WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1930, Page 3

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, APRIL Bth

HIGHWAYS REPORT

Overseer Millner reported as follow :

, I.have the honour to report upon the progress of work upon the Secondary Highways during the month of March Lake Kanieri Hoad.—No repair work was affected during the. month excepting a defective watertable cleaned over a distance of 10 chains.

Upper Kokatahi.—Repairs were effected to motor worn holes over a distance of one mile absorbing 12 cubic yards of gravel from roadside dumps.

Lower Kokatahi McArthur Road.— The Power Grader was used early in the month . -resurfacing and grading fine displaced gravel from the outer sides of road to the centre, over a distance, of 1\ miles; also regrading over "a distance df 4 miles on March 31st. Repairs were affected to motor worn holes over a distance of 9 miles, using 80 cubic yards of gravel from roadside dumps. The hand railing of Dim- . niif'k Creek Bridge, No. 1 was cleaned jhdVpainted white the handrail straps rewivipg ,y coat of .black paint. Defoe# velfileeking wo s’- - - removed from K^katabi,- Bridge -.apd • Unplaced with 8/16 Bx 4 inner hynrt of rimu, a total of 381.4 superficial--feet.- In addition cubic yards of gravel .wprd. carted out and placed on the road repairing :lo\v places' arid Targe boles.

OVERSKETUS “'MONTHLY REPORT.

. I have the honour to report upon the progress of works during the month of March.

NORTHERN RIDING.

Kumara to Kapitea North Rank. The contractors are making good pro gross with the work of formation, drainage and culvert construction.

Kumara. to Kapitea Chesterfield South Bank. This work- is progressing fairly well, a portion of the iformation -the diversion' arid Tbe outlet-drain, also -3f>-.inch rdiameter; concrete pipe culvert being completed. Malfjgby’s Bridgh -Repairs were continued under the direction of Bridge Foreman H. Reynolds. The following faultyHttuher.was removed and replaced with,heart of.rimu timber. Corbels 17x14 l/«. Top chords 12x12, 3/43. En 1 struts 12 xlO. i 5/14. Intermediate braces "Bxlo 1/14. Centre. Braces 7x4 '9/14. Chord Breves 7 x 4 2'14. New blocks were placed on several tension rods . rind seventeen tension l-ods .-removed, cleaned and'replaced- in posh tion.

One Mile Road..Widening.—'This work •was' compMecl "by day labour,' the two lorries bcirm used 'for gravel haulage from thq. Hospital gravel area, three mdes distant' from the work. The whole of. the work specified was comin a fairly satisfactory manner, tlm formation and metalling extending oyer a distance of Bo chains.

MAINTENANCE

Kuniara Road was graded and a quantity of loose metal removed from the road surface, from the southern bank of Kapitea Creek;, to Sandy’s Hill resulting in a greatly improved surface for motor traffic. A portion of One Mile and. Araliura Valley roadsowere cleaned of blackberry and gorse , motor worn holes repaired with gravel as far as Humphreys Road. The lower portion, of One Mile Road was graded for twenty chains below the terminus of newly completed widening and from Bond’s corner to Arahura Valley road. A portion of the outlet drain was cleaned preparatory to clearing and cleaning Humphreys Road drains. Defective decking was renewed on one bridge oijr i SP enc 6. r Road.

Jlj OKNTR AL RIDING

Arthurstown Road Widening.—The clearing, formjng 'and metalling was completed, the' specified - distance of 45 chains iff a very Satisfactory man-

Upper Kokatiihi Road Widening.Good progfe,ss'"has been made with the "whole of- The- work" the ‘ formation', and twelve chains- of the metalling being completed to date. With average weather conditions the completion of the whole of the work may be expected by April 17th. .'Whitcombct Valley Track.—Work commenced on the last day of the month and was confined to renewing cordiU'oy on the track 950 links from the /Hokitika Gorge.

