WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1929, Page 3

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER Btli. The Council met at 2 p.m. Present: Messrs B. Ward (Courtty Chairman), E. A. Wells, M. Keenan, W. Searle, M. H. Houston, J‘. Donovan, W. Jeffries, T. R. Chesternian, and J. A. Murdoch. The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. IMVARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Treasury, notifying amounts of accrued revenue placed to credit of County Fund Account. —Received. From Prime Minister, acknowledging copy of resolution passed at recent meeting of Council in reference to fee demanded for renewal of Ross township leases, ' advising shall confer Avith colleagues in the matter.—Received. From Minister of Mines, re consent •fees to renewals of leases in Mining -township of Ross, advising arrangements will be made for refund of the •fees amounting to £9. —Received. From A. P. Sharkey, Ross, and several others, thanking the Council for its action in securing refund of amount claimed illegally for renewal of Ross town leases.—Received. Speaking to this letter and to the previous communication from the Minister of Mines Mr Murdoch considered the attention of the Minister should be drawn to the facts, which were contrary to the position explained in the letter from the Minister. Mr Murdoch stated eleven of his clients had received notices to pay the £1 as late as August last in a demand from the Receiver of Gold Revenue, made at the request of the Under-Secretary of Mines, so that the complaint made originally; was in accordance with the true position. Also. Mr Murdoch considered the £9 collected illegally should be refunded to those who had paid the amounts and without need for any special action. Mr Murdoch moved that the facts he communicated to the Minister in reply to Iffs letter. Mr Donovan seconded. Councillors spoke in support and the motion was carried.

From Minister of Public Works, acknowledging letter stating Council does not think it necessary to set up a Secondary Highways Board in south, advising same will be brought under notice of the Prime Minister.—Received.

From Public Works Department, regarding La Fontaine Bridge, advising renewal of same would be a charge against the Consolidated Fund Damage Account.—Received. ;

From same, with reference to electric light at Kanieri Bridge, stating as there is ample room both on the approach and on the bridge itself to allow traffic to pass each other, the Department is unable to recommend the pro-posal.—-Received. Mr Keenan moved the Chairman report on the cost of a a,light. Seconded..by Mr Murdoch. Mr Houston thought for motor traffic safety the light was not required, though’ it would improvement for ‘The motion was agreed to. From same, advising Department is deferring consideration of Council’s request regarding Little Wanganui flood damage untiLa later date. —Received. From J. O’Brien, M.P., Wellington, with regard to works suggested to vbe pushed on, advising the Public Works'; Department have been interviewed.—r Received. It was resolved to urge' on the attention of the Prime Minister the importance of continuing the extension of the track round Lake Kanieri.

From same, advising by telegram posting copy of Transport Bill and asking opinion of same.—Received.

• From same, forwarding a letter from Minister of Mines referring to repairs to the Cedar Creek track.—Received. From Minister of Mines, advising sum of £25 has been granted for clearing Cedar Creek track at Ross, asking Council to prepare plan and specifications for same.—Received and action taken approved. From A. Robinson, Camerons, with regard to altering road which runs past property on to Teremakau bridge, advising if same is affected, present road will be isolated, asking that the Council re-consider the matter. —Received.

Mr Searle moved that no action be

taken. The proposal 'was one that would give more safety to the travelling public. Mr Houston seconded, stating as the old road would not be closed it would not inteHere with those going to the hotel, but the proposal would add to the safety of travellers. The motion was agreed to. From Kokatahi Dairy Coy., forwarding copy of letter forwarded to Public Works Department, regarding river erosion at Hokitika Gorge, asking Council to bring the matter before Department.—Received. It was resolved to enquire from the District Engineer as to what was being done to meet the requirements of the settlers. From Secretary, Lime Coy., Koiterangi, asking that rates due by Lime Coy., be charged against the crusher as a contra for use of water supply.— Received and resolved that credit be given for supply of water. From R. Mattingley, Koiterangi, advising agreeable to pay £2O towards drainage work.—Received.

From S. O’Neil, Kokatahi, accepting the position of poundkeeper at Kokatahi, subject to exemption from liability for accidents. —Received and appointment made. From J. Donovan, M.C.C., Okarito, advising that the roadman for Okarito road had not arrived; also asking if Council will arrange for temporary ferryman for Okarito for season.—Received. Mr Donovan notified he was quite satisfied with the action taken by the Chairman in the matter. From Overseer Millner, forwarding

report upon progress of work for month of September.—Received. From same, reporting on amount of timber required and cost of constructing Alfred Creek bridge.—Received; consideration deferred till Little Wanganui protective works are completed and tested.

From Dr Bell, Harihari, reporting on accident to Wm. Muir, employed by the Council.—Received. From District Engineer notifying authority received to give the necessary attention to Bruce Bay Landing road as asked for by the Advisory Committee.—Received. It was resolved to express the appreciation of the interest shown in the progress of the district by Mr Johnston. From Brown and Nilsson, sawmillers, Kokatahi, asking for a light swing bridge across the Styx river to give access to workmen at sawmill site.— Received; referred to Overseer for report.

