor conveyance for metalling roads, etc.—Received : Roadman to do work at Three Mile: Air Donovan to report- in regard to tiax mill roads and local contribution.

I' nun Okuru District Committee, reporting on district roads.—Received.

From Motorman Robinson, reporting on work for past month.—Received. From Controller and Auditor-General forwarding balance sheets for 1624 and 1925, certified to with exceptions.—. Received.

From Overseer Millner reporting on drain on Evans road.—Received and £ls voted.

From same, reporting on La Fontaine road extension to Big AA'anganui river mouth.—-Received ; no action taken.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 1. Tour Committee has the honor to report the accounts presented for the month hare been carefully exam-

ined, and beg to recommend that the amount as approved, totalling £l3ll 6s Id, bo passed for payment. 2. Your Committee begs to report that a supply of hardwood piles lias been ordered from Australia. 3. A conference was held to-day with local bodies in regard to the allocation of 'heavy traffic foes, ft was agreed that the basis of allocation be one-third capital value, one-third population and one-third expenditure on roads, also that the proposal to have one inspector and one collecting body I'o approved.

I. Your Committee recommends that the Council take into consideration the general expenditure on roads and the supervision of works.—Received and considered clause by clause.

Clause I was adopted. Clause 2 was agreed to with a suggestion that hinau pile be tried also, j Clause A agreed to. j Clause I. A long discussion took place in respect to general ailministra- j lion and it was resolved that the matter lie the subject of a special meeting on the 12th pros, to further consider ti<e matter. The report as amended was then adopted as a whole. OVERSEER'S report. NORTHERN HIDIN'!.'. Palmer's Creek Bridge £650 grant. This work was continued and completed under the direction of Bridge Foreman H. Reynolds in very satisfactory manner. The approaches to the bridge will, weather permitting, be completed by the end of the mouth, Ihe preliminary work in • -nniiccliou with the renewal of the northern abutment pier to AialiToy's tramway and traffic bridge, recently damaged by Hood was well in band, and almost re; nly to commence pile driving operations. The clearing of overgrowing scrub and gnrse, cleaning ol watertables. and repaii ■ to very bad holes and ruts was completed on llukitikaj Kumara Road, between (lie southern bank of Kapiica Creek and llm Kuniara Borough. Defective culvcris I were repaired mi Kapiton, t hestcrlicld land Duffer's Road, and send) and j blackberry growth denied on Kapiton Track and One Mile and Arahura Yai- ' ley Roads. Repairs were completed to 'Gillum's (fully Road which with an nc- : casiiuiat raking should remain in good 1 order for a few mouths. Repairs were elfecied u> the lower portion of AwnI tuna Road, the e.ml racier for the gravel supply having delivered 9!) cubic yards of gravel on the road; the balance of two hundred and ten cubic j yards to complete the contract will be 'delivered during the present mouth. A portion of .Stafford Cemtery Road was cleared and defective cattles strengthened in Waimea Creek footbridge at (Stafford. Portions of Araliura Valley, One Mile and Blue Spur to Arahura Roads were repaired with ' gravel and rolled with the ten ton I roller. A defective box culvert on | Blue, Spiir-Arabura Rniul was renewed (with 12 inch diameter concrete pines, i CENTRAL HIDING.

Like Kaliieri Read widening at Slip Hill was commenced by sluicing the hillside above the roadway for 18 feet in width, and TOO links in length, all the material liable to slip lias been removed over I lie diManee mentioned, and the completion of the work will remove all danger of slips occurring above I lie roadwav.

Repairs were effected by metalling had portions of Bower and Upper Kokatahi, While’s, Dawson’s. Hokitika Flat. Whitcoiube Valley. Wall. Adair’s, Arthurstdwn. Lake Kauieri, Blue Spur, and Ward Hoads. Walertaliles were cleaned on Dine Spur. Hokitika. Han llau. Lower Kokatalii and Lake K.inicri Roads. A new drain was construc-

ted on the southern side of Artliurstown Road, a distance of 500 links. A new depot was constructed of iron for the storage of benzine, near the grader shed. Kanicri gravel reserves were cleaned and partly stripped on Bake Kanieri, Blue Spur, Hokitika. Hail Hau, Arahura. and Adair’s Roads. Defective decking was removed and replaced on left hand branch. Hokitika River. AVall Road. Harris Creek and Kokatahi River Birdgcs. A short section of Lower Kokatahi Road was graded and partly rolled; and the collapsed stone facing of the eastern approach to left hand branch bridge removed and restored to its former condition Concrete pipe construction under the direction of Mr 1C Selby was. continued at the yard. Kanioii. .V road drain constructed on a £ tor £ subsiv, along tile southern side of Ifokitkia-Tlitu Hau road, on Racecourse Flat was completed a distance of fourteen chains. SOUTHERN RIDING.

Robertson—Haddock Road construction £2OO grant. This work was continued under the direction of Roadman Whitiskie and twenty-eight and a hall chains of formation were completed in a. satisfactory manner.