MAINTENANCE

The -south -section of Station Road from the Whitcpmbe gpad jiju)ction was repaired with giraye.b.for half, the distance, the balance will he repaired when a lorry is available during the rtxt month. The Power Grader was used grading Arthurstown Road below the newly completely widening, continuing on South Hokitika Road to Takutai. White Road and a portion of Wall Road were also graded. Back Creek and a portion of Arthurstown roads were cleared of encroaching gorse an two trees placed across Mons Rivulet Creek to form a bridge for foot traffic during flood. The construction of a gravelled road to the site of the petrol pump and yard was put in hand, and will he continued to completion as circumstances permit.

PAINTING

The hand railing o)f the newly constructed bridge over Vine Creek, Station Road, and the greater portion ol the approach railing on both sides of Mahinapua Creek Bridge, South Hokitika, were painted white.

SOUTHERN RIDING

Mahinapua Creek Gearing was com pleted, also a foot track from Shanghai to the jetty. A new jetty forty eight feet in length supported on silver pine piles driven ten feet below the bed of the lake, was completed under the direction of the Bridge Foreman. Veronica Track Improvement and Clearing.—The contractor has completed the whole of the work specified in a fairly satisfactory manner.

Petersen -Road Extension Metalling. The contractors have signed the contract and will start with the .metalling in April. Three Mile Track.—The vote for this work was exhausted early in trie month.

MAINTENANCE

Repairs were effected by raking in the worst ruts on Ruatapu-Mahinapua, and Shanghai Roads. The roadman, attend to repairs to the various roads in the Inner Wanganui district, also to the counstruction* of a concrete p t)'* culvert on Wanganui Flat road. Mot tor worn holes, ruts etc.,- were repaired on Detour and Wataroa Flat ici.th scrub cleared portion of drain elm .led on Loan Block road and culvert rep tired at the upper end of Richar Ison road. Okarito road repairs were put in hand and several sections of water tables and drains’ cleaned. "

NEW WORKS

Lines were cleared, chained and peg ged on .Graham's Road (Waitangi) Cron’s Road (Little Wanganui River) and Ruatapu Road improvements. Plans and specifications were prepared for each work to absorb the amount oi grants available.

Treasurer’s Report on Receipts and Expenditure for 1929-30 and Apportionment of Revenue to Separate Ridings for 1933-1931.

Sir and Gentlemen—l have the honor lo- report in accordance with the resolution of the Council on tiie finances of the financial year, and to submit the following for your guidance in connection with the apportionment ot revenue for the current financial year, in terms of the provisions of the Counties’ Act. ihe financial Year which closed on March ’ 31st’.‘ last, gave the following general revenue exclusive of special grants:— general & Alining Rates, less rebate £4972 3 4 Harbor'Board Rates . 753 13 11 Subsidy and interest on Rates ... 648 8 11

.Goldfields Revenue 5476 18 1 -Fees, Fines and Penalties 1 .13 3 Publicans’ Licenses'... ... 454 15 -0 Rents and Refunds ... ... 164 13 Q Workers’ Compensation

r A-.t ... ... ... ..... ... 40 10 0 Petrol Tax refunded ... 128 16 .0 i hirds, Land Fund 241 7. 10 Halves, Royalties Fund 496 1 9 State Forests sth. & 10th. 753 10 0 Contractor’s Deposits ... 49 0 0 Ratepayers’ Contributions 26 0 0 Haulage of Timber 11l 2 5 Clerical Assistance 64 11 0 Secondary Highways, subsidy 1889 14 11 Timber Levy Transport ... 601 4 6 Pipes and Material, sale of ' 982 15 0 Railway Bridges, Highways 63 -7 4 Motor Running Fees ... 528 18 10

£18,447 5 1

The general revenue under the above headings for the previous year w'as £15,812 8s f>d. The receipts on account of road grants etc. from the Government were £5,538 8s lOd. The gross revenue for the year was £23,985 13s Id as against £19,183 8s 6d the previous years.

