WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1929, Page 7

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, FERRUARY 12tli. The Council sat at 2.5 p.m. Present: .Messrs E. A. Wells (Chairman;, T. J{. Cliesternian, 11. Ward, W. Jotfries, J. Donovan, W. 11. Chinn, \\ . Searle, and J. A. .Murdoch. The minutes of the .January meetings were, confirmed. The outward correspondence was approved. INWARD COB DESPONDENCE. From Treasury, notifying accrued revenue to credit of County Fund Account . Received. From Mines Department, notifying that Department has approved of subsidy to .Messrs Honey Bros. towards prospecting.—Received. Frome Same, advising that rents ow ing hy Vv\ 11. Wise and others have been treated as noil-recoverable. —Re ceived. From same, with reference to rentowing hy Henry Jones have been treat cd as lion-recoverable. Received. From Public Works Dept, lorward ing amended statement outlining con ditions on which Government is pro pared to grant subsidies to local bodiceon works for relief ol unemployment.— Received. From Same, forwarding copy of letter sent to Owner of llari Jlari Hotel regarding culverts required at Holer —Received. From Same, advising that estimated cost of restoring Ilapukn Creek Foot bridge, Okuru, is £I.OO, asking i! Council is prepared to find half tincost.—Received. From Same, asking for reply to let ter regarding Upper Okuru track.-—Re-ceived. This and the foregoing letter were considered together. After dis cession it was resolved to ask the Gov eminent to treat the works at back block undertakings and accept a sub sidy of £SO on the total expenditure involved. From Commissioner of Crown Lands, Hokitika, forwarding tracing ol road along hank of Kokatahi River, which it is proposed to have closed and asking tfor Council’s endorsement. —Re ceived and approved. From Same, forwarding tracing of road proposed to he closed near Waiho Gorge, asking to have Council’s con sent endorsed thereon.—Received anu approved. From Postmaster, Hokitika, regard ing complaints re. Telephone Officer at Okuru, advising matter has been under consideratoin for some time, hut owing to distance from headquarters, It ldifficult to obtain any finality in the matter.—Received. From Health Dept, reporting cases of infection. —Received. From County Clerk, Ashburton, ad vising of conference to be held regarding Hospital Levies, etc. —-Received and no action taken. From Bank of New Zealand forwarding amount of gold exported foi month.—Received. From Park and Murdoch, Hokitika, forwarding application by Stuart and Chapman, Ltd. for tramway crossing the road reserve in Block IX Wail aha Survey District, asking for Council consent.—Received and agreed to. From County Clerk, Taurnnga, forwarding resolution of Council’s regard ing increasing burden upon ratepayers since inception of motor traffic, asking for Council’s co-operation in the mat ter. —Received and no action taken. From Wm. Jeffries and Coy., link tika, making application for Auction cer’s License for 1929.—Received and granted. From Okarit-o Five Mile Reach Coy.. Dunedin, forwarding cheque for £sl towards cost of improving track from Okarito to Five .Mile Beach, Council contributing 950 and Alines Department c]o().—Received. It was explained that the Department required a survey to ascertain grades, and it was pointed out this would increase the cost very greatly, whereas small improvementwould meet actual requirements lor the time being. The matter was stressed as urgent. It was resolved to make further representations on the subject From AI. Fitzgerald, (Mira, advising had state of road in front of O’Alalloy’s Hotel, Otira, asking that same he at-tended.-—Received and 95 voted. From R. Alattingley, Koiterangi complaining that Hood waters Hood properly, asking that same he remedied.—Received. Overseer to re port. From Inlor-Wanganui River Hoard, llarihari, advising that at recent meeting appreciation was recorded lor as sistam-c given hy Council in effort to prevent, overllow ol Rocrua River dam aging Wanganui Flat, asking lor any future plans of work.—Received and referred to District Engineer. From .). Alinehan, Alt. Hercules, advising that County staff removing stone from south side of I’oerua river and will hold County responsible.—Re ceived. From F. R. Wuodhatn, Evans Creek, applying tor Co to gravel approach to residence—Received, Overseer to re port. From Overseer Alillner, reporting upon progress ol wonts, and on secondary highways to he applied.—Received From Mines Department with re spent to tramway application ii'oin Stuart and Chapman, Ltd.—Received and Council approved. From Highways Hoard regarding applications for additional highways. Received, Clerk to reply. Front same with regard to tratlic inspectors on highways.—Received Clerk to reply. From National Hank, particulars ot gold export ending February 7th.—Received. From C. J. Rundle regarding fire extinguisher tor petrol pumps. Deceived. From E. Kirby drawing attention to

llarihari district roads.—Received, work to he attended to. From 11. Alanera asking permission to cross Woolhou.se Road with a pipe line for water supply purposes.—Received and granted. From Park and -Murdoch forwarding agreement regarding temporary tramway on Gillums Gully road.—Received and.accepted. From Overseer Alillner stating that there was not any objection to the proposed tramway.—Received and ap proved. From same estimating the cost of repairs to Blue Spur road from £BS to 9100.—Received. From same monthly report on district works.—Received. From District Engineer skating that the expenditure on Walsh road was hold over as settler had leased his hold ing and removed irom district.—Re ceived. From J. Harvey, pressing for attention to Alilitowii-Awntima track.—Re ceived and resolved to enquire regard ing vote for Brownings track proposal.

REPORTS. FINANCE COMMITfEE’S REPORT. Sir and Gentlemen, —Your Commit tee has the honor to report that the accounts presented for the month ol January, 1929, have been carefully ex amiiied, and hug to recommend that tlio amount as approved, totalling £1520 3s 3.0x1, he passed for payment. As several of the sawmillers hav failed to supply returns of timber c-ir, for the half-year ended December last in terms of Section 28 of the Finan 927, the names he handed to tl County Solicitor for any necessary ac tion.—Received and adopted. OVERSEER’S AI.ONTULY REPORT. i have the honour to report upon the progress of works during the month of January. NORTHERN RIDING.

