WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1928, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

’UESDAY, 11th. SEPTEMBER, 1928,

Tho Council met at 2 p.m. Present:—Messrs E. A. Wells (County Chairman),■ W. Senile, W. H. Chinn, J. Donvoaii, W. Jeffries, 13. Ward, T. Chostonmui, and J. A. Murdoch. Tlio minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Treasury, notifying accrued revenue to tho credit of tho County Fund Account.—Received. jFrom iMiss Murdoch, Hokitika, thanking Council for expressions of sympathy in recent bereavement.—Received. From Internal Affairs Department, acknowledging iotter regarding liberation of opossums in South Westland, and advising tho Department was not justified in authorising liberation of same in any further areas.—Received. From Highways Board, advising letter in reference to plant will receive consideration. —Received.

From Public Works Department, advising £l5O has boon’ placed on the draft estimates for Arawnta-Gnscadc road.—Received. From same, with regard to Evans road, notifying that an item of £SO £ for £ has been placed on the estimates.—Received. From same, with reference to Flaxmill road, llotokino, advising matter has,been carefully considered and it was not proposed to take further action.—Received.

From same, forwarding copy of revised statement outlining flio terms and conditions on which Government is prepared to sulisidiso work which local bodies decide to undertake for relief of unemployed.—Received. From Highways Council, with regard to Watnroa-pptour road.—Received. From same, advising that the survey and taking of necessary. levels of Little Wanganui road had been deferred owing to pressure of other work, but will be undertaken at earliest possible date.—Received.

From Telegraph Engineer Office, Christchurch, regarding permits issued by local authorities for excavation work iiv city and town areas.—Received. From Agriculture Department, Wellington, forwarding certificates of renewed slaughterhouse license approved for issue to James Fitzgerald, Wninihihilp;’ John Mundy, and Searle Bros.—Received. From Town Clerk, Kumara, with to needed repairs to Teremakijii bridge, asking Council to appoint representatives to meet representatives of Kumara Council t« discuss the position and endeavour to come to some satis-

factory arrangement.—Received. Mr Ward moved tl'fft the cjiajpnan, Mr Murdoch, and clerk represent the Council at a conference to be held at Kumara on Friday IQ a - m - Seconded by the Chairman and carried. From Town Clerk, Palmerston North, forwarding circular regarding hospital management, and deputation to Prime Minister in regard to amendments.—Received.

From L. H. Morel, Redeliffs, applying for six months lcaye of absence.— Received and request granted. Front Bank of'New'Zealand, Hokitika, forwarding amount of gold expory for August.—Received. From J. Donovan and W. Wallace, offering to pay £l2 10s each towards cost of legalising the road reserve Wataroa to Little Wanganui river.— Received.*, From J. Condon, Maintain, advising position regarding Karangarua Ferry. —Received: Tho Chairman moved that tiie ferry service be discontinued at the end of tho year. Seconded by Mr Jeffries and carried. From W. D. Nolan, advising action of Council regarding Wniatoto and Arawata Ferry was much appreciated. —Received and left to Mr Nolan to arrange.

From Overseer Millner, thanking Council for increase in salary.—Receiv-

From same, reporting on heavy creek flood on upper portion of Lake Knniori road, Humphreys and Blue Spur to Arahiira roads.—Received. From same, reporting on further examination of Four Mile c-reek bridge, and repairs in hand.—Received. From Public Works Department, stating drainage on Arahiira road near Three -Mile Hall was being attended to. —Received as very satisfactory.

From same stating Cooks river lord had been attended to.—Received.

From Department of Health asking the formal appointment of Marshall Edward Bettol as sanitary inspector for tlio district.—Received, anil a formal motion to.that effect was agreed to. From Native Trustee asking no more gravel he taken from tho Arahura river bed within the Native Reserve.—Received. It was resolved to again write to the Native Trustee pointing out that the Council was not responsible for the removal of gravel but that it was the settlers who had done so and that the Council’s pit near Hungerford bridge was doing ho damage. From R. Cox, renewing application for boat on Three Utile ferry, Okarito. —Received.

From W. J. Inglis, agreeing to Awntunn and Gillums roiul maintenance proposals subject to being allowed to take odd loads over other roads.— Received; agreed to for six months.

From Overseer Millner reporting total cost of culvert at Harihnri was L 37; supplying particulars of operation bv lorries’; and forwarding monthly report.—Received. .Messrs Partridge and Kay waited on the Council representing the Vacuum Oil Company asking for their business. Consideration of their representations was promised. From John Shivns comp]aiiiing of state uf branch road leading to Brown’s mill at Koitornngi.—.Receiv-

FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. I. Your Committee has the honour to report that the accounts presented for the month of August, 1928, have been carefully examined and beg to recommend that the amount as approved. totalling £1243 3s lid, be passed for payment.