Repairs were effected to portions ol AVoolhnuse. Wanganui Flat. La I'notable and Waitaha Settlement Roads. Walertaliles were cleaned on \\ milhouse, Waitaha Settlement, and Waitaha Beach Roads. The grading was completed on Waitaha Settlement, Waitaha Beach. Woolhouso, and a short portion of Hold Head Roads. A concrete pipe culvert was constructed and •in open erasing filled in on La i'ontaine Road. Ross—Kokatahi Track was cleared of a quantity of wind blown trees, and the approach completed to Waitaha shelter shed. Ihe contractin' for the erection of the fencing of the stock resting paddock at Alt. Bouar. completed the whole <>t ihe work in a very satisfactory manner • in addition a single barbed wire was'scoured along the top of the posts above the cyclone sheep nmol netting, j DEPUTATION. Dr Teichelniati and Mr Rruce waited on the Council from tile Progress League to urge the scheme proposed I'm- Hie bridging of the South Westland rivers. At 1.-15 the Council adjourned till 7 ~’cloek to visit the Golf Links and inspect the proposed road route in dispute. The Council resumed at 7 p.m. The Overseer's report in respect to the Okarito read bridges was read. II was resolved to limit the weight of loading to four tons over Okarito road; and apply for a grim I to assist with the repairs. The tender of Smith and party for Station road construction. .CSS, was accepted. The matter of the road at Mahiuaptu! Creek uhidi affected the Golf Links was left over for the next meeting. ORDER RARER. The Chairman moved:—“ That, the accounts presented for the month of February, 1026, as revised and recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to £l3ll (is id he passed for payment. Seconded by Mr Wells and carried.

The Chairman moved :—“ That the Treasurer prepare for the information of Councillors at next monthly meeting. the annual statement of ilie apportionment of the gross income (as estimated for the year commencing on the Ist April) and Llie proposed allocation of surplus revenue over the several ridings as required by the Counties Ael,” Mr Dull' seconded. Carried. The Chairman moved " That

Overseer Milkier prepare a list of works for Government grants for the

year 1920-27.” Mr Donovan seconded Carried.

The Chairman moved:—“That the Council authorise the usual arrangements for the printing of electoral rolls for the three Ridings." Air Wells seconded. Carried.

The Chairman moved: —"That the David John Evans be appointed Returning Officer for the County of Wost-i-'iid.” Mr Duff seconded. Carried. The Chairman moved:—“That the list of polling places for the County of AYestland, as before the Council he approved.” Air Jeffries seconded, cairied after amendment.

The Chairman moved: —“That tin' Council consider whether it is necessary to apply for an extension ol the polling hours to 7 p.m., in lieu ol 6 p.m.. the hour heretofore observed.” Air Sea tie seconded. Six p.m. was totained.

The Chairman moved: —“ That the Council proceed to consider Hie following proposal for submission to the ratepayers of the Southern Riding at a poll to he taken on Wednesday. May 12th, 1926. (in conjunction with the triennial election of councillors fixed for that day) namely:— (a) That a special loan be raised by the County Council of Westland for the purpose of contributing subject to arrangement with the Highways Boatd towards the erection of bridges over Dry • Creek, ArcCullough Creek, -McDonald’s Creek and Potter’s Creek on tl'c main south highway whereby the erection of the bridges will he speeded up and completed within a period (u two years.

(h) The sum proposed to he borrowed he £1,500.

(r) The proposed security lor provi

sion for repayment- of the loan he a special rate of onc-fenth of a penny in the C on rite rateable property in the Southern Riding of the County. The rate of interest of the said loan shall not exceed six pounds per centum per

ami n in. The term of the loan to he for a period of fifteen years, principal repayable at the rate of £IOO per annum on the first day of November in each and every year.

(J) It is not proposed to pay out of (lie loan the eo-t of raising the loan. •of II is not intended fo levy the rati' in question but to repay principal and imerest out of the General Ae-c-i >i [n i of the (‘mint v Fund.” Alter discussion it was resolved t>> hold over the motion to ascertain the views nl tin; Romegli ( ottneil, Alessrs Chostorman, Duff. .Murdoch ami

Jeffries fo be a deputation to wait on the Council.

The Chairman moved: “That the subject to the foregoing motion being agreed to. thr Returning Officer bo instructed to take the necessary steps under tbe “ Local Bodies Loans Act,

1913,” and ils amendments, to place the proposal before the ratepayers for ihcir consideration.” Held over.

Air Donovan moved:—“That the Chairman make arrangements to have tbe lords on To tarn, river and lagoon near the bench at Ross, flagged at a cost not exceeding £lO per annum.” Mr Jeffries seconded. Carried, subject to satisfactory arrangements being made. Air Duff for Mr Afnrdocli moved:— ‘‘Thai the Council convene a i•(inference of members of Kumara Borough Council. Grey County Council and all interesli'il, In consider the disposal of the Government Kumara water race, more particularly with the object of conserving the said race for the public services

for which it is now required and for the ext elision of those services in the general interests of the communities affected.” .Mr Wells seconded. Carried.

li was resolved to notify those in arrears with ferry rents that leases would he cancelled if rents were not paid hv 31st inst. The Clerk was granted a fortnight's leave of absence.

The Council rose at 7.15 p.m

STATUTORY MEETING

The Chairman moved:—"That tin Council now consider the balance shed and statement of accounts for the yeai ended March 31st, 1924, as now before the Council, and upon being duh settled arrangements be made for the publication of same.” Mr Wells seconded. Carried. The Chairman moved:—"That the Council now consider the balance sheet and statement of accounts for the year ended March 31st. 1921, as now before the Council, and upon being duly settled arrangements ho made for the publication of same.” Mr Duff seconded. Carried.