Taipo Track Improvement. The work of clearing, cleaning watertabies and renewal of culverts has progressed in a very satisfactory manner. One .Mile Road Bridge. This work was finally completed hy the Bridg • Foreman 11. Reynolds during the lirsl week in January. MAINTENANCE. A short section of watertable was cleaned on Kumara Road a drain cleaned at Goldsborough. Gorse anu lack berry were cleared from Aruhlira Valley and One .Mile roads, anu motor worn holes repaired on a shori. portion of Arahura Valley road.

CENTRAL RIDING. Station Road. The work of metalling was not advanced materially, owing to the gravel pits being con cinually Hooded, except for a few days during the month. Boucher’s Hill Widening. This work was completed and a lirst das., job made of the whole of the clearing, widening and metalling. .Murray Creek Bridge, This work, was commenced, the derrick and otlie: gear assembled and piles shod in readi ness for driving as soon as the service, of the Bridge Foreman are available for the work. Dorothy Falls Road Improvement. This work has been in hand since tli 18th of the month three men and a horse and dray being employed for theperiod. The road is being widenei and raised above the level of the lake for a distance of 17 chains.

ALUNTENANCE. Arlhurstown Road was graded he tween Hokitika River bridge and South Hokitika road, gorse and black berry cleared from the roadside be tween the old .Maori mill and Rosa railway line. .Murray road drain vva cleared a distance of 25 chains, rut filled in and I'eveHed with the hirgi road grader drawn 'hy the road tractor on the first portion of Station load •15 chains, in length. SOUTHERN RIDING. Totara IT rack Improvement. The work of charing, cleaning watertable and renewal of culverts lias progress ed in a satisfactory manner. Evans Road Extension. The worl of clearing and formation was com plelcd early in the mouth and metal ling is liow in progress. ■Okarito Road Bridge. Okarito Forks bridge was cleared of overhang ing scrub and the timbers cleaned ol moss and other growth and several defective planks removed and replaced. Okarito Road .Metalling. Work wa eon lined to stripping an area of grave near the Forks in readiness for metalling to commence. Dolour Road was attended to and repairs affected to motor worn hole, and scours, a quantity of (ine material being carted out with the horse and dray.

MAINTENANCE. Repairs were effected to Adnnisoi and Wa til run Flat road, a had hole corduroyed on Rotokino read and minor repairs effected to R.iehardson road. The Roadman at llarihari attended to a portion of repairs necessary mi Wanganui Flat and to a damaged culvert on Petersen road. AH the roads in the Tnler -Wanganui dis (riet require cleaning anil regr:idi:i«> witli the tractor and graded and this work will he attended to immediately two short roads in the Kekalahi district, Hokitiku-Hau Han, Blue Spur. Arahura Valley and One Aide roads have boon graded.

CONDITION OF ROADS. Lake Kanicri and Lower Kokatah to McArthur roads, both Seconuar Highways show a greatly improved surface and are in better order noi than ever, due prineipaly to the worl of the tractor, grader and road roller and constant attention to kcepin, motor worn holes repair with grave and crushed metal. Hokitika, Hai Hau, Blue Spur, Arahura Valley Hokitika Flat and Wliitcombe roads require attention in various places. CONCRETE PIPES. Concrete pipe construction was con tinned at Kanicri, absorbing the bill mice of cement in stock.

TRACTOR AND GRADER. The road tractor and Austin grade: were kept busily employed since tli holidays terminated, and good wor. has been performed on Lake Kanier and Lower Kokatahi to McArthur road (Secondary Highways), a section of Alilltown, Dorothy Falls, Sunn;. Bight and Station Road. Municipal road was heavily graded and completely transformed for a distance or 21 miles. ROAD ROLLER. The ten ton roller was in use on Lake Kanicri road from the Lake to Kan iori, Tvanieri to ATcArtliur road and Alunicipal road.

STONE CRUSHER. The stone crusher was operated for several days, and a quantity of crushed metal carted out for repairs to tin Secondary Highway between Kokatahi bridge and McArthur road, a defective hearing of the main axle causing u cessation of work until repairs weneffected. NOTICES OF .MOTION. 'The Chairman moved: “That the accounts presented for the month of January, 1929 as revised and recommended for payment hy the Finance Committee, amounting to C 1520 3s 10d, lie passed for payment.” All Donovan seconded. Carried.

The Chairman moved: “ Hint the mover he deputed to arrange with the sawmilling linn affected regarding con tribution towards the repairs of Blue Spur Road; also in respect to the limit of loading and the future maintenance.” Air Chcstennan seconded and Air Ward supported. .Mr Jeffries was opposed to going hack on the previous decision of the Council and the motion was carried authorising the Chairman (who considered the work urgent) to attend to.

Mr Donovan moved: “That Waiho river track from the Sea Beach to the Upper Ford be repaired at a cost not exceeding £7.” Mr Chinn seconded. Carried. Mr Donovan moved: “ That the subsidy to Country libraries be contin nod as from the Ist April next on the production of satisfactory balance sheets for the year ending 31st. March 1929, and list of records he made.” Air .Murdoch seconded. Carried. On the motion of Mr Chestermnn £' was voted for clearing Middle Branch road Upper Kokatahi. Two days work were authorised fo> cleaning water tallies oil Detour road on the motion off Afr Chinn. Air Cliesternian referred to the stab of Upper Alunicipal road. It was ex plained the miller was responsible loi the upkeep. Some repairs to Alalfrov’s bridg) were authorised on the motion of All Ward. The Council rose at 4 p.m.