WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1929, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 10th. REPORT RE HIGHWAY ROADS. Overseer Millner supplied the following :—I have the honour to report upon the progress of work on the Secondary Highways for the month of August. LOWER KOK ATAHI-McARTHUR ROAD. Repairs were effected to motor worn holes over the whole length of roadway between Kanieri Lake road junction and McArthur road; the approach to Graham’s Creek bridge; and a subsidence on the roadway crossing the concrete pipe culvert SCO links north of Harris Creek bridge, No 4. The traotor and grader were engaged in replacing the road surfacing from Kokatahi bridge to McArthur road, a distance of 4 miles 30 chains. From the 11 mile peg to 15 miles the graded crushed metal was blinded and rolled with the ten ton roller to consolidate! the material as much as possible. The whole of the decking and handrailing which was, very defective was removed from Graham’s Creek bridge and replaced with 32/14 and 5/18 x Bx 4 decking and. 8/18 and 8/12 x 9 x 21 traffic planking, a total quantity'of 1909.4 superficial feet being placed in position. Defective and broken decking , was removed from Kokatahi bridge and replaced with 6/16 feet b v Bx 4 a total quantity of 256 superficial feet; Blackberries aud gorsa growth were cleared from the roadside averaging five feet in width over a distance of 80 chains. The roadside drain between Lang road and Lang drain culvert .was cleared of growth, and cleaned of obstructions over a distance of 20 chains. The amount of material used in patching was 153 cubic yards, 5 cubic -yards of-,gravel on the approaches to Graham’s creek bridge, 7A; cnbic yartjsonrond crossing concrete /'pipe . culvert,. 120 cubic yards used in' bliading and' restoring the roatj surface from Kokatahi bridge to Municipal road., and 160 cubic yards dumped at. roadside, a total quantity d.f/A2oV ; cubic'■ yards handled for the month. Sfc UPPER KOKATAHI ROAD. / Upper Kokatahi road was repaired with gravel oyer a distance, of one ipile, 40 cufbie yards being used for the purpose. '• V /' LAKE KANIERI ROAD. The widening of the narrow cutting immediately beyond Ward road junction whs completed, and the road surface restored over a distance of 626 links j motor worn holes repaired oyer the first mile in length, and a short section of watertable reopened. Slips were removed from watertables; and the curve on the last descending grade from the Lake widened and the road surface improved. ’Jbe amount of gravel used in repairs to motor worn holes was 12 cubic yards, while 72 cubic yards were removed at the widening beyond Ward road, and 60 cubic yards removed and placed on the road at the curve near the Lake; also 500 links of watertables cleaned beyond Crayfish Creek bridge. A total quantity of 144 cubic yards of gravel was handled during the month. . CHAIRMAN’S REPORT/ Gentlemen,—-I have the honour to report that in the interval since last montili’s meeting, at the invitation of Mr W. A. Jamieson and others of Koiterangi, in company with the members of the Central Riding and the Overseer, I visited the erosion of the Hokitika river below the Gorge. The Member for Westland (Mr - J. O’Brien) and Mr Samson, Assistant District Engineer, together with a number of settlers and representative citizens were present, and an examination made of the situation. The menace of the river has been a matter of comment for many years, and in. former times protective work was. carried out. Some of the resident settlers are somewhat perturbed about the position, and the desire is to see the matter of any possible damage anticipated and prevented. The matter is in the hands of the Public Works Department, and the Member for Westland has promised kindly to interview the Hon. Minister and endeavour to have provision made for a scheme of protection to ensure of safety of the settlement. Shortly after, in company with the Central Riding members and Or. Murdoch a visit was paid to Station road, Koiterangi, in course of construction, to look into the. flooding cf the district in time of heavy lain. The settlers immediately concerned w°re present, and the position view- 1 ed' from different aspects. The flooding appears to be caused by an overflow from Vine creek, and a few days later the Overseer and a settler investigated the back country. Mr Millner’s report and recommendation will ibe before you to-day, and ' his suggestion for further investigation to see what can be done in the way of control and diversion, should he given effect to as the best means of securing the position in the future. ■Station road which is now to be carried to completion as speedily as possible, will he a most useful road for the settlement, and it is necessary to secure it from damage by recurring flooding. A conference iby Cr Murdoch and myself with the Commissioner of

Lands was held last week regarding. the roading of the Poerua Estate run shortly to be cut up for closer,., settlement. This matter had been' discussed previously by the Council when the opinion was expressed that the loading should be carried out by the Government without loading the cost on the sections, and so increasing the annual rentals. Mr Morpeth was also to supply us with the Departmental views, and it was pleasing to know that a certain amount of <Tce money, though not ail, would be provided towards the roading. The' suggestion put to us was that the Council should agree to £IOOO being debited in two sums of £3OO each from its annual quota for district works. This, in addition to the free money expected, will relieve the sections of considerable loading and be a relief to the settlers who eventually go on the land. Taking that view as the best obtainable in the circumstances, on behalf of the Council with the concurrence of Cr. Murdoch, the proposal was agreed to, and Mr Morpeth authorised to place the proposal before the authorities. The Council is desired to approve the action, and to make formal application for £oCO on the Supplementary Estimates as this year’s contribution under the foregoing proposal. Following the conference referred to, opportunity was- taken to confer with Mr Morpeth relative to a suggested aerodrome reserve on racecourse hill overlooking the town. The examination of the maps revealed aconsiderable area of apparently suitable, land. Mr Morpeth has agreed kindly to have the area surveyed, and its value for the purpose proposed. ascertained. When the oflic-ial information is available it is proposed to make an inspection as to suitability, and thereupon take such action as is considered desirable.