EXPENDITURE

The following supplies an analysis of the expenditure under the various subdivisions sot out in the Counties’ Act:

(a) General Debts and Liabilities Repayment cm Loans ... £1449 0 0 Interest on Loans 122 11 10 Interest on Bank O.verdraft’ 3 B2 9 £15.75 4. 7

The expenditure the previous year under the above headings was £Bl3 "11 2d During the past year there were three loans paid off, which accounts for the increased expenditure. (b) Contributions under Various Acts. Charitable Aid Act ... ~.£1814 16 2 Harbour Board Rates Col- ■ ic:tcd ' ;;;■ r : ... 713 5 5

Alcoholic Liquor Act ... 11 9 1,0 Workers’ Compensation Act' .84 18 2Rating Act .. ... :.. 72 *2 9 Miscellaneous Acts , 187 10. If Electoral Act Expenses ... 263 2 7 Cemetery Maintenance ... 8 10 0 Contractors’ Deposit Ac. 60 0 0

£3,215 15 0 In the previous year £2845 13s 2d was spent under the above headings. (c)■ Counties’ Act. Administration. Chairman and Members £287 8 ( Office Salaries ... 849 0 0 Office Charges 135 8 2 Printing Advertising & Stationery 28 18 10 £l3lO 15 0

The previous year the expenditure for the above was £1423 2s Qd.

(d) Main Ropds

Trapliire - ... £66 6 0 Printing, Advertising &

Stationery 68 10 0 Railway Bridges 102 13 8 Telephone Guarantee ... 4 10 Motor Lorries Account, net 823 5 1 Road Maintenance and Salaries Staff 3027 7 I Main Highways Board ... 1530 0 I 1 'Taut Purchased 467 9 1 Secondary Highways ....- 20-13 8 ' itwess on Grants etc. expenditure 2215 0 0

£1)348 0 7

Last year's expenditure on the above services was £7832 0s 7d.

Summary of General Expenditure (a) General Debts £1575 4 7 (t>) Contributions under Acts 32.15 15 5 (c) Counties Act 1310 15 O (d) Main Roads ... ... 9318 0 7

£15,449 15 7

The general revenue £18,447 os Id and the ture in the preceding 449 15s 7d.

shown-above was general expencliparagraph £15,-

SEPARATE RIDING ACCOUNTS. OR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED, MARCH' 31st 193 Riding Allocation Expenditure Balance Northern ... £769 £B2l 4 11 dr £5.2 4 11 Central . ... 1517 1340 15 5 c-r 176 4 ' 7 Southern ... 2007 1940/ 0 6. 57 19 6 4293 4111 0 10' ' 181 19 . 2 Net credit balance £lßl 19s 2d.;. Average expenditure per'nionth available £357 15s Ocl Average expenditure per month actual £342 11s 9cl.

RIDING MONTJIL

Y AVERAGES

Riding Available Actual Northern ... £64 I_B £6B 8 9 Central ... 126 8 V 111 14 7 Southern ... 167 5 0 162 8 5 £357 15 0 £342 11 9 ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. It will be Seen from :o £he foregoing funds that -the not resitfih for til'd yeilr was:— - ‘ Revenue .-... .VJ£18,447. 5 1 Expenditure ... 1’0,449 16 7 Ciedit Balance ... x 2,997 9 6 Surplus from Rid- : ..ing -Accounts ..xo . , 18-1-19 2

, , ; - ;. .■ - ; £3179. 8 9The expenditure on roads has been •s the fottawiiig-dihcJosos : Motor Loritlcs.. Account',- £824 Road Maintenance and Staff ... 3027 Main Highways .... ... 1530 Railway Bridges ... ... 103 Purchase of Road PUiril-.i.L. 46c Excess on grants expended ... 2215 Secondary Highways 2043 District County Roads 4111 £14,321

GENERAL COMMENT

During the year £407 were paid off’ loans by the ordinary repayments, and in addition (in accordance with the recommendation of a year ago) £1,042 to clear off the indebtedness oil the following loans: Antecedent Liability loan, £4OO ; Peterson road loans, £IBO, La Fontaine Creek clearing loan, £162. These operations saved a considerable sum in interest to the relief of the ratepayers paying the special rates.

