WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1929, Page 3

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th

The Council met at 2.40 p.m. Present; Messrs B. Ward (County Chairman), E. A. Wells, W. Searle, M. H, Houston, J. Donovan, W. Jeffries, J. A. Murdbeh, and T’. R. Chesterman. The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE.

From Treasury, notifying amounts of accrued revenue placed to credit ol County Fund Account.—Received. From Public Works Department, forwarding copy of proclamation allocating to purposes of Main Higtnvay land in Block 111,, Waimea Survey District, taken for railway.—Received. ' From Public Works Department, acknowledging copy of letter from Jolm Condon, Maintain, i;e Bruce Bay road, advising same has been referred to Overseer Carroll for report.—Received.

From Health Department, advising of Inspector Bettell’s annual leave, and asking that any matters requiring attention be referred to Inspector M. Hall.—Received; the latter was formally appointed to act. . From N.Z. Counties’ Association, forwarding circular, regarding, proposal, to credte,’a . second Main Highways Board for South Island, advising it was resolved same was not ne'cessary, asking for'Council support ; to that viow. —Received. Mr Murdoch approved of ..the present Board, which was satisfactory. The Chairman- moved ' that' in the opinion of the Council, the Govenpment might'reconsider’their expressed determination-tb'.'i appoint J a ;; second -Board,- the Council considering the one Hoard for New Zealand' was proving very satisfactory and that there was no need for a separate Board for the Stmtli Island. ivlr Murdoch seconded this motion, which had the support o!’ -Vlr Jeffries, who ' stated the South Island Counties were unan’moush opposed to the appointment of a second Hoard. The motion was then agreed to. ... .

From Canterbury Progress League, forwarding circular regarding proposals of Government to withhold statutory grants to Main .Highways funds.—Received. Tlie Chairman did not consider the proposal was advisable. The Council should not support the suggestion. On the motion of Mr Murdoch it was resolved to take no action.

From County Clerk, Reelf ton, acknowledging,, telegram in connection with repent fir&fjit County Chambers. —Received. V " ' From Booth, &■■■ Macdonald,- Ltd., Christchurch, advising that a demonstration of' the-’ Booth-mac grader is being arranged on a suitable date. — Received.

From J. Hawthorn, Nelson, advising that rates' have been paid on section owned in Waimea County, Nelson, and asking for a refund, of,.amount paid.— Received; request granted,''subject to Auditor-General’s approval. From Lands Department, . Nelson, with regard to the above matter.—Received.

From John Condon, Maintain, drawing Council’s attention to state of beach road at Bruce Bay, leading to the goads sheds, asking that some attention be given same.—Received. From H. H. Busch, Maintain, asking for road access to property.—Received. ■•lr Jeffries moved that the Advisory Committee at Bruce Bay be asked to confer with Roadman Carroll and re.port at next meeting on the best course to be pursued. Seconded by Mr Searle and carried.

From Nolan Bros., Oleum, advising they propose to erect a whitebait canning factory at Okuru, and asking for particulars as to ,necessary regulations to be complied with.—Received; information supplied through several Departments approved From W. D, Nolan, ..Okuru, regarding lease of beach ..between Arawata and Waiatoto rivers, suggesting that the whole of the lease he retained by ■the Council for the use cf the ferry--man.—Received.

From same, asking Council to approve £ls for repairs to Okuru dray road.—Received; request approved. From Overseer Millner, reporting having to suspend driver for disobedience in leaving tractor at roadside instead of taking same to one of settlers sheds as instructed.—Received. Mr Murdoch moved that the suspension be continued, to enable the driver to file his defence, the Chairman to report to the Council at next meeting. Seconded by Mr Chesterman and carried.

Referring generally to the position of County employees, the Chairman said the Overseer u r as responsible to a far greater extent than any of the other employees. With this in view- it was the duty of any employee to carry out the Overseer’s instructions to the letter. it was the duty of the Council to uphold the action of their trusted Overseer.

