WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1929, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, MAY Ist. The monthly meeting of the Council was held at the County Chambers at 2 p.m. Present: Messrs E. A. Wells (County Chairman), J. A. Murdoch, W. Searle, J. Dono\»an, B. Ward, T. R. Chesterman, W. Jeffries, and W. H. Chinn. The minutes ’of the previous meeting were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. Before proceeding to the regular business, Mr Murdoch moved that a vote of sympathy be recorded on the minutes and condolence expressed to Mr Wells and family in their recent bereavement. Mr Murdoch said the sympathies of the community went out to the bereaved in their trouble. Mr Chesterman seconded, the motion being carried, members signifying their assent by rising from their, seats. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Treasury, notifying accrued revenue to credit of County • Fund Account;- —Received.From Prime Minister j acknowledging letter with regard to travelling expenses' to members, advising same will be looked into and have careful consideration. —Received. From Minister of Internal Affairs, with regard to same, notifying resolution • has been noted and will receive Consideration. —Received. From Minister of Mines, advising notice has been forwarded Public Works Department, authorising sum f of. £IOO, £ for £, for repairs to Three Mile track, Okarito. —Received with thanks. From Marine Department, acknowledging letter with sketch plan indicating suggested position of two mooring piles for safe working of Okuru Harbour, advising authority has been issued to carry out improvement work which includes the piles in question. Received with thanks. From Highways Board, Wellington, forwarding official receipt for Council s first instalment on hire purchase of plant from Board.—Received. From Public Works Department, ad-

vising that repairs to Upper Okuru track and Hapuka Creek footbridge will be put in hand when contribution of £SO is received from Council.—Received.

•' From same, with regard to flood damage, Okuru district, asking for resolution .agreeing to contribute a third of any excess cost to be forwarded the Department.—Received and resolution passed. i From Westland Hospital Board, forwarding copy of estimates on which levy for 1929-30 was struck at the recent meeting of the Board, and stating County payment was £lßl4 16s 2d. Received;

From same with regard to estimates, advising it was impossible to reduce the levy on the contributing • local authorities. —Received. From Health Department, reporting a number of cases of infection. —Received. > From Bank of New Zealand, advising amount) of gold exported for month. —Received. From H. McMillan, Herepo, applying for slaughter-house license. —Received and license recommended. From W. Stewart, Kumara, applying for permission to erect a swing gate on Duffer’s track.—Received, Overseer to report. From T. P. O’Neil, Kokatahi, tendering resignation as Poundkeeper of Kokatahi pound as from 26th April. —Received, and thanks passed for services rendered on the motion of Mr Chesterman, seconded by Chairman. From Chairman, Harihari cemetery trustees, asking Council for subsidy for Cemetery upkeep.—Received. Air Searle moved £7 10s be granted. Seconded by Mr Donovan and carried. From C. M. Harris, Huhuka, asking Council for £lO to help clear Okuru track. —Received and referred to the Acclimatisation Society. From Advisory Committee, Okuru, asking for assistance towards attention to Jackson Bay Port road and other district works.—Received and referred to the new Council to be dealt with on the 22nd inst. From N.Z. Railways notifying amendment to the law, and asking for the erection of special signal posts at all public railway crossings, and submitting design for uniform St. An-

drew’s cross sign.—Received and re- , ferred to the Clerk to report after consultation with the Highways Council. From Lands Department, Hokitika, asking consent to closing portion of unused river frontage road at Wataroa. —Received and agreed to. From H. A. Finch, Arahura, asking attention to bridge crossing Waimea Creek, and also to small bridges on track.—Received; Overseer to report. From Kokatahi Winter Show Committee, asking use of lorry for transport of exhibits to and from show as usual.—Received and agreed to. From J. J. Mulvaney, Mahitahi, stating willingness to repair track for rates owing, up to £lO, the balance to cover loss on cattle.—Received, no action taken.

From Okuru Advisory Committee suggesting Saturday, May 11th, at 3 p.m. as time for election of Advisory Committee.—Received and approved. From Overseer Millner, monthly report on district roads and highways.— Received.

From J. O’Brien, M.P., advising £IOO, £ for £, had been granted as a subsidy to Rimu United Sluicing Coy. —Received with thanks.

From same stating the Department had declined the application for a grant for road access to Dillmanstown power station.— Received and referred to Mr Langford. From Harihari FarwerU’ Umou urg-

ing a grant for roading Poerua run, which was to be cut up shortly.—Received. A lengthy discussion eirsued. Messrs Chinn, Searle, and Donovan supported the request. Mr Murdoch suggested it would be better to x’ecoinmcnd that the loading ot roading on the suggested sections should be withdrawn from the settlors' liability and provided lor out of the Public Works fund. Messrs Jcflrics, Ward, Chesterman and the Chairman concurred in this, and it was resolved to recommend the Department accordingly.

From Overseer Millner reporting on operations of the plant for the month. —Received. REPORTS. The Finance Committee reported : “ Your Committee has the honour to report that the accounts presented for the month of April, 1929, have been carefully examined, and beg to recommend that the amount as approved, totalling £1984 os 4d, be passed for payment.”—Received and approved. The Chairman’s report (published in previous issue) was read and apptoved. with an addition that the services ol Mr Evans in connection with the highways be approved. All the Councillors spoke in eulogy of the Chairman’s administration and complimented him on the satisfactory financial results of the year. \ ery general reference was. made to the use of road machinery and to the satisfaction given by the operation of the plant. Mr Wells thanked'members for their kind, remarks and said the results had been achieved only by the friendly co-operation' of all the members and be was grateful to them for all their help. ORDER PAPER. The Chairman moved : —“That the accounts for the month of April, 1929, as revised and recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to £1984 os 4d, be passed for payment.” Mr Murdoch seconded. Carried.

The Chairman moved:—“That the annual report of the Treasurer, presented at last meeting, on the proposed allocation of estimated revenue for the current financial year, be now considered and adopted.” Mr Murdoch seconded. Carried.

Mr Donovan moved: “That Dochert.v Creek track to the sea beach, south side of Waiho river, be denied and repaired at a cost not exceeding £12.” Mr Chinn seconded. Carried. Mr Searle moved: —“That RossKokatahi track be cleared and improved, at a cost not exceeding £6.” Mr Donovan seconded. Carried. The Chairman moved That the Overseer inspect Styx track and repoit cost of necessary repairs required, with power to ac tup to £19.” -Mr Chesterman seconded. Carried. On the motion of Mr Searle seconded by Mr Chinn it was resolved the Overseer report as tb a suitable route on the south bank of the Little Wanganui river for the transport of macliineij from the Saltwater Beach to the main road. Mr Murdoch moved that £l9 be voted for the improvement of Chesterfield and other tracks in that vicinity. Mr Ward seconded. Carried. The Chairman was authorised to exercise the Council’s vote at the municipal elections. . On the advocacy of Mr Chinn it was resolved to urge the early construction of Lime Kiln road, Totara. Before the meeting closed, being the final of the present term, valedictory remarks were made in eulogy of the Council’s work over the term, and the very satisfactory results achieved.