From Engineer, Okarito Five Mile Beach Dredging Coy., reporting on track repairs, and asking County roadman be continued on Three Mile track for a further 'period; also reporting repairs to Okarito lagoon bridge, for which no charge would be made.—Received ; referred to Chairman to inspect during his approaching visit to the district.

From 11. A. Finch, renewing application Ifor attention to bridge at Awatuna to give access to holdings.—Received ; clerk to reply pointing out the position. From J. J. Niven and Coy., Ltd. quoting for Bowser pump, £65, plus tank according to capacity.—Received ; consideration deferred.

From Overseer Millner reporting damage to Malfroy’s bridge ; estimating Vine Creek deviation if timbered to cost £I3BO ; stating material was available at Kanieri for shed; reporting on district works.—Received. In connection with Vine Creek deviation it was resolved to ask the District Engineer to make an inspection and report to. Council before taking any action. It was resolved to authorise £lO for improving track asked for by T. Meharry. From same, report on work of lorries, etc. during month.—Received.

TENDERS.

FOR STATION ROAD

Only one tender, from Shannon. Cropper, and Havill, for £1076. The tender was accepted.

FOR PETERSEN ROAD

James Addison and party, £209 15s. This tender was not accepted, the work to be offered a,t the estimate or carried out by day labour. FINANCE REPORT. Your Committee has the honour to report that the accounts presented for the month of September, 1929, have been examined carefully-, and beg- 'to recommend that the amount as approved, totalling £2,178 4s 2d, be pass-’ ed for payment.—Received and adopted.

OVERSEER’S MONTHLY REPORT. I have the honour to report upon the progress of work during the. month of September. NORTHERN RIDING. Kumar a to Kapitea. The Contractor is making fair progress with the metalling, and with average weather conditions should complete the whole of the work before the end of October. Kumara to Kapitea. This work is being carried out by day labour, two workmen being employed who' complete the clearing, forming and six chains of metalling in a very satisfactorv manner. ;

MAINTENANCE

The power grader was employed in grading Awatuna and Blue Spur,'A uabura Roads, very satisfactory work being performed on each road. A few depressions require filling with gravel on Awatuna Road and this will be attended to when, quo of the /lorries is available. Blue Spur-Ara-lvura Road requires repairing with gravel from the German Road to Blue Spur Hill. Portions of Christchurch Road were cleared and -spine depressions repaired with gravel. Motor worn holes were repaired on One Mile and Arahura Valley ijtoads and a portion of Kumara Road. Watson’s Road was treated with a. light coat of coarse pit gravel the surface being too flat and holding water.

CENTRAL BIDING

Station Road Drainage. The Contractors have completed the short section, of drain twenty chains, fifty links in length, with an outlet to the pipe culvert at the Triangle Stock Yard.

Vine Creek Bridge. The hardwood piles, caps, stringers, decking and iron work for the construction of the bridge has been delivered within a few chains of the bridge site.

MAINTENANCE,

Remail's were effected to McArthur and Hokitika Flat Roads with crushed metal and gravel and to a portion of Blue Spur Road wjth coarse pit gravel. The Power Grader was occupied for a few days grading Whitcombe Valley Road. The Austin Grader drawn by the Tractor heavily graded the lower portion of Whitcombe Valley Road earlier in the month. The ten ton roller operated on McArthur, and Whitcombe Valley Road as far ns Pigeon Creek with .very beneficial results, Repairs were ef-

fected to decking on three small bridges in the Ivoiterangi district manuka scrub and stone carted for the abutment protection of Municipal Creek Bridge.

CONCRETE PIPES. Concrete pipe construction- was continued at the yard, Kanieri. SOUTHERN RIDING. Wait aha- lagoon Rridgo. This work was put in hand under the direction of Mr H. Reviv'lds, Bridge Foreman and the preliminary work of preparing the piles for driving was completed. First Creek Bridge, Wanganui River. This work was completed under the direction of the Bridge Foreman, 11. Reynolds, early in the month.

R.uatapu Road Metalling. This work was finally completed 200 links beyond the specified distance absorbing the balance oif the grant remaining. Okarito Road Metalling. This work was continued under the direction of Roadman . Oldercg, and the read is being kept in fail order foi the continued heavy traffic passing over it.

MAINTENANCE. Repairs were effected with gravel to portions of Ruaitapu and Woolhouse Roads and drainage attended to on Redmans Road. The Roadman attended to repairs to La Fontaine, Wanganui Flat, and Robertson Roads also to the construction of a metalled approach to L. Robertsons lcsidence Robertson Road.

Draft plans and specifications were reparfod for the completion of Rua-Vcpn-Mahinapua Road Metalling also sections of road widening on Artburs,,in ami One Mile Roads. Portions if Detour Road scoured by flood were attended to. ORDER PAPER. The Chairman moved That the accounts for the month of September, 1929, as revised and recommended for payment by tne I inance Committee, amounting to £2178 4s 2d, be passed for payment.” Seconded bj Mr Wells and carried.

Mr Keenan moved: —“That a shed be erected at the Kanieri yards for improved protection for pipemaking operations.” Chesterman and carried. At Mr Donovan’s request it was resolved to write the Highways Board to suggest putting running boards on Big Wanganui and Wataroa bridges. The Council rose at 3.45 p.m.