WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1926, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, APRIL 13th, OVEKSLER -MILNER’S REPORT, • I have the honor to report upon tho progress of work during the month of March, 1926. NORTHERN IUDING. Malfroy's Bridge repairs were continued and the subsided iwrtion of tho span lifted and a. new pier constructed by driving three piles thirty-eight feet in lengtfi, and tile old half caps, waling and sheathing replaced with new timber under the direction of Bridge foreman Reynolds. Palmer's Creek Bridge and approaches, £306 grant. Ibe idling of the eastern and western approaches was continued and partly completed over a distance of 460 links. maintenance.

The contractor for the supply ot gravel for Awatnna Road repairs completed his contract anil the road is now in good order for traffic. A portion of the drain was cleaned and cleared in Stafford township, and Stafford cemetery road cleaned arid repaired; also a concrete | ipe culvert constructed on Araliura Road. Portions of Arahura Valley. One .Mile, and .Spencer Roads, tvei-c repaired with gravel, stone broken and ruts raked; blackberry cleared and water-table- cleaned <>u Awatnna road.

SOUTHERN RIDING. Evan- Road Extension. £3llO. Tho northern road side drain was excavated to peg 36 chains, and a short section of formation completed. Ifathhxk-Rohertson Road Extension, £2OO grant. The work of clearing and forming was completed last month, and the metalling completed within eight chains of the specified distance on .March 31st. The creek diversion at Waitahn was completed, one open crossing filled in, and nine concrete pipe culverts constructed on Waitaha Settlement Road Two open crossings still remain to he piped, and filled in to mad level. CENTRAL RIDING.

Portions of Upper and Lower Koka

! tahi. Lake Kanieri. Milliown. Dorothy ' Falls, llokitika-llan linn. Blue. Spur I and Camp St. roads, were repaired with gravel. Arthuistnwn and South Spit. Lake Kanieri, and Lower Koka- ; talli Roads, lightly graded with road grader. The road grader was also us- ’ ed in removing the outer grass grown ridges and sides on Kelly's. Koiterangi, Oopp’s and a portion of Upper Kokatahi and Hokitika Flat roads. The road roller was used on Lake Kanieri. Lower Koaktalii. and-a. portion of Upper Kokatalii roads. A drain was constructed 'along Upper Municipal road a distance ot 13 chains, and is proving effective in preventing flooding of a portion of road way. The southern side drain on llokftika-llau Han Road, with an outlet to the creek on the lower side of the road was ron.strncted a. distance of 21 chains 60 links on a £ for £ subsidy basis. TREASURER’S REPORT. Treasurer's Report on Receipts and Expenditure for 1926-26. and apportionment- of Revenue to Separate Ridings for 1926-27 : Sir and Gentlemen:- T have the honor to report in accordance with the resolution of the Council on the ■ tin uncos of the past financial year, and to submit the following for \ujiir guidance in connection " ith Hie a.; p.u timimeut of revenue for the current financial year, ia terms of the provisions of tho ('.unities Act : The finativial scar which clo.-ed on -March 31st la-t. gave the mlloiing ■ general revenue, excl'.siv-, of -pe(--a!

grants : General and mining rai.-r, |,.s- rebut.- £496 I 2 10 Harbor Hoard rates . <l6O L’l 0 Subsidy and interest on rares litil • 8 6 Goldfields’ revenue ... - 1990 I, It) Errs, fines and penult ip.- 36 19 G Publicans’ licen-e- -630 14 0 Rents and refunds ... . . 06 7 5 Workers' Compen. Act Ju 10 U Motor, slaughter lit discs etc 69 0* ') Thirds, Tamil Fund 1(2 16 11 Halves, Royalties Fund 1673 18 8 State Forests 6th. A 10th. 11 if 2 3 Contractors’ deposit . ... 13 0 0 Ratepayers’ contributions 112 10 1 ( lorieal assistance 62 0 0 Sale of pipes ... 202 16 10 Motor ruiiiiiii'.'. lees 330 1 0 £12,783 19 S The general revenue under the above headings for the previous year was £16,128 16s 7d. The receipts on account of road grants c-I<■., from the Government were £3178 16s Id. The gross revenue for the year was £16,902 14- i)d as against £21.086 17s Sri. the previous year. EX PEND ITU R E. The following supplies an analysis of the expenditure under the various suli-divsions set out in the Comities’ Act : (a) General debts and liabilities : Repayment on loans £607 'ft 0 Interest on loan- . . 260 16 8 Interest on bank ovcrdnfi- 127 16 11 £986 11 7 The expenditure the previous year under the above heading was £1066 0s fid. (b) —Contributions under various Acts: Hospital Act £1639 3 3 Harbour Rates eoltd. 060 13 0 Alcohlic Liquors Act 11 9 7 Workers’ Comp. Act 82 7 3 Subsidy to literary Institutes 26 0 0 Rating Act- 53 9 0 Miscellaneous Acts ... 195 19 8 Hokit i ka- Co in ot cry maintenance 35 0 0 Contractors' Depositaccount 15 0 0 £2618 2 3 In the previous year £3,336 4s ‘ld was spent under the above headings, (cl- —-Counties Act Administration: Chairman A members £378 10 6 Office salaries 802 0 0 Office charges 174 17 3 Printing. advert ising stationery 37 If 4 £1392 19 1 The previous year’s expenditure for the above was £1045 7s 3d. (dr—Main Roads: Trap hire 13 ft 0 Print i ng. advertising and stationery ... 68 15 1 Railway bridges . ... 102 13 8 Telephone guarantee . 4 ft 0 Motor lorry account 770 19 2 Roatl maintenance and salaries of staff ... 3793 19 4 Excess bn road grants expenditure ... ... 1632 5 5 £6385 13 2 Last, year’s expenditure on the above •service was £BI9B 16s t*t SUMMARY OF GENERAL EXPENDITURE. (a) General debts ... £985 11 7 <l>l Contributions under Acts 2618 2 3 (e) Counties Act ... 1382 19 1 (d) Main Roads ... 6385 13 2 £11,382 6 1

