WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1928, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, 11th. SEPTEMBER, 1928. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. Gentlemen, —I was deputed at the Inst meeting to report regarding the dedication of the proposed road reserve to link Lower Wntaroa and Lower Poerua rivers, and during the interval have gone into tlie matter. On tlie occasion of my visit I was accompanied by Cits. Donovan, Chinn, and Senile. Owing to a special engagement Cr. Jeffries was not able to Im present. I met u number of Watnrpn settlers at Matainui, and Mr T. .Mcßride was spokesman on their behalf. At JTarihari, J met representatives of tlie local branch of tlie Farmers’ Union, and Mr J. McKoy was the speaker-on behalf of that locality. The views expressed on behalf of Wataroa by .Mr .Me.Mßride were to tlie effect that tlie dedication was not opposed in so far as tlie route would give access to settlers concerned iii tlie locality to be served, but tlie route would not lie of advantage-to tlie bulk of the Wataroa settlors, and it was considered, also, would not be availed of, if opened, by Southern stock drovers.

On tlio .other band, the opinion expressed by Mr McKcy was to theo'ffee! that it was desirable to opeii tlie route: that it would servo many settlers, and that being along a route designed at one timo for main traffic, would ultimately, when available, come into very general use. Linking up, ns it would, •with Petersen’s road from the Hariliar settlement it would prove a serviceable road in opening up new country which would be available for', the extension of the settlement. Looking into tlie matter 1 find that on tlie mirth bank of thv Wataroa liver wkc-note the proposed road road commences 1 on its’''northern route, there are 2,235 acres at present occupied which would lie served direct ly iii the matter of improved access greatly shortening the journey to market for stock. On tlio south side of the Wataroa river there are fully 6,C": acres occupied wliic-h would be served also by tlio ■ much-shortened route for cattle droving. • At the Roerua end of the route the line of road would connect with Petersen road extension in course of construction, and land is available for occupation in that locality also. The proposed line of . road covers some six miles of territory crossing busli land on practicajjy a level route, with only on 6 watercourse it is considered necessary to bridge at the outset.' The route is at the back of the Saltwater Lagoon, and would assist to opeii up arid use more land iii that vicinity also. Tlie route appears to be’essentially of development value, and while it will be of service immediately to the settjers who are somewhat isolated iii fjqnrer Wataroa, will ultimately be of general' utility as' additional settlenient is attracted by the opening of the road. Actually Peterson road' is approaching a dead end unless the outlet now proposed is taken advantage of. The expenditure on Petersen Road will liecomo more valuable by reason of connecting with the new route, arid in turn adds to tlie value of tlio new route, "affording at once a link with' progressive settlement." " ' y

From this it will be seen that I favourably support the dedication of the route, recognising that it lias an immediate value to settlement, and a progressive value as construction goes ahead and more settlement takes place in. what is a very out of tlie way locality because of the lack of proper access. 1 realise the isolation of tlio Lower Wataroa settlors, and this was further brought home by tlio fact that two of the residential settlers l(ave offered to contribute to the Comic)!, half tlie cost o'f dedication, thus, eniphasising their earnest desire in the matter. This offer should be accepted and I recommend tlio Council accordingly to vote the balance of £25 necessary to secure flic legal dedication of the route. The question of actual road construction*will be the subject for future, grants. GENERAL MATTERS.

While South, 1 took occasion to look into several matters. Kakapotaiii river bank protection was nearing completion. The cost will exceed the vote, and when the full amount is ascertained, an additional 'application will be made. When the scrub is well loaded down with stone it should prove successful in resisting floods. The work will require to be watched for some time till well consolidated with river silt. Tlie upper end of the work in particular will need close attention. Gillespies bridge being damaged by flood, enquiry is being made as to tlie cost of repairs. Five pounds were sanctioned for tlio clearing of blackberry in the County reserve at Matainui. Repairs to a culvert on Ilotokino load are to be attended to at once. Overseer Millner is to report on the cost of repairing South Bank, Wntnroa track. The waterway df La Fontaine creek bridge is to be cleared and running planks placed oil the planking. Overseer Millner is to attend at once

to the piped crossings authorised at Wataroa, Harihnri, arid Waitnlin. All these crossings are to bo carried out as soon as possible. The Overseer is to prepare proposals for extending Evans road and Petersen road, grants being available for these works, for which tenders will lie called when proposals are approved. A request was made to renew the subsidy for Oksrito ferry. A grant of £5 was made to cover the whitebaiting season. The necessary padlocks are to he forwarded for Okarito shed, and the control of the building and wharf should lie in the charge of the harbourmaster.

Bridge Foreman Reynolds is to put in hand the overhaul of tlio Okarito road bridges during September. The timber for the work is on tlie ground. Attention to the approach at Graham Bros., Harilmri, was approved. The Overseer is to report 'regarding improvements to the approach and drainage at Harilmri Hotel, towards the cost of which the proprietor will be expected to contribute half the estimated cost.

The District Engineer has keen approached regarding the highway grader being used on the district roads at Wataron, Harihari and Waitaha. On tlie main road very good work has been done with the grader, and the road surface is in excellent order. The Waiho-Wcheka road in charge of the Government was found also to lie in good order and further improvements are being carried out. The restoration of Waikukupn bridge is an urgent matter, and the work is to be pushed ahead. Generally a good deal of attention is being paid to widening of had corners from Ross south, while a. new bridge is to lie put in hand at Potter’s Creek. Substantial work is being done by the Government over Hie roads traversed. The district roads were found in very fair order. With the attention to the piping of tho open crossings necessary, and the grading suggested above, the roads will show still further improvement, and the attention is sure to he appreciated by the ratepayers. ) accompanied tho Overseer on a visit to Ruatapu road, when arrangements were made in respect to the dedication of the length of road to Mahinapua. Enquiry was made also regarding gravel supply, and meantime an investigation is being made through the Railway Department.