The council still has the Kakapotahi Bridge Loan on which there is,.a.; balance of £7OO extending overseven years. The next repayment will' he in February, 1931. It is recommended that the full amount be paid off then, which will mean a saving of £llO 5s Od in interest. In connection with tins loan the council has been collecting a security rate over the specified area. There are now in hand sufficient funds to meet the interest ami annual repayment on the loan for the current year, so that it will not he necessary to levy the special rate this year. This will save the ratepayers'concerned iii the area approximately £lB5, and if the Council adopts the rcommendation to pay off the loan hi full next February, there will be not any necessity to collect the loan rate in future, and it may be dropped, which means for tile six years period involved, the ratepayers concerned will he saved the payment of over £7OO in special rates, a concession the. residents • of ine Southern Ridjng affected, should "appreciate. •' ■ X''K-■ . ' -.'TL.-'.:'. While on the subject of .rates it .ina.v not lie out of place to ne'e here .tbai the hospital levy is paid, out of the general rate. The Council may if it. so wishes, strike a special va.te .to pay itie annual sum demanded to meet the hospital maintenance an I relief expenditure. It Ims been the practice to pay the hospital levy:- out of the general funds. Last year £18.1.5 was so paid, and in relation to the general rate collectable, this was equal to a percentage of almost 40 p.c. In a study of the rating demands made.by the Council the ratepayers, and part,, icularly the larger contributors, miglo hear the fact in mind. Two fifths of the rates paid ape earmarked for hos-

pital payments, so that only three tilths of the general rate is avaiiaoalor Council work. It is suggested the present rate of six farthings in the j. I)e continued this financial year. During the year £‘iii/' was spent out of general revenue or the purchase of plant. This was mainly for the tractor and grader. The grader has been a very useful appliance and in addition to doing a large amount 6f worn on the County roads in the ordinary way oJ mainleuaiue earned 626 f cash io, work done on account of gran Is or on the highways. Tin; net cost of the lorries, including car (machines only)'who £823 ihr supplies, repairs, renewals et- 1 . Actually the two lurries earned in cash £lO-22 from grants etc, ];ortion of which went to the wages of the drivers. In addition the road roller earued £2lO cash, (apart from its ordinary work on the roads) crushed metal to the value of £IOO was sold for cash, and the sale of con r.ele pipes (other than those used for Council piirpo'-es) totalled £BOO. The total sum earned in this way through the plant was £2-100. in connection with the operation of the plant., every satisfaction must ho expressed with the work done. Very good work was performed by the grader and it is suggested the driver should receive higher remuneration as from f!ie Ist of the month, to cover the special work attended to, say £2l per month. It is proposed in tire estimates of expenditure to include a sum oi not less than £2-10 for a car for Hie Overseer. The present car has been in use for 5$ years and to the end of March has covered over 135,000, miles, w.hioh must be considered very faithful send e, due in a great measure no doubt to the care and control o» the machine exercised by Overseer M i liner. For the purchase of the machine it is suggested tenders ho called returnable at next meeting. Increases in salary are also recommended to the Overseer, Assistant Clerk and Typiste, as per particulars to lie placet! before the Finance Committee. The Council is receiving very faithful service from the Officers referred to, and a great deal of the success of the year’s work depends upon the manner in which it is attended to, and Council’s interests are watched closely in all details by the officers in question. While oil the subject of machinery 1 feel impelled to recommend the Council to consider the purchase of a light bi lick for spe ial work mainly in flic ■Southern and Northern Ridings. The i.ypc of machine would i e a tipper with pneumatic tyres, and four wheels on rear axle. The horse and dray would be dispensed .with in the South, and the lorry could be moved quickly to various points as circumstances required. Its earning power on highway work and grants would lie not inconsiderable, and a higher standard of ro id maintenance for the country districts would be assured by disposing of necessary work in quicker time. The cost of tiic type of machine suggested would be in the region of £4OO, and it would be possible to make the purchase out of revenue. In connection with the volume of special road works, it W/ill be. inter.fpr members to. know that .the cost of. the secondary highways (omitting, bridges) for the year was £I9BO. of which the Highway Board contributed £1320, and the Council found £66'). An expenditure approximating a similar sum is estimated for this, year, with special votes applied ‘ for a new bridge at Kennedy’s (Lake K.auieri road) with a road del our recommended by the Overseer to give improved visability rounding thcr resdence abutting the road; also a new bridge on the. Wacaroa Detoulp road at the crossing near the hotel/ The total expenditure, of £ for £ votes mainly in connection with Consolidated Fund expenditure for renewals and improvements, was £2746, of which amount, half was provided from the County Fund, and for £2 for £1 votes, £630, the Council providing £210.’ In addition £354 were expended from the County Fund in aid icination of grants, but that amount will-be refunded in due course. ’ -

Some correspondence took place as Councillors will, recall,, regard in si Tim-, her Royalties, but on' behalf of the Department the Minister maintained a negative attitude. However, the increase mentioned in the previous repor J - was maintained, the total being £43-57, or £B3O increase. “Halves’’ increased about £2OO and “Fifths” alxmt £ll.l. so that the gross increase was £1144.