The general revenue shown above was £12,783 19. s Bd, and the general expenditure in. the preceding paragraph £11,382 0s Id, leaving :i credit of £l4lO 13s 7d. SEPARATE RIDING ACCOUNTS For the twelve months ended March 31st. 1926. The following are the Separate- Riding Accounts for the past financial year: 'IZ CO 5 » 1C T O T -) £-)' *r. i I„ l 5 g si =3 • ?! \ £ ~ « - 1 2 i l £ 2-- ‘ 0 " '£ g o l ew 2.5 = 5 < pr - ’ _ „-■* -L ? = = y, < 97 Li 7. RIDING -MONTHLY AVERAGES Riding A Wiilab'n Actual Northern ... £sl 13 4 l'->0 14 2 Central 85 10 ft 76 17 11 Southern ... 99 13 I 107 12 <> £236 16 8 £235 -1 1 The i—t imntes of revenue and expenditure worked mil very approximately, and justified the reduction made in i!,e. mte levy last year. It was hoped jii (ini* pel iod to make a lurlher farthing rednet inn ilii- year. Lot fresh actual expenditure has ;•> '*e provided for as follows: -- t out rihut ion t o Main Highways £1530 Contribution to bridges, dilto 750 Purchase of motor lorry RHH) £3.280 In view of these special payments, a. red net ion in the rate would not lie advisable, hut an increase is not re; oninicnded. though it-will not he advisable to make any rebate on early payment of rales this year.

The estimated revenue for the year is £12,500 and the estimated expenditure is placed conservatively at £11.500. A reduction in road expenditure i- anticipated following a lie deliberations of the Council at. the present meeting. To co-ordinate control, close touch between the Overseer end the Treasurer i- advisable. A weekly return might he available as to the casual labour employed and location, because with the lessened sum available for district, roads due to the larger sum now to he found for main highway upkeep, tho expenditure tiiu-1 he watched elose.lv. On the e.-.t imat.es -above there will he a. balance of £IOOO availtdde for disfriet roads, pin- the credit ot L'l-101 for ihe past your, or a total of L'2-lUI. as or-.- iu-i- £2793 lr-t voir. The Sell.'late Ridings aeiounls show a net credit of £2(l, also available for dis--11 iet road-. Aihi'-ati’d ■ ii ihe nateahle i alnai ion. lii’ 2271101 will lie aip ort ioneil as follow- : Northern Riding £39(1 ( 'in :al If id i ml: ... 925 Son hem Riding It >B6 £2491 Carrying forward the balances from (.he district mad .-evuams of flic Separate Ridings, there will he available as follows: Norl here ... £KU a- ae.i’ir-.si £r>l(l Central . , 1626 .. ili2«j Southern .. 99! .. .1196 £2420 ~ .. £2842 This will permit of an average monthly expenditure on district roads of £292 a.s aq.iinst an actual £234 Is Id last. voar.

Though this sum available is red need it is hoped with the wider use of the road machinery to meet all demands on the district roads. Of late there has been O steady expenditure for renewing culverts in permanent, material, and the benefit of ibis should now he accruing. The use of the grader and drag in conjunction with the rouJ roller will also lie more economical, and by using i-nisln'd metal on the iiiiiii roads of the County subjected to heavy traffic, and consolidating well with the road roller, a genera! saving should l-e effected, as well asupplying an improved nv.id surface. It is believed a second lorry will he most helpful in carrying out road repairs more isatisfadtorily in evenway. ami under a well organised system good results may he Imped for. As to the general financial position, the overdraft at the 31st-. .March win £IBS2 2s 7. the highest for lour years, but a.s the average over the period has hceii £1416 2.s 2d, the increase is not serious. There is likely to lie a drop in the hospital levy this yo.tr as affeotinls the Council, but as against anv saving from that, quarter, there nil he me electoral charges to be met fu? the [lolls next month, it i.s hoped to derive a larger revenue from heavy traffic licenses next period as a means towards meeting the increased charges for the main highways upkeep. As the principal expenditure is in connection with roads, general economy will -oquire to lie practiced where possible, and it is hoped to have the best support irom the staff in this', respect. A steady reduction is being made year by velar in the public debt, by ways of loans, and generally the financial interests of the Council have run snioothily. For the present year now entered upon i lie Council should he able to meet its obligations without undue strain. There are some special payments to ho met, hut with reasonable economy no difficulty should he occasioned, and tlio work of the Council should proceed as effectively as in the past, without any part being seriously neglected. The general condition of the roads and bridges must lie regarded as very satisfactory comparing quite favourably with the roads of other districts under County administration, and if the same standard i.s maintained, the Council will lihvo the gratification of knowing the obligations placed upon it are not being, neglected.