OVERSEER MILLNER’S REPORT. Sir, —I have the honour to report upon the progress of work, during tlio month of August. NORTHERN RIDING. Maintenance.—Motor-worn holes, ruts, etc., were repaired on One Milo Road, and a portion of Araliurn Road. Depressions find scours were repaired on Spencer arid a portion of Blue SpurArnliura roads. Encroaching gorso and blackberry growth was cleaved from Blue Spur-Arnhura, Humphreys, and | Arahura Valley Roads. Water-tables were cleaned, a slip removed, and a defective box culvert renewed with 8 inch diameter pipes, on Blue Spur-Ara-hura road. Temporary flood damage repairs were effected to Four Mile Creek bridge, 21 foot span, and timber and debris removed from the waterway of Greek’s Gully bridge, Humphreys road. I mod damage' repairs 'were effected by the roadman to the western abutment of Palmer's Creek bridge. Encroaching goi-se and blackberry were cleared and several holes repaired on Awatu'na road. CENTRAL RIDING. McArthur Road Metalling.—The contractors have completed the reforming and metalling the specified distance o'f *32 chains. Tlio completed work is clean and creditable throughout the entire length. Maliinapua Creek Bridge.—Tlie work of fencing the eastern and western preaches "of Maliinapua Creek Bridge with silver pine posts and heart ol rimu railing, also widening the caste n approach and metalling the roadway six inches in depth, was completed ill a satisfactory manner under the supervision of the Bridge Foreman H. Reynolds. ' SECONDARY HIGHWAYS. Lako Kanieri Road.—Lake Kanier* road was repaired with gravel from the road sido dumps over a distance of fi r miles; water-tables cleared for twi. miles, encroaching gorsc and blackberry and over-hanging scrub cleared over a distance of three mile's. Flood damage repairs were effected to the eastern abutment of Loft Hand Branch bridge which was scoured hy tlie heavy fluid o'f tlie 23rd August, and partly subsided. Extra back lining and stone filling restored the approach to its original condition, tile tollowing heart of rimu being used 8 x 4,6; 18 x 5, 14; 374.8 superficial feet. Repairs were also effected to a scour which partly displaced tlie gravel filling covering a double course of 36 inch diameter pipes, 36 chains west of Lake Kanieri, 120 cubic yards of stone and gravel being used for maintenance and flood damage repairs to the road. Lower Kokatahi to -.McArthur Road. —Repairs to motor worn holes and depressions were effected where necessary, over a distance of ten miles; encroaching gorse and blackberry were cleared from the Lower Kokatahi .Road on one side ever a distance of 29 chains. A portion of Cropp’s and ICoiterangi roads were repaired with crushed metal and rolled with the ten-ton roller; 238 cubic yards of gravel and 40 cubic yards of crushed metal being used for repairs. Upper Kokatahi Road.—Motor-worn boles, depressions, etc. were repaired with gravel from Graham’s Hotel to Upper Kokatahi-Doughboy road, a distance of 4 iililos. There wore 120 cubic yards of gravel used for repairs. MAINTENANCE. Upper Kokatahi road beyond the 14mile peg was cleared of blackberry air! gorso growth, and had holes, and depressions repaired with gravel. Govs'* and blackberry were cleared from Bladiers road and tfrom Upper Koka talii road to tlio school in readiness for grading. STONE-CH USHING PLANT. The crushing plant was raised and placed on more solid foundations for permanent works, the approach t.r stone bins metalled, the oil. en gino and foundations removed from bin at Kanieri and installed in posi-

tion at ‘Koiterangi, and an iron she:' built to cover the engine and driving plant, which is ready to operate immediately on a quantity of quarried-stone procured for- the purpose. The lower portion of Municipal road was dragged, graded, and rolled I) tween Koiterangi road and Hum Creek bridge, and gravel dumped <f< repairs to Hokitika Flat Hoad nr motor-worn holes repaired on Hokitik Flat and McArthur roads. Portioi of Adairs rood was cleared of gon growth and dragged with the lieay road drag. Ruts and depressions wci repaired with gravel on South Holcitik road. Arthurstown road was repaire with gravel where necessary and drat ged with the heavy drag between Pin road and South Hokitika road, quantity of gravel was carted an dumped for repairs to Kanieri trai road. Tucker’s Flat road was eleare of gorse, and repairs effected wit rough screenings to a portion of Bln Spur road between the school and Bln Spur Creek bridge. Concrete pipe eon struction was continued at the ynn Kanieri under the direction of F Selby.

SOUTHERN RIDING. Knkapotahi Bridge protection.—The work of hauling, placing, and anchoring large trees along the erosion on the northern bank was completed over a distance of 350 links, and a wire not and stone retaining net built along the line of trees above normal water level to keep the work intact. In addition, the scrub work was loaded with stone from the net to the top of the bank for a distance rff 400 links. Three floods have occurred since partial completion in two cases to the level of the bank without displacing or damaging anv portion of the work. MAINTENANCE. The roadman attended to repairs to Robertson and Wanganui Flat roads, and also commenced with the construe-1 tinn of concrete pipes at Herepa. Repairs were also effected to Wataroa Flat, Adamson and Richardson roads in the Wataroa district. ' WILLIAM MILLNKR.