OVERSEER’S REPORT: I have the honour to report upon the progress of work during the month of August. NORTHERN RIDING. Kumara to Kapitea. The Contractors are making good progress having c iripieted the whoie of clearing and formation the specified distance, sixteen chains of metalling and the concrete pipe culverts construction. The whole of the work should be completed by the end of September. Kumara to Kapitea., balance oF grant. This work consisting of clearing, forming and metalling a section of road ten chains in length was commenced at the end of the month at the Kapitea end to give improved access to Chesterfield station. Mnlfroy’s Bridge. Repairs were completed to one of the lower chords. Several transomes and decking, partly defective, were renewed with inner heart of rimu. maintenance. Repairs were effected to motor worn holes on One Mile and Arahura Valley lloads, and several bad holes on the Christchurch Road.: The Roadmen being on holiday for one week, contracted influenza before returning to duty, and in consequence the usual amount of maintenance work was not performed. / CENTRAL RIDING. Station Road. The drain on the upper side of Station Read was not commenced owing, to one of the Contractors 'being absent but will be in hand by September 10th. Vi U 9 Creek Bridge. The timber and ironwork have been ordered in readiness to start. MAINTENANCE. Urgent repairs were effected with rough gravel to portion of Blue Spur Road a subsidence attended to on Tucker Flat Road. Motor worn holes and depressions were repaired with tailing and river bed gravel on Adairs, Arthurstown, South Hokitika, and Back Creek lloads, watertables were cleaned on Adairs and Blue Spur Roads. Overhanging and encroaching scrub was cleared from Sunny Bight and two bends on Milltown Roads. The site of the extended parking place at Sunny Bight later to be filled in with gravel, was cleared of scrub and blackberry for 200 linlpi in length. Adairs' Road was cleaned and heavily graded a distance of two miles. McArthur's and'a portion of Hokitika Flat Roads were graded and repairs effected to a section of McArthur Road with 35 cubic yards of crushed metal. Very bad holes and rats were repaired on Koiterangi Ford and Upper Municipal Roads. No. 1 and No. 2 Lorries were each engaged for two days carting 18 inch diameter pipes from Kanieri to Lake lantlie. No. 1 lorry was also engaged two days carting 36 inch diameter pipes from Kanieri to Cheli. Roaifi for the Public Works Department. The fencing on Kanieri 'lrani Rond was erected for 225 links in length. CONCRETE PIPE CONSRUCTION. Concrete pipe construction was commenced on the 29th of the month. ROAD ROLLER. The road roller operated on the Secondary Highway principally as circumstances permitted. STONE CRUSHER. The stone crasher ■ was pngaged for several days crushing metal for repairs to McArthur and Municipal Roads.

SOUTHERN RIDING. lluata pu-M a liii la pu a Road. Owing to both lorries being required for other work- , the continuation of Run to p u-Mah i napu a Road metalling was not proceeded with. If weather conditions are favourable ’ this vote will be exhausted before the end of September. Waitaha Lagoon Bridge. All the necessary timber and iron work lias been procured in readiness to commence the work.

Fiist Creek Bridge, Big Wanganui. The necessary pile driving gear and timber from La Fontaine Creek Bridge was carted to the lower end of La Fontaine and hauled over the road formation to tlic sits of the work.

Okarito Road Metalling. Repairs were effected to very had holes and several small culverts broken through by heavy traffic. MAINTENANCE. The grading was completed on Waitaha Settlement, Douglas, Bold Head, between the Main Highway and S. Mitchell’s residence, Rodman’s, Woolhouse, and Ruatapu Roads. Defective decking whs removed and replaced on two large platform culverts on Bold Head Road. Repairs effected with gravel to tiie approaches of Ellis Creek bridge, and large degressions on Waitaha beach and Woolhouse roads. The attended to repairs on Wanganui 1* lat and Petersen roads. NECESSARY REPAIRS. Waitaha. Settlement road is rough in a good many places beyond the Public Hall and requires repairs, crating £l2. Redman’s Road improved by grading is worn out in places, which requires metalling, and some drainage attending to, at a cost of £lB. The upper portion of road beyond McLeod’s will be placed in order free of cost to tiie Council. V oollioiise road is in need of repairs to motor worn boles and rats which will cost £7 10s. A defective culvert requires removing near /Mr "Wilson’s and reconstructing with a double course of 18-inch diameter pipes. Cost inclusive of material £l6.