WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1926, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

- COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. VISIT TO SOUTH WESTLAND. The following ropori from Mr W. leffrjes, County Chairman, on the ecent visit to South Westland was U'e.sented at the meeting of the Westland County Council to-dav:— I heg to report that in company vitli Overseer MTllner, I visited the Southern Riding of the County from ihe 6th to the 17t'h inst., on a tour if inspection of the various roads, midges and tracks under the County’s control. While not favoured, with weather, wo were, however, able to make a complete inspection ot the ivholo of the traffic ways controlled by Ihe Council, and the Overseer hns obtained much data in regard to roads, bridges and trades which will considerably assist the Council in arriving at future decisions bearing on the work and maintenance of its roads, etc. in this particular part of- the County. While our objective on starting out was .Jackson’s Bay. we were held up by wcfither conditions at Okuru on the 12th, inst. which compelled us to return from that point. Me were, however, able to go to the 1 urnbutl load which is the most southerly road under the Council’s control.. I Urn pleased to report that on the whole, the County? roads and bridges are in exceptionally good condition, and the representations made to us for repairs, renewals, and new works, exclusive of the Okuru road £ for £ work, will not entail the Council in a greater expenditure! than. £no oi £OO. in the. conclusions arrived at. the Overseer has been fully consulted and we are in accord in the recommendations and suggestions placed before the Council to-day. Where certain suggestions are made in regard to curtailing of grants, we give our reasons for same. While the Council his during past years clone much to enc-ruiragc and assist settlement in the South it is to bo regretted that tho only district that has shown an increase ir settlers is llarihari. Waitn.l.n remain; stationary, and the same may he said of the Draco Bay district. Okuru ami Wataroa h ive gone hack. I ho laltei district comprises approximately 48,00( acres of the finest land on the Coast and it is no exaggeration to say it is easily the best loaded district Iron Jackson’s IDy to Cape Farewell, yet the population has not increased. I hi dairying industry is languishing, am the holdings are slowly drifting inti the hands of a few. The question arises, is the Council justified in spending money on those districts that are going hack? With regard t< Okuru, the difficulty here is the district’s isolation. Some excellent dairying iV nd rattening laud are available yet facilities for marketing product am unfavourable, and the only h»p< appeal's to be the establishing ol r first class steamer service. No othei means are at present in sight to hel] this district nU>ng. At Hnrilmri.—'While there, wo in spooled l-.:i l 4 oilLiiino Crook IBi idjic This structure does not. appear to ht in so serious condition as been repre seated to the Council. (It is the sub feet of :i special report by the Over seer). I laddock-Robiuson Road.—This wml is practically complete and will be : great convenience to the settlers. Residential Approaches.—Approaehe to the residence cl T. Ferguson, F Haddock and Mrs Johnstone were in speclcil, and the work can he rarriei out by the motor lorry when it visit: the district, the cost being about £3 Drainage Work.—The drainage worl carried out in conjunction with tli Public Works Department on the mail road from the public hall to the Hari hari store, a distance ot about 2( chains, ims been completed and excel lent work done. The cost, £3B, bein' borne by the settlers, the Public Work: and tho Council. Ferguson's Road.—ln regard to Lin drainage asked bv Mr Burnside, w are satisfied Lhal no beneficial resul would memo to tho applicant if th< work were carried out, as his stool would continue to hunk in the drains Watai'on District.—Councillor Chim joined us fit Wataroa, out inspectioi .being chiefly confined to the roads The grader and motor lorry have bcci at work here, for three weeks unde: Motormau .Morris and Roadman Nolim and the'results are quite satisfactory Some filling work at dollar's eorne: and approaches to the School and pro posed .new hall, were approved, at l cost of about £3. Complaints wen made to us that the grader was do slroying the roads for motor traffic but inspection satisfied us that tin complaints are unfounded. A request for metalling Bird rend was left for Councillor C hinn to report. An inspection of the roadman’s late residence. the property of the Council, revealed the same to he in good order and it lias been rented to Mr T. Mcßride at 10s per week as from the 17th inst. The following articles left in the residence arc the property of the roadman, and wo recommend the Council take same over the valuation set opposite each article:— No 1 Orion range and flue, £5; Enamel sink and cupboard, 15s; 400 gallon iron tank and connections, £3; Wash tubs and connections to same, 10s; Corrugated-iron hath, £1 5s ; Iron roof washhouse 12x10. woodshed and W.C'.. £lO. Public Saleyards.