WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1929, Page 6

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, AIAY 22nd

ANNUAL MEETING

ELECTION OF CHAIR AI AN

The annual meeting of the Council was held at noon. Present: Alossrs A. Wei Is (Chairman), J. A. Alurdocli, T. R. Chesterman, J. Donovan. B. Ward, AY. Searle. W. Jeffries, AT. Keenan and AI. H. Houston. The County Returning Officer notified the election of Councillors as follows :

Northern Riding:—■Alossrs B. Ward mid J. A. Aliirdoch.

Central Riding—Alossrs E. A. Wells, Af. Keenan and T. R Chesterman.

Southern Riding-—Messrs Af. H. Houston, J. Donovan, AV. Searle and AY. Jeffries.—Received. The Chairman congratulated members on the valued services rendered to’ him during the year. He mentioned that the year lmd ended with a credit balance, thanks to the work of iho Council and Clerk.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The Clerk (Air Evans) took the chair and invited nominations for the position of Chairman.

Air .Murdoch nominated Air ’Wiiril. Seconded hv Air AY. Jeffries. There being no other nominations, Mr Bernard Ward was declared elected unopposed. Air Ward took the chair. He thanked them heartily for the great- honour they had done him. He had, not expected the unanimous support of members. . He trusted that during his term of office the County would have a prosperous year, and that the finances df the Council would continue in their present satisfactory condition. He trusted to he able to continue in the footsteps of his predecessor, who lmd left behind a credit balance and had always advanced the best interests of the district. The relations between the Chairman and members had always been of a happy nature and lie frosted licse happy conditions wo Id continue. He would have to look to their esteemed Treasurer (Air Evans) for his help. They were. Very' lucky in having such an able officiiri' He trusted tlieir‘efforts on behalf of the ratepayers''would ho successful; Hk would do his best for every riding;''"hut lie recognised that special help was necessary’-' for the Southern Riding. He thanked them again for tlnUgreat honour (lone him. The Chairman extended "a ; 'hearty welcome to the' Council table to new Councillors! '[ Mr Keeliiin was a? 1 former Councillor, while Air Houston'-was a new membe'f. He trusted during tlieir term of office that they' would nave a pleasant term c'f office. Air M. Keenan thanked the Chairman for his welcome- and promised every assistance for the:general welfare' of the. district.

Air Houston also thanked the Chairman and would join in doing.his .utmost to advance the interests of the Council. He could endorse the remarks of the chairman df the importance of the Southern Ridln'gi • ••I 1 i

The Chairman moved that lletters ol thanks he forwarded expressing appreciation of past-services of the retiring members, ’Messrs L. Morel ft ml. AV. H. Chinn. Seconded by Mr Keenan and carried.

The Chairman moved a heai-ty vote ; f thanks to the retiring Chairman (Mr u\ A. Wells) 1 ' be accorded ini -apprecia.Kiti of his very successful term ol office. Mr Weils had put up a very fine performance during his term of 'price. Seconded by Air Searle and the motion was carried.

Air Wells thanked members for their vote. He bad done all lie could for the. welfare of the district. TENUIKRS. KUAIARA-KAPITEA ROAD. The following tenders were received ’’ ’ P. McDonald (Kumarn) ... £340 . j- Voie.y < Vraliura) ... £>'3B2 D Walsh and P. Hewer ... £589 e’bn tender of P. McDonald was accepted. CCORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from the Okuru Advisory Committee in reference to piling for Okuru river; referring to necessary repairs required for I urnbull Road; and other district roads, stating Arawata-Cascade vote urgently required to ho carried out; notifying required votes for next estimates.—Received. r Jhe Clerk stated the Engineer had authorised the Ara-wata-Caseade vote of £l5O.

From District Engineer. Public AYorlcs Department, Greymouth, stating the allotment for public works for the ensuing year was £0200; also stating other grants would he available from other funds.*—Received. The Council discussed the various works for submission for grants for the Estimates and a course of action was decided on. Air Keenan moved that the attention of the Highways Board be drawn to the necessity of giving attention to the bridge over Shenandoah Creek on the Hokitika-Kaniefi Road. —Seconded by ATr Searle., Air Chesterman objected to widening the bridge, as it would tend, to- make an accident more likely as two vehicles might try to pass on it. Air Alurdocli supported the attitude takenup by ATr Chesterman. Air Jeffries supported the latter attitude. Air Houston said the biggest danger was the trees on Alain’s section. It was resolved that a letter he written asking for hotter visibility to he provided to the approach from both sides.

From the Commissioner of State Forests (Hon Taverner) in reply to deputation that waited on him in Hokitika in April last, stating he could not alter the atLitudo taken up

by lii.s predecessor in office.—Received . Air Alurdocli said the letter was very satisfactory in part, which promised sympathetic consideration from, the Department. He suggested that further action he deferred pending developments, and that the Minister he written to thanking him for the contents of his letter, and that it he also stated that very large areas had been included in provisional State forests for which there was no necessity. The Chairman endorsed the remarks of Air Murdoch. The revenue for the past month as stated by Air Murdoch £I4OO, was the largest received for one month by the Council. The Chairman paid a tribute to tlig, valued services rendered in this connection by Mr Murdoch. The motion was agreed to.

In reply to Air Jeffries to a published statement made by Air Houston in regard to support accorded Mr Alurdocli in connection with timber royalties, it was fully borne out by members that every support had been given by Councillors to Air Alurdocli, the latter fully acknowledging the support given. ROLL OF COUNTY CHAIRMEN. 1876 John McWhirtei 1877 H. L. Robinson 1878 J. Grimmond 1879 John Lang 188(1 R. J. Seddon 1881 P. Dungnn 1882 John MeAYhirler 1883 P. Dungan 1884 J. Grimmond 1885 James Clarke 1886 ......... J. M. McGoldriek 1887 AlcL. AV. Jack 1888 J. M. McGoldriek 1889 A. Gumming ! - IS9O John Me Whir ter 1391 John McAVhirter 1892 Th os Daly 1893 John Staines 1894 J. Grimmond 1895 Jas F. Byrne 1896 John Staines 1897 A. Cumming 1898 P. Dungan 1899 Jas. F. Byrne 1900 L. Nortlieroft 1901 T. V. Byrne 1902 Clifton 1903 J. Grimmond 1904 T. Duff 1905 T. J. McGuigan 1906 T. V. Byrne 1907 T. W. Bruee 1908 S. G. Ferguson 1909 J. A. Murdoch 1910 T. AV. Duff 1911 T. AV. Bruce, 1912 J. Grimmond 1913 S. ,G. Ferguson 1914 A. Clifton 1915 J. A. Murdoch 1916 H. Norman 1917 ..: B. Ward 1918 T. W. Duff 1919 T. AV. Bruce. 1920 J. A. Murdoch 1921 B. Ward * 1922 W. Jeffries 1923 T. AV. Duff 1924 E. A. AVells 1925 T. R. Chesterman. 1926 AV. Jeffries. 1927 J. A. Alurdocli 1928 E. A. AVells 1929 8,. Ward.