WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1928, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, .MAY Bth., 1928.

TREASURER’S REPORT ON IIE-i CEI.PT3 AND EXPENDITURE FOR. 1927-28, ANI) APPORTIONMENT OE REVENUE TO SEPARATE RIDINGS FOR 1928-29.

T have the honour to report in accordance with the resolution of the Council, on the finances of tlie year, and to submit the following for your guidance in connection with the apportionment of revenue for the current financial year, in terms of the provisions of the Counties Act:— The financial year which closed on -March 31st last, gave the following revenue, exclusive of special grants:- £ S. d. General A- Mining Rates 5077 19 0 Harbour Board Rates ... (588 1 10 Subsidy and interest on rates 081 0 4 Goldfields Revenue ... 3050 12 7 Fees, lines and penalties 18 7 9 Publicans’ Licenses ... 487 12 0 Rents and Refunds ... 107 15 0 Workers’ Compensation Act 1G ln 0 Auctioneers’ and other Licenses 114 11 9 Thirds, Land Fund ... 288 1 2 Halves, Royalties Fund 303 II 2 State Forest Fifths and Tenths 093 10 2 Contractors’ Deposits ... 35 0 0 Ratepayers Contributions 195 5 0 Haulage of Timber ... 292 17 2 Clerical Assistance ... 4(5 9 0 Timber Levy Transport 379 7 II I’ipes and .Material ... 250 h 2 .Motor Running Fees ... 495 19 0

£13,189 17 0 The general revenue under the above headings for the previous year was £14,309 Gs 4d. ’l’he reeeipls on account of road grants, etc. from the Government were £3012 17s. The gross revenue for the year was £1(5,232 14s, as against £18.212 Is 3d the previous year. EXPENDITURE. The following supplies an analysis of the expenditure under the various subdivisions set out in the Counties’ Act:— fA) GENERAL DEBTS AND LIABILITIES. £ s. d. Repayment on Loans ... 001 0 0 Interest on Loans 204 0 0 Interest on Bank Overdraft 189 12 5 ClOlO 18 11 The expenditure the previous year under the above headings was £IOOO 13s 4d. (ii) CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER VARIOUS ACTS. £ s. d. Charitable Aid Act ... 1710 1 TO Harbour Board Rates ... 334 1(5 4 Alcoholic Liquor Act ... 9 19 (i Workers’ Compensation Act 81 II 2 Rating Act 90 II 0 Miscellaneous Acts ... 140 Ki 7 Cemetery Maintenance .. 10 I 0 Contractors’ Deposit Account 35 0 0 £2422 3 11 Ln the previous year C 2301 3s 2d was spent under the above headings. (Ci COUNTIES’ ACT ADMINISTRATION. £ s. (1. Chairman and Members 313 18 (i Office Salaries : 821 0 I) Office Charges 113 L> 9 Printing, Advertising and Stationery 15 3 9 £132(5 18 0 The previous year expenditure for the above was £1387 11s 7d,

iD) MAIN ROADS. £ s. d. Traphiro 31 11 0 Printing. Advertising and Stationery *3 18 .> Railway Bridges 192 13 8 Telephone Guarantee ... 4 0 9 Motor Lorries’ Account 112) ■> 2 Road Maintenance and

Salaries of Staff 2414 9 1 Ylain Highways Board ... 138.5 It! 9 Excess on grants, etc., expenditure 1121 0 -1

COSGI 1 I 5 Last year’s expenditure on the above service was £9712 13s, which included the purchase of some road plant. SUMMARY OF GENERAL EXPENDITURE. fa) General Debts ... 1910 18 11 Hi) Contribution under Acts 2422 311 cj Counties’ Act 1329 18 0 (d Main Roads Gobi 14 •

£11321 15 3 The general revenue shown above was £13189 17s. and the general expenditure in the preceding paragraph £11321 15s 3d. leaving a credit of £1839 Is 9d. SEPARATE RIDING ACCOUNTS FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 sc., 1928, The following are the separate Riding Accounts for the past financial year:—

£115“ 18 4 £1(52 0 11 ALLOCATION OF FFNDS. It will ho seen Iron the foregoing summary that the net result for the

Total Surplus £IO3B 11 C ' The expenditure on roads has been substantial again, as the following discloses : £ Motor Lorries Account 1125 Hoad Maintenance and Staff ... 2414 Main Highways 1(585 Railway Bridges ... 403 Excess on grants expended ... 112] District County roads 1044 £8302 There was. therefore, over “4 per cent of the expenditure directly on roads and bridges, quite a high average. The financial proposals put forward a year ago were observed very closely resulting in improved accounts. The Cherseer kept down general expenditure where possible and the roads do

not snow any., serious position regarding road maintenance was helped during the year by £292 raised in the Central Riding For timber haulage on the roads, and £379 from timber levy transport contributed by the sawmillers to substitute the rating on standing timber. Heavy traffic fees were slightly higher; than the previous year. These sources of income have been very helpful. With the subsidy for maintaining secondary highways it is hoped to place Koka-tahi-Koitcrangi main road and Lake Kanieri road in improved order without further increase in rates. I lie usual rate of six farthings in the C is therefore recommended, and ratepayers will thus be again the lowest rated on the Coast. County rates constitute about 38 per cent of the general revenue. It is suggested lor consideration this year that the legal rebate be allowed for prompt payment of rates. The estimated revenue for this year is £13,250 and the expenditure £11,509, showing ail estimated surplus of £1750 To this is to be added the surplus from last year £181)8, making a total ol £3!SIS available for district roads as against £2017 last year. Although a larger sum will be available it is hoped the expenditure will be controlled a.s carefully a.s during the past period, and it should be possible to close the yont again with a surplus on the year’s turn-over.