Members generally endorsed the statement of the Chairman and assured their support. From same reporting upon progress of work on the Secondary Highways for month of August.—Received. From Minister of Marine, advising the Public Works Department was preparing a report on Oknrifo Harbour, when the matter of a vote would he considered.—Rece i ved.

From Kumara Borough Council, stating repairs to the Teremnkau Bridge would exceed the estimate, and suggesting a conference to consider the matter.—Received. The Chairman and Clerk to attend proposed conference.

From J. T. Smith, Koiterangi, asking approach to his dwelling.—Received ; -request granted. From C. E. Foote rind three others, Runfapu, complaining of cattle on roads to the danger of children.—He-

ceived. Mr Jeffries said the time had arrived to take action in connection

with the wandering stock, w'hicli was

becoming.a distinct menace. Mr Houston stated the wandering stock w r as. a distinct danger, all over the district. Mr Searle agreed of the great nuisance caused by wandering cattle. M doch said the writers of the letter should take their responsibility and’ supply the Council with the names of the owners of the wandering cattle complained, oi ! , when action would be taken. The Chairman supported .he, attitude taken up"by Mr Murdoch. As Chairman, he was totally opposed f o the roadmen leaving their work to drive cattle to a pound. He thought the., should revive their prosecutions which would do good again as it had in the past. Jt was resolved to carry out the suggestion of Mr Murdoch. From Overseer Millner, reporting the drain required at Maori Reserve, Koiterangi, would cost £46; clearing of Hans Creek, £9; stating those responsible for the removal of gravel from White Road beach could not be traced;’ approving purchase of gravel pit at Koiterangi for £lo.—Received. From same, stating that the .drainage of Upper Municipal Road and portion of Station Road will .cost' the' Council £l7 os.—Received and work authorised. ® From same, advising further investigation of Station Road flooding to consider the diversion of the water by way of Diedrioh’s Road—this though more expensive will be more effective —Received and suggestion approved. From same, reporting the cost of clearing Cropn Road ocrine: tion with Camel (yack will be £l3.—Received ; £ for £ to be offered for the work to be carried- out.-

From same, stating owing to conm plaints about wandering stock, that Stanley O’Neill be appointed poundkeeper at Kokatahi; repairs to the pound are necessary, cost £6. —Received. Mr Wells moved that Stanley O’Neill be’ appointed poundkeeper. Seconded by Mr Chestennan and carried. The pound to he repaired. From’same, advising repairs to Duck Creek foot-bridge, Kokatahi, £4.—Received and approved. From same, reporting on Government grants in hand,, most of which will he completed this month; stating a further supply of hardwood piles is required.—Received; referred to Chairman.

From same, reporting on district works and operations of County plant lor the past month; also enumerating necessary ..works in the Southern Riding to cost £63 10s. —Received. Repairs recommended in the Overseer’s report were approved and authorised to be carried out. From Inspector of Health notifying case of diphtheria at Kanieri.—Received. From Lands Department asking approval for closing of portion of road serve at Lake Rotokinp.—Received and consent given. FINANCE' COMMITTEE’S REPORT; Your Committee has the honour to report that the accounts presented for the month of August have been examined carefully, and beg to recommend that the amount as approved, totalling £2376 Is Id he passed for payment.— Received and adopted.

ORDER PAPER. The Chairman moved:—“That the accounts for the month of August, 1929 as revised arid recommended for payment by tlie Finance Comriiittee, amounting to £2376 Is Id be passed for payment.” Seconded by Mr Chesterman and carried^’ : The Chairman moved:—“ That the Council consider the advisability of installing its own pump at Kanieri, and calling tenders for the delivery of petrol in quantities required at the pump tank.” Seconded by Mr Wells and carried. Mr Murdoch moved:—“That the attention of the Minister of Mines be drawn to the fact that the fee of one pound demanded by the Under-Secre-tary of Mines at Wellington for the Minister’s consent to the renewal of Ross township leases is not made under authority of law, such fee not being , payable,; and this Council also supports those persons who have already paid the illegal demands in their applications for the refund thereof from the Mines Department at Wellington. Further that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister.”

