WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1930, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, MAY 13th.

The Council met at 2 p.m. Present — Messrs Bernard Wardl (County Chairman), |W. Jeffries, J. Donovan, M. Houston, W. Searle, H. Wells, J. A. Murdoch, and M. Keenan. An apology was received for the absence of Mr. Chesterman, from Haw-

The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved.

INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From>Treasury, notifying amount of accrued revenue to credit of County Fund Account.—Received. From Highways Council, advising unable to grant subsidy asked foi to fill in excavation in front of Searle Bros., garage, Hari Hari.-—Received; referred to Overseer to report.

From Public Works Department, returing proposals for Cron’s Road, duly approved, but offering a subsidy for .the metalling instead of a free grant as first understood. —Received; consideration was deferred pending a reply to a .further letter to the District Engineer. From Tourist Department, regarding track to Toaroha Hot Springs, advising Public Works Department is being communicated with in regard to matter.—Received. From Westland Hospital Board, forwarding copyof Estimates' on which levy was struck; County monthly payment £195 14s 4d for nine months.— Received, i , .

Ffiomi Oounjtjy Oerk, Whakatane, asking co-operation with regard to increasing petrol tax, which will enable it to completely finance all future maintenance and construction costs on primary main highways in a permanent manner. —Received, consideration deferred till Council was dealing with remits for Counties Conference. From Mr Bunt, Terawhiti Sawmill Coy., Greymouth, asking for copy of letter granting right to cut timber on road reserve.—Received and request to ~e attended to.

Firom' H; C. ' Houlahan, Ross, com-' plaining of Redman’s Road.—Received ; Overseer to confer with Mr Houlahan and report. ; ,r•' i From Gill,; The Forks, asking for grant* for-'clearing ; old tram 1 line leading to beach.—Received. From Overseer Millner, reporting accident on Kokatahi road and recbm-‘ mending the widening of a culvert where the accident occurred.—Received It was resolved the Overseer take necessary action.

From same reporting on Gillam’s Gully road condition,* and reporting necessary. attention.—Received attention to be drawn to lessees of the tramline affecting the road.

From G. S. Cray and Coy., Greymouth, regarding purchase of car from Dr Baird, asking for accident policy,.for transferring interest to the Council.—tßeceived, ; > ,V- . - From S, O’Neil, Greymouth resigning from position of Pound-keeper at Kokatahi, and recommending William O’Neil to the position.—Received. It was resolved to offer the position to Wm.. O’Neil. From F. Brown and Hall, Hokitika,, applying for a stock track via old Borough Boundary track into section 3522 and 3533.—Received; overseer to report to Chairman. From D. F. Dennehy, Matainui, asking for attention to Roto Creek Swamp road, and offering £25 contribution with view to securing a grant.—Received; overseer to report as to position and use. From J. Condon, Mahitahi, advising list of works required for Government Grants, stating most important being Flower Pot 'Rock.—Received.

From W Dv Nolan, Okuru, reporting on works required in district, and also in regard to ferries.—Received. From Overseer Millner, on cnjr purchased from Dr Baird.—Received; the'clerk reported the car had been [purchased at £195 cash. Frdm Same, reporting on cost of oonstiructing a platform bridge immediately' below : Mahinapua Creek Bridge, estimating cost of same- at £739.—Received. Mr Houston suggested that the overseer confer with the Golf Club with a view to arranging for a roadway inside the crown of the beach. After dscussion this course was agreed to. From Same, Report on cost of form, ing and metalling Petersen Road to completion; also cost of Kumara Junction to Kapitea road,—Received. From Same, reporting upon progress of works on Secondary Highways for month of April.—Received. The Council in the past has had to pay £1 for £2 and therefore the cost of the works to the Council would he £2OO and £4OO. Mr Jeffries said the two works were too much or the Council in one year. He considered that the Knpi-tea-Kumara road should be done first. After discussion in which it was stated that there had been some discussion as to the route for Petersen Road again, and it would be advisable to defer taking any action there, it was resolved to approve of the ICapiteaKumara road work, the Council’s liability not to exceed £4OO. From Westland Hospital Board, asking for authority to close certain unused roads in the vicinity of the Hos pital .as per plan.— Received and approved. From Mines Deparment agreeing to treat as not recoverable, rent owing by the Mount Greenland Trust Mining Cov. Ltd.—Received. From Commissioner of Lands_jiskin<r tTifi Council to agree to certain roads through Butler's freehold being de-

dared Government roads, in order that the timber thereon may be exchanged for timber land abutting the Ross road which it is desired to acquire and set aside for scenic purposes.—Received ; consideration deferred till next meeting, pending further enquiries.