—A few loads of gravel at the gate entrance from the main road are needed, and could be delivered there before the lorry proceeds to Harihari. Okarito District.—The table channels on the Okarito road need prompt attention. and I have approved of Overseer Millner’s action in appointing P. O’Connor to proceed with this work immediately. He will protubly bo two to three weeks doing the work, the cost of which will tie £l2 to £l3. Councillor Donovan joined us at Okarito where a good meeting of settlers was held to discuss local matters. The most important was the repairs to Okarito road. This road is sorely in need of metalling and the difficulty is where to obtain the metal, as there are no serviceable pits along the route. Councillor Donovan suggests that tenders bo called for the supply of about 1000 yards of sea beach gravel to be ] deposited oil the vacant site near the flagstaff, 'and held in reserve for metal- j ling the road in question. As there is abundance of good beach gravel | handv to this locality, it seems the difficulty could be overcome by adopt- j ing this course. Tho Overseer reports j the gravel is suitable and agrees | ivitil the suggestion. The question of ■ using the grader on this road was j •onsidored most carefully, but it was ; igreed tiiat. satisfactory work could j ant be done owing to the nature of lie road formation. In addition to J metalling depressions on the road, itteiuion is required also to tlie cul- j ,-ert nt Callaghan’s Hill. i Tho settlers asked that the goods bed at the wharf be netted around lie eaves to keep out the birds. A lew lock is also required for the door, i , Ye recommend that 11. Friend be ntrnsied with this; work. Representa- , , ions were made to extend the Ceme- . ery Reserve by halt’ it chain, it being , low full. Tbo necessary wire for this , ork is already on the spot. Conn- | illor Donovan agrees to supervise the ; ork if approved by the Council. The j riginal trustees of the cemetery. ]

lessrs J. Burrough, J. W. Thompson, lid W. Patrick have all left the district, and if the Council has power, wo recommend the appointment of Messrs X Friend, J. Donovan and W. McCluggage to replace the above. Waiho District.—Some gravel is needed on parts of Dochertv Crook road, and at a point 20 chains east of Mr F/. Gibb’s Homestead, cribwork is needed to protect the roadway from erosion. Messrs Gibb Bros, will do this work as labour is unobtainable locally, the cost would probably run into £6. Gibb road from Batson’s old h„t to the beach is in a very bad condition— overgrown and numerous pot boles. A fortnight at least will be required to do tin's work. As the road is used for visiting the mouth of the Waiho, the work needs taking in hand as soon as possible, the cost of winch would be £l2 to £1.5. Our journey over the Oemoeroa and V, adtukupu Bluffs calls for no work in these pints The Gall wav track to G.llesp.es > however the worst of those traversed bv us. Numerous trees impeded o.u progress, and in the track .« washed out and dangerous. Ihe bridge over till eagoon ,st the south end is also unsafe. There are at present three tracks leading to Gillespies beach and maintained" by the Council, and we are unanimous in deciding that two of these should bo closed or abandoned. Teal track seems to be the most suitable for the few settlers who have occasion to visit Gillespies. A\e therefore recommend that no more funds be expended on Galway or Cooks river tracks. Karaiigariia. —Only two small matters were asked for here On the I Pper Karangarua river a road reserve is laid off to Mr Andrew Scott’s section. for a distance of 35 chains. Some lime ago Councillor Donovan obtained a errant- for £ls towards metalling and repairing 15 chains of this road to ,Scott’s homestead. X<> labour being available the work was not done. Mr Scott advises that men will bo available in four or five weeks time and ho now asks permission to go on with Iho work towards which lie is prepared to contribute an additional sum of £ls. Wo recommend this work be done under I lie supervision of the Bruce Bay Advisory Committee. Mr Charles Smith asks that some access to his section north of the Karangarua. river be provided, and we would ask the Council to obtain a report from the Bruce Bay Committee on the nature and probable cost ot this work. . Bruce Bay.—A small portion, about two chains, of Hunts beach road at the. approach to the Mivnakau bridge j, n had condition and needs corduroying and metalling. As the road is used by three families, two of whom are milking, we recommend the work be done. Mr E. Wilson will undertake the same for the sum of £y, to ho passed by the Advisory Committee. The settlers ask that the Council urge the Public Works Department to complete the inland track along the Bay which is held up owing to a dilfcrence with the natives over the question of compensation for land required from the natives, through which the load passes. Some fifty chain's are needed to complete, and we ask the Council to support the settlers request. The Blower pot.