Allocated on the rateable valuations the £3(518 will bo apportioned to t lt Ridings as lollows, plus the £99 I credit in the respective Riding nc counts : Riding. Cr. Balance. Alloca- Intel timi. available Northern ... 2(i • > w -> ''ll Central , ... 4 1109 I4tll Southern ... 40 1038 1.L4

£39 £3318 £2:;s> This will permit an average monthly expenditure on district roads ol (MO7. which is a substantial increase on tin sum available last year. As a result of the surplus sliowi above, there was a material drop in t’.u overdraft lor the year, which stoo< almost at the average for the previous four years. Thanks to the arrangements made through the ( utility ( hair man there was also a saving in interest paid on hank overdralt. For the coming year there has lieei a welcome reduction in the hospita levy. The assistance to be gailie l from the Highways Board for subsidy to the additional district highway mailwill lie accenlable, and will enable tin Kol a tahi-Ko terangi, Upper Kokalalii, and Lake Kanieri roads to be kept it: greatly improved condition. It Imped to have some financial help als in the improved maintenance ol the de tour road Kumara to Kapiton, and th: detour road at Wntnrno.

In the report .submitted a year ago :ittontmn v.-:in drawn to the sixe ol th County. There arc over -OKI miles o' metalled reads and as many miles o' tracks in Westland County. It, k satisfactory to know that it is still pos sible to keep down the rating levy, an:’ this year it will lie possible, (if Hi' Council consents) to give the ratepayers the benefit of the rebate lor rates paid within (lie statutory period. It is Imped ibis year also to see tlie overdralt further reduced, and by due economy m the roads and bridges expenditure this should lie possible. During tlie past year a material saving was effected, and if the Council keeps the same tight rein on the outgoings, the hope of reducing the overhead burden of bank overdralt should be realised. The members are to be congratulated on the financial results ol th ■ past year, and having; so worthy an achievement recorded, the same policy pursued through tins year should git' l results no less satisfactory within the period now entered upon. I). .). EVANS. County Treasurer.

OVERSEER MiI.I.NEK'S REPORT. I have the honor to report upon tlie progress < 7 work during the mouth of April: Mal fray’s Bridge Protection -Continued wet weather which caused the river to ll;:od so trcquoutly during the month that it was imj ssible- to make auv i regress with this work.

MAINTENANCE. Repaii - were ellcct-ed to Kumara Reiner road, including cleaning of watertables. metalling and repairing portion, > nured by the heavy rainfall. Portions of Blue Spur-Arahura Road were e’eaned of eneroadiing gorse and blackberry, a road drain t ’eared of blackberry growth and cleared ol obstructions on Arabura Valiev Road. A defective culvert on the Christchurch lt.oad was removed and renewed with ]2in diameter concrete pipes; lining of a bridge on One Mile Road repaired, and a portion of Arabura Valiev Road badly scoured by Hood, repaired with graved. CENTRAL RIDING. Statica R era d Extension Elcp-ded gravel pits prevented the Contractor from making any headway with the work of metalling, but as soon as fine weather rets iu the. whole of the work will be completed in six or seven days.

Lake Kanieri Road ‘Widening—This i work is practically completed, except for a little dressing and dragging of ] the road surface. I

Afahinapua Creek Bridge—The work of pile driving including three piles at each abutment instead of ground sills, was completed under the direction of the Bridge Foreman, also the whole of the cap's, corbels and stringers placed in position. lIIH HWAYS -MAINTENANCE

Secondary Highways, Lake Kanieri Road. Portions of this road were dragged with the heavy road drag, watertables cleaned and a new watertable constructed on the tep of Slip Hill, slips removed from water-tallies, encroaching gorse, blackberry cleared frm the roadside, and bad scours repaired with gravel, between Stripland Creek and Oral Creek bridges.

Kanieri to McArthur Road.—Portions of Lower Kokatahi Road were repaired with crushed metal and gravel, watertables cleaned, defective decking removed and replaced on Kokatalii River bridge. The heavy drag was operated on the road from Kokatahi Bridge to Cropp’s Read, a distance of two miles, and the dragged portion rolled with the ten-ton roller. It was intended to repair the dragged portion with gravel Before rolling, but all pits were unworkable through flood, and r.o material could he obtained.