From New Zealand Counties Association, advising that the Conference of delegates of County Councils will be held in Wellington on July 2nd, asking the appointment of one delegate and the submission of notices of motion by May 31st. —Received. The Chairman moved that the Council appoint their clerk, Mr Evans, to represent them.—Seconded by Mr Searle .and carried.

From Geo. Searle, Hari Hari, asking permission to erect kerbside pumps on Main South Road at Harihafi.—Received;' referred to Highways* Board.

From D. F. Dennehy and 14 others urging the completion' of Waitangi river road bank, Wataroa district, proposal also strongly supported by Dr. Bell.—Received ; overseer to report on condition of road. From Okuru Dstrict Committee forwarding list of works for application for Government grants.—Received and approved. From 'Overseer Millner notifying work at Browning’s Pass track and Styx track would be in hand to-day; thanking Council for pi’oviding a car of exceptional quality, and stating he .did.not desire an increase in salary, estimating road drainage work asked for along frontage of G. Manship at £95 10s; supplying monthly report on district works, and record of work for month by road machinery.—Received. It was resolved to advise Mr Manship of the cost of the work involved, and to state no action was proposed. From John Mundy, Stafford, application for renewal of slaughter house license.—Received and approved, From Manager, Midland jSawmill Coy. in Greymouth, in reference to gravel site on property.—Received; referred to Highways Board.

FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Your Committee has the honor to report that the accounts presented for the month of April, 1930, have been examined carefully, and beg to recommend that the amount as approved, totalling £2253 13s Id be passed for payment. —Received. HIGHWAYS REPORT. The Overseer reported upon, the progress of work on the Secondary Highways during the month of April, as follows:

! Lower iKokatahi-McArthdr- Jloajd.— The Power Grader w4s’ employed grading displaced gravel and crushed metal from { thf outer sides of road to the ro.ad fceritre; Kanieri to McArthur Road, a distance of 11 miles. Motor worn holes were repaired with gravel from the roadside dumps, where necessary, from Kanieri to Municipal Road, a distance of 10 miles, absorbing 98 cubic yards of ; gravel. The. ten ton roller was engaged rolling' the road after grading and patching, a distance of 7 miles. Defective and broken decking were removed and replaced on Kokatahi Bridge, 10/16 x 18 x 4 inner heart of rimu planks, totalling 426.8 superficial feet used. Upper Kokatahi Road—The Power' Grader was used in restoring the road surface for one mile in length, and motor worn holes and depressions repaired "over a distance of two miles, absorbing 41 cubic yards of gravel. The road roller was used rolling the road over a distance of 2 miles. Lake Kanieri Road—Motor worn holes and ruts were repaired where necessary between the One Mile Peg and Boucher’s Hill, a distance of 3 miles, 36 cubic yards of gravel being used. —Received. TENDERS. Tenders for Graham’s Road gravelling were opened: J. Walsh and Party ... £162 0 0 Curtain and Brown ... 177 7 6 W, Agnew 215 0 0 P. O’Connor 208 9 0 The tender of J. Walsh and Party was accepted. TO RENT FERRY RESERVE. ' A. J. Cowan offered £5 per year rent for ferry reserve at Okuru.' The offer was accepted. ORDER PAPER,. The Chairman moiled:— “That the accounts for the month of April, ,1930, as revised and recommended tor payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to £2253 13s Id, be passed for payment.’’—Seconded by Mr Houston and carried. The Chairman movied:— “That consideration be given to tjie suggestion in the Treasurer’s annual report to procure a light truck tor special work, mainly in th Southern and Northern Ridings, at a cost of about £4oo.”—Seconded by Mr Donovan. Mr Searle favoured obtaining a trailer for the tractor, or doing away with No. 1 lorry. Mr Jeffries said the roads in Wanganui and Waitaha roads were in as good condition as ever they were. He failed to see the necessity for obtaining another lorry. Mr Murdoch opposed the motion. The Chairman replied, and the motion was put and carried. Ayes—Messrs Wells, Keenan, Houston, Donovan and Chairman. Noes—Messrs Searle, Jeffries and Murdoch.

Mr Donovan moved :—“That the worst portions of Little Wanganui river track from the Gorge to McLean’s lower farm, be fascined at a cost not exceeding £lO, Roadman Whitiskie to attend.”—Seconded by Mr Searle and carried. Mr Donovan moved:—“That the Finance ■ Committee be authorised to allocate the annual libraries vote on receipt of report and balance sheets from the institutions operating during the past year.”—Seconded by Mr Murdoch and carried. Mr Donovan moved:—“That the vote of £5, £ for £, be authorised for