—At this point wc were joined by Messrs G. Bannister anil J. Condon junr., and alter careful inspection of the position, we ’ have arrived at the billowing decision : (1) The proposed concrete work to connect the Flower I’ot with a, rock north east of same, distant Bill (as per Mr U. .Ritchie’s plan) is impracticable for the reason that the Overseer ■ estimates the cost, at £120!), which is quite beyond the Council's means, and even if curried out would not achieve the objective claimed for it. (2) The driving of mooring piles is cqi.j.lly to be discouraged, as it is apparent that the rock bottom would not permit of the [dies being driven. As alternatives to the above, we are 1 of opinion that six mooring piles slung from Hie north face of the Flower Pot - and secured to eye holt on the lop side would bo the only way to give protection l:> vessels mooring '.it the spot. These piles would act as fenders and could bo totara or heart of l imn which is available. When not in use they could be hoisted by the crane to the top of the rock until wanted again. We are of opinion that a railing around the top of the Pot for bolding sheep and small cattle would lie of considerable benefit to the settlers, and that a platform should be erected for the landing of the goods as they come ashore from the era no sling. The approximate cost of these works would be £SO, which might be met by equal contributions from the Public Works, tho settlers and the Council. Tlaast-Okuru Bond.—This road is in good order and calls for no special comment. Okuru.—On arrival at Okiiru, the Cliai rnian of the Advisory Committee met us and mapped out out- programme. The play ground of the public school requires two largo holes filled up. This may not bo a work directly chargeable to the Council, Imt it appears some years -ago during tho formation of the road to the Turnbull, : spsil was taken from this spot by | the Council for filling, and left the , holes in question. The Advisory Com- : mitteo would like some assistance in j tfie work of refilling. As the now . sdhool will be. erected in front of this spot, wo recommend the Council grant £5 towards tho work. C’ollyer’s Creole Bridge.—This bridgo was closely inspected and is the subject of a special report from the Over- > seer. Stout’s Bridge and Galliardi’s | Bridge.—These bridges on the Turni bull road are in good order and likely to last for sown? time to come. Turnbull road is also in first- class order. The only requests from settlers here were one to grade the approach to the ford on the south side, a matter of £1 10s and the other to clear the track to the upper ford crossing of the Turnbull river, which can be crossed at this point when nnfordable in flood time at the lower crossing. This work would involve an outlay of About £3. Upper Okuru Road.—The Overseer is furnishing proposals on a £ for . £ basis for this work: Tt will probably inn into £2OO. This road as far. as it- lias been formed is in good order. Metalled from the township to Emil Xerger’s old home about three and a bull miles, from thence to Hooky Bluff it is formed blit not metalled. Upper Okuru Track.—A closo inspection of this rack was made as far as Black creek, and while it is quite passable for the purpose that it is used for, driving of stock, there are a number of deep holes that would be better filled in. A sum of £lO was recently voted for this purpose but it Joes not appear the best results were obtained. Cascade-Big Bay Track.—When at tkuru the local committee handed me Jr James' letter dated the 30th Auglst on this matter. The track in lUestion is not a County track though in the tourist route, and the eommitee are of opinion that the amount skod for by Mr James would be toallv insufficient to do even a portion ,f the work indicated. Mr James adises that be is taking a tourist party roni Wellington through this track in )ecember. Personally I i*m of. opinin it- is a matter for the Tourist tepartment, but would like the Council

to decide. North Bank Okuru Track.—-Mr James asks for a grant of £9 to cut and corduroy a track of about 15 _ chains to his wife’s section. This work l would bo along the line of a County road reserve. Portion of the work lias already been done by Mr James. The track was inspected by the local Chair- ' man and the writer, and as the work 1 appears to be in the category of similar J works assisted by Hie Council, wo recommend that £5 bo voted to Mr 1 Janies on tho understanding that a similar amount of work is done by him. The Matakitaki Track.—-A new track for stock from Cooper Creek hut for a distance of 11 miles has been constructed by the lessees of this run, and an additional 2 miles renovated, four men being employed at a cost of £2O. The lessees ask for some allowance for tho work in question. AYc recommend a sum of £5. Haast Fern- Telephone.