MAINTENANCE. ' Repairs were effected to Tipper .Municipal Road with gravel carted by teams between 11. Gmwrotl’s resid ’in Doughboy Creek and Municipal :".*k bridge. The repaired portions are standing traffic fairly well, but I'iicr portions have cut no badly and are now under repair. The roadside drain,'badly Id irked, along the tfront- '■ ■ t Mr Mi:!,;!'.', holding. Hokitika Flat IF ad. was deepened and widened iver a distance of Id eluiins; Repairs were ell'iy tod to bridge approaches, and drill limber and oilier debris re-

moved fivu lbe piers of l)i> drielis'’ (Arer.k •Bridge. Camidha.ek Road was partly repuip'l. tie* wet weather rendering l lie raid too -.oft to carry the lead's! lorry extept on very fine days. Ari hints I own Rond was cleared of gorse and blackberry growth from the Hokitika River Bridge to Howard's corner, and lloal damage repairs effected to the gravel filling on a concrete pipe culvert on Adair’s Road, A deviation 0000 links in length at the bead id the old sluicing face on Scddon’s Terrace Road, wa.s laid off and specification prepared for the new work. Seddou’s Terrace Track Widening was also pegged and levelled a distanev of 2o chains, and a plan and spec ifi eat ion

prepared for approval. The stock of concrete pipes having been -exhausted, i:i the 12 and 3Sin.

i.'izi' l . pipe making was lommenced •luring the latter part of the month and v.*ill I? continued until tin* lock is replan i.sl;c'tl. sorniKux riding. IVterscn Hand Fslensimi.—The ••ontnicUirs Imvo inside «*ocd nil the work including a traffic lirid ;o ol nuc spin of 2o I'eet in length being completed and ready tor final inspection. O'carito I! aid H::;i::-ir.«'The eo.ittrnrtor for the timber supply has completed the delivery id' tin? necessary limber lor the repairs In Mic various bridges. . Walsh Road.— I This work is cpmplctj e l anil awaiting final inspection. ■ I MAIXTENANt ri. £ I Repairs were eU’ei'teil t > \\holhouso . ■ Hmul. and timber and other debris , : lemoved train the stream pier el llar- ■ 1 rev’s ( reel; Bridge. A .tamagod j.or- - , tipii i f Kakapntahi bridge protection - < was renewed with wise net. .stone and ■ ■ scrub, and a portion el Wnitaha Bench i 1 Road repaire ! with gravel. Impairs were effected to portions of l.a Ftm- ' taine, Wanganui Flat, and 1 V.er on's : I! ind. Detour and Wataro.i Flat | Roads were: repaired with 'gravel, and I a scour repaired at Aleßritleks Creek I Bridge-, Scully Road. Flood damage 1 repairs were effected b> Richardson ’ Road, but nothing of a permanent naturn ran lie attempted until lilt* Wni- , tangi River is controlled and provent.i .l |nun overllowiiig the western I aide. Three .Mile Track was cleared of gorse, ! and other growth, and the defective 1 i era-ring of a large culvert removed and i replaced. i XKCKSSARY WORK. I ArtliursLcyvn and South Hokitika Roads reipiire grading and repairing. I'.pper Kokatahi. Blad let's and the lowin' end of Lower Kokatahi Roads reipiire repairing with gravel, also Mc- : Arthur and Hokitika Flat Roads. In the Southern Hiding two wire neks arc : repaired for the wing of La Fontaine Creek Bridge, I a Fontaine Road which | is partly subsiding. Cr. Senile has * asked me to report the necessity of the j construction of an 18-in. diameter pipe j culvert on La Fontaine Read on the i eastern side < f l.a Fontaine Creek I bridge, also the < onstrllction of a 3Gin. ' din meter pine culvert at a crossing on | Wanganui ' Rural near Haddock’s j Road. At ;• ‘.Lore are no 13in. I diameter pipes available, hut there should he sufficient in six weeks’ time when the new constructed pipes are | hard enough to stand transit by i motor lorry. The crossing near Jlad- , dock Road will require seven 30in. ]iipics, these are in stock, and available at once. The construction of this culvert will occupy the Roadman and assistant with the County horse and

drag seven days to complete, exclusivo of the cost of cartage of pipes from Kanieri to Ilariliari. Each of these pipes weigh half a ton and six pipes can bo carted in one load.

Hiding. Allocation, . Expenditure. Halance. Northern ... ,‘J21 21; 1 G 9 2(1 13 3 C'entnil ... 80S 804 2 4 3 17 8 Southern ... 880 84 U 1 2 3S 18 10 2015 1044 10 3 70 9 9 Xot Credit Halance ... £70 9 9 Average Expenditure per month available £107 18 4 Average Expenditure per month actual £102 0 11

HIDING MONTHLY AVERAGES. iOtlinir. Available. Actual. Northern ... 26 11 0 21 10 7 Central ... 07 6 8 07 0 2 Southern ... 78 10 8 70 10 2

year was:— Revenue £13189 17 n Kxpenditure £11321" 15 3 Credit iialanee £1868 1 f; Surplus from Separate Accounts £70 9 !'