The Timber levy authorised under the Finance Act. 1927, of one halfpenny per 100 ft. of sawn eimber, produced £OOI. which was of assistance in meeting road maintenance charges. The snwmillers have asked that this lei> he not continued, owing to the depressed state of the timber trade. T am of opinion the levy should he continued. It is extremely small, and it has to be borne in mind that the fast moving lorries, heavily laden, do considerable .damage to the road surface, particularly in wet weather. There is now a large amount of timber hauled over The roads; spine of which were not constructed-: for the special traffic, and the levy is 1 not equal, in itself to .the •cost-of repairs." tjecessary., and it Ms Hot equitltble l%vt the ' expenditure should faTi .wholly on the general' revenue, when the legislature has provided " specially ' towards meeting the costs.

\ I,LOCATION FOR SEPARATE R THINGS.

The estimated revenue for the year is £-16.500 ’and the expenditure £14.S(X) leaving available £2.000 for. district roads. If the debt .reduction proposal is agreed to and with £250 provided for the new car. there will be available from the vear’s surplus of £2997 less debt reduction £7OO and car £250. a net amount of £2047 which

with the £2ooo'mentioned in the foregoing, provides £4047 for the roads, as against £3835 last-.year, and £3618 the previous year. This sum -of £4047 allocated on rateable values,- plus the surplus of £lßl from the Sena-ratc Ridings, gives the following division of funds for the Ridings:

Eliding • Balance AlFo- Total cation Avail- . ' able.. Northern - dr. ■ £52 £589-.'£53/ Centra! .. cr. 170 1538. 17L' Southern cr. 57 192>1. - 197( £lßl £4047£4228

This total of £4228 for district roads, gives a monthly average-expenditure, over the three Ridings of £354, as. against £357 monthly the-previous year. On these figures it will not be lieco - sarv to increase the general rate, which it is suggested should remain as before. Provision, however, could , be made for' the. five. per cent, rebate, which would he a further concession to the ratepayers of about £l4O to £l5O.

CONCLUSION..

•In drawing, this statement to a clqjfithe QoU-ticil. . lias every .reason -to Vjp 1 giatified with the. financial position., The- previous year closed witlLa,..c-redlt balance at the hankers, and the-batik-, vug has been so satisfactory: throughput -year that- only £3'2s fid wins ' debited • for’ interest. In' former years this charge was up to £2OO and more. The ratepayers have been - served with

better roads for a decreased demand due to the paying off of loans'. Westland County continues the lowest rated in the West Const group. The figure for t.he Westland County given in the Government- blue book is 7.30 per £I.OOO. of capital rateable value, which is .07 decrease on the previous year. The other Counties on the'Coast are.given as follows:-—8.98, 11.1 C, and 11.50 which indicates’ a substantial

difference in two instances. A measure of credit for the general position must lie given to the loyal service of the staff and to the intelligent use of the road plant. J know Mr Millner has not spared himself in his work, and his lead and enthusiasm have been an inspiration,: toi the.. staff generally. Die -.year’s- work-. went smoothly and its isa'ti.slaetefy outcome, with tile improved (■■onditioii of the roads in general, .must"., be- pleasing to alb concerned. ‘There is every reason to expert a tfie. iyeai liow 'entered upon to be no Ifiss satisfactory, for- tine ■■■ Council’s' policy careful arid economical as it has been,' iefrvtj&V'.the ratepayers well, and giyas .results- which, justify t.hc judgment of the Council, and ensures that degree of lain lid. a dministration which reveals itself from .time to time in the annual figures. - D. J. EVANS, Treasurer. FTokitikal April 3rd. 1930.