—The batteries attached to the ferry telephone at Cooper Creek arc exhausted, and we recommend that two Ever Ready Cells bo sent to Roadman Duggan 1m installation at this point. general. As the result of very close scrutiny of the monies spent on some ol tue tracks in' the South, we are forced to the conclusion that many of the sums voted were net warranted. It. must be borne in mind that runs width practically return little revenue to the Council hv way of rates are held under nominal rents from the Crown, and that the holder in nearly every case derives I’m greatest benefit, .and consequently should assist'to some extent in keeping the tracks in order. There are some exceptions to this, hut gencln 11y speaking it is as stated above. SUPERVISION OF EXPENDITURE. The Advisory Committees in the South are doing good work, and wo suggest that all monies voted as the outcome of our visit lie supervised and passed by the respective committees before payment is made. WANDERING STOCK COMPLAINTS The wandering stock nuisance at Okuru of which several complaints have , readied the Council, was cnrelully enquired into and while it is admitted that isolated eases ol stock being al . large on the roads are known—yet the nuisance does not appear to he as serious as one would think. Stock wander on to the County roads from the various river beds, but we were unable to get any settler to give us the names of the offenders. Several were asked to act as Ranger for the purpose of detecting offenders, hut not one person would act in that capacity. It seems to us that in out of the way districts like Okuru, aggrieved persons have full remedy under the 'lmpounding Act, of 1903. LI HR ARIES. As the result of my visit to tho South. 1 beg to report on the Libraries i inspected:— > Okuru.—Subsidy £3. A olumes on ' shelves 812. An excellent selection o! hooks from the best authorities, and many standard works, several of which are not now procurable. ’1 he building 1 is old and in disrepair, a recent flood ' having damaged several books on the ! bottom shelf. The Chairman of the ’ School Committee advised us that there was a possibility of securing tho ’ present .school for a new library. L this can be accomplished the Council ' niig 't assist with a small grant. There ! is no insurance on the library or the building. Prime Hay.—Subsidy L‘3. Volumes 1 on Gu; shelves 120. Not so varied or L goo;| a collection as Okuru, but a ’ useful lot of works and much read by the settlers. The building with the hooks are in good order and situated 5 at Jacobs River. Here, also, there is ' no insurance on the library and build- ! ing. Vcdioka.—No subsidy. Volumes on - the shelves -150. Comprises all the s modern authors and many standard I works. Library at the residence of and cared for by Mrs I l '. G. Williams. > There is no insurance on the library. I Rome time ago the subsidy was witli- - drawn from this Library, it being ' understood that the accommodation ■ house was closed to the public. It lias • been pointed out to me Hint the resi--1 dents from Karangarua. AYelieka and 1 roadmen still use this library. This ■’ being so. I recommend that the subJ sidy lie reinstated. Oka rite.—Subsidy t'3. Volumes oil 5 the shelves -120. This library is the - I est kept of those inspected and t-om--1 prises a valuable collection of the best > authors and standard works. A cor--1 reel catalogue of books is filed, also a register of books loaned and returned. which is kept.up to date. The ' library is not insured and the building is very old. Riniu.—Subsidy £5. Only about a dozen books are on the shelves, as 1 some TO!) books were destroyed in a ' fire some time ago at Rimu. The West Coast daily papers arc filed and the building, a new one, is in good order.' Watsmia and Waitaha were not inspected on this occasion, but with the Stafford Library will be reported on for i ext meeting. I wish to stress the advisability of the Council immediately affecting a policy of insurance on all the libraries it is subsidising. The position at Rimu to-day justifies that course of action, and tor a very few shillings per year, which could be deducted from the various subsidies, a safe protection against the destruction by lire could be obtained. FERRY RESERVES. AYc found in the course of our visit that t :e Kerry Reserves arc not all kept in as good order as might ha desired. AYliile the rentals-for most of them are only of a nominal nature, th.• obligation to maintain them free from noxious weeds should be enforced. At Okuru the reserve is hadlv in need of anttcation. The Afnhitnhi is in fair order and free from noxious weeds. The Haast Reserve has practically disappeared as the result of floods. The Reserves at Harihari are in good order and carrying solid improvements. Owing to floods our visit to the AYnitoto and Arawatii. Reserves had to he abandoned. in conclusion we wish to record our appreciation of the kindness extended to us on every side by the residents of the South. Their efforts tending to .make our trip as pleasant as possible under tin* unfavourable weather conditions prevailing. . -