Speaking to the motion, Mr Murdoch said they were there to protect the interests of the County ratepayers, and a number of persons who had had this illegal demand made against them were County ratepayers. He was sure of liis statement as to the illegality of the charge and staked his reputation on the fact that there was no' fee payable, and there was no necessity for the signature of the Minister to the grant. He was sure the Crown Law officers would uphold his contention, when they were called on to decide.

The Chairman said it deemed to him that the injustice complained of was being done by a. Government Department. He thought the proper course would be to have written to the Department and pointed it out to them. (Mr Murdoch: That had been done, and no reply bad been received.) He had some hesitation in supporting the motion as there were some parts of the motion' that were of a delicate nature. There was a spirit of hostility that he did not altogether favour. Mr Houston favoured the deletion of one paragraph that was a reflection on a Government officer. Mr Jeffries supported the motion with the elimination of the paragraph referred to by the Chairman and Mr Houston. Mr Murdoch agreed to the deletion and the motion was agreed to as it at present reads. Mr Chesterman askecl for a report

by the Overseer on Whitcomb Track river erosion'. Ibis was agreed to, also a further request for a report on cost off track to Lake Arthur.

The County Clerk notified three sawmillers had not submitted returns of timber in accordance with the Act. it was resolved to hand their names to the Council’s solicitors for immediate action to be taken. ■— Two matters brought 'forward by Mi Searle were referred to the Overseer to report. Mi- Houston asked for some attention to Rotokino swamp road. Left tOverseer for attention. ROAD GRADER. The Council viewed a demonstration of a grader in upper Fitzherbert Street earlier in the afternoon. Mr Tngr m, representing Booth MacDonald and Co. waited on the Council explaining ti e machine on view. Later in the meeting, the Council dismissed the matter. The Chairman said the cost of the grader was £265. and that amount could be financed out; of the County funds. He was quite' satisfied with the improvement of the County roads as the result off the machinery used on the roads. He moved that the machine be purchased at a price of £265.

Seconded by Mr Chesterman, who said be bad always advocated the provision of machinery.

Mr Donovan objected to the bringing forward of a motion for purchasing anything over £2O without notice of motion being given. He did not disagree with the method of using the but what South Westland .wanted v'as more gravel on the roads. He did not see the necessity of a .new grader while the' one they had was in workable order. ''

Mr Searle supported the purchase, because this grader would save the wages of one man, as only one man was required instead of two men tfor Hie old grader.

r Wells supported the purchase as a very wise one.

Mr Jeffries said he opposed the motion on the question of finance. Most of the rates were in, they bad 6} months to go. He urged them' to go slow. The County h'ad no long lengths of road to keep a grader going every day of the year. It was no good getting machinery to let it lay idle roost of the time. The present grader was a suitable one for the purpose, though it took two men instead of one. He was opposed tp the proposal to purchase, which he had not known of till !:e came to the meeting.

Mr Murdoch said they were bound to repair their roads with a grader and he based his vote on the fact that this machine meant the saving olf one man in the working of it. The Council stood in the position of £7BO at this meeting being paid off the loan account.

The Chairman put the motion' which was agreed to, Messrs Donovan ■'and; •Jeffries-voting against, > '

SPECIAL MEETING,

The Chairman moved“ That the audited annual balance sheet and statement of accounts for the year. ended March 31st, 1929, as now before the Council be received and settled.” Seconded by Mr Wells and carried. The Chairman - moved:—“That the usual arrangement for the publication of the balance sheet be made.” Seconded, by Mr Chesterman and earned. The Council rose at 5.30 p.m.