2. The Treasurer reported that despite several notifications five millers have failed to send in the returns <.if timber as required by Section 28 ol tho Finance Act, 1927, (No. 2j and are thereby liable to a penalty of £lO. Your Committee recommend the names be banded to the County Solicitor for prosecution. A. J n view of the breaches of the heavy traffic regulations, particularly in regard to excessive loading over the stipulated weight for County by-roads, whereby serious damage is done involving costly repairs, the Overseer be instructed definitely to prosecute in all cases where excessive loading and speeding occur, and that special attention he devoted to roads where breaches have oceurrecj lately causing considerable expenditure for repairs.—Receiv-

M,r .Jeffries said it was intimated to the Finance Committee that morning that £3OO was required to put byeroads into order that bad boon damaged by heavy lorry traffic. The Council must lay down a bard 'and fast rule to prevent further damage. | Mr Ward endorsed. The Council had always been most lenient in regard to hoavy traffic: ' They had arrived at a point when they must be strict in the carrying opt' pf their bye-laws, i-le moved that the Chairman be asked

to visit tlio district and take whatever drastic action ho found necessary. Mr Murdoch said it was urgent that steps should he taken to conserve tho finances. He seconded tlio motion which was agreed to. Tho report as a whole was then adopted. The Chairman yeport (published yestordny) was received, several members complimenting the chairman pn the very full and comprehensive report supplied. Mr Chinn said ho could not ngrep with tho Chniramn’s report, which did not include a number of facts brought under his attention, including that there was a good road suitable tfor ii lorry right to the point of starting the proposed track, while sovornl of the settlers there stated they would not use the track when made. He differed with the statement that there was GOOD acres of good land. It was not good agricultural land. It was mostly swamp. There was only two hours of .a difference in a drive to put the two settlers affected on a par with any other South Westland settlers. He knew that many Hnyihari settlers.were against it, while the Government engineer also lin'd turned it down. Ije was dead against tho spending of the £25 of the ratepayers’ money for the purpose. Mr Donovan said the Chairman’s report bore out all ho (Mr Donovan) had stated at previous meetings. The Chairman regretted that Mr Gninn had not agreed to his report, which was the result of his card ill consideration of the position. TENDER FOR STATION ROAD. One tender was received from Shannon, Cropper and Co. for £O9O. Ihe tender was accepted. ORDER BARER.

Tlio Chairman moved:—“That the accounts presented for the month ol August, as revised and recommended for payment by tho I‘inanco Committee, amounting to £]2ls 5s lid, ho passed for payment.” Seconded by All- Ward and carried.

The Chairman moved:—“That in respect to the Government grant for the extension of Station Road, Kniferangi, the Council agrees to efficiently maintain in future to tho satisfaction of tho local representative of the Pub i: Works Department, the section of the road to ho metalled under the proposals now submitted for the approval of the Department/’ Seconded by Mi Chesterman and carried. A similar motion was carried in reference to Evans road. Mr Donovan moved:—“That the Council approve the proposals for the dedication of a road reserve from Little Wanganui river to Lower Wataroa river, as per the plan before the lneeting, and agree to contribute the sum of £25 (provided a similar amount he contributed by the settlors) towards the cost of tho legal dedication of the proposed reserve for roading purposes.” Seconded by Mr Ward and carried, Mr Chinn dissenting. M,r Donovan moved: —“That a boat he provided for use as a ferry service at tlio Three Mile creek, near Okarito.” Seconded by Mr Murdoch and carried. Mr Chinn moved that tho Council support tho application of Limekiln road deviation at Totara. Seconded by Mr Jeffries and carriedOverseer Millner reported While road needed attention, the road being m a vory serious condition, t)

Mr Jeffries moved the matter lie left to tho Chairman and the Overseer for attention and failing satisfaction immediate action ho taken. Mi- Ward moved that necessary repairs tie made to Red Jacks track at a cost up to £l2. Seconded by Mr Murdoch and carried. Mr Chinn moved that necessary re pairs he effected to track near Kotokino. Seconded by Mr Chesterman and carried. Tho Chairman asked what the Council proposed to do in connection with the securing of a tractor.

Mr Searle suggested a fordson tractor. Mr Jeffries objected to the purchase of additional machinery. ~,r Ward urged that when a tractor he obtained that it lie a good one. iilr Chesterman supported obtaining a Deerjug tractor. i lie Chairman moved that a Peering tractor he procured. by Mi' Chesterman. air Jeffries moved that the purchase of a tractor be held over till further particulars are available. Seconded by Mr Searle, who supported a Fordson being obtained. Tho amendment was agreed to and becoming the substantative motion was carried. The Council rose at 1.45 p.m.