WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1930, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, JULY 15th. r~ ’ w The Council met a.t-2 p.m. Present: Messrs W. Searle (County Chairman), H. Wells, B. Ward, M. H. Houston, J. Donovan, W. Jeffries, T. R. Ohesterman and J. A. Murdoch. t An apology wa® made for the absence of Mr Keenan.

MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY.'

The Chairman referred to the loss sustained by.the death of Sir Joseph Ward and moved 1—

“That the Council place on record its sense ef national loss sustained in the death of the late Rt. Hon. Sir J. G. Ward who had been identified with - the public life of New Zealand for forty years, and whose services over that ,dengthy period had been directed for the-advancement'of the. country; andialso express on behalf of the people.: of. Westland. County, the fullest sympathy with- the family of the late distinguished gentleman in their great loss, -and that a copy of the .foregoing be forwarded to Sir Cyril Ward with an expression of the personal condolences of the members of the Council.”

Mr Ward seconded the motion. He agreed with the Chairman that the Dominion had suffered a grievous loss, He was the greatest financier the country had ever had. Ho joined in the expressions of deep sympathy with the members of the family, The motion was carried in silence, members standing, The Chairman moved that a letter of sympathy be forwarded to Miss Ross, of the office .staff, conveying the deep sympathy of the Council in the loss sustained by herself and the members of the family by the recent death of her brother.—Seconded by Mr Jeffries and earned in silence, members standing, INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Treasury notifying amount of 1 accrued revenue to credit of County Fund .Acoount,—Received. From Public Works Department,; regarding road : between Mahinapua Railway Station 1 and Lake Mahinapua asking-to what extent Council: are prepared to contribute in the matter. —Received; the clerk’s reply was- apthe Council declining to contribute'for the work. From, Same, regarding Brownings Pass Track, advising that owing tu limited amount of money available under Consolidated Fund, assistance towards repair work .cannot be given. —Received.:. . " From Sani'e, with .' vregard ‘ rio Styx Tra assistance cannot be givenßeceived. From J. O’Brien M.P., ' with regard to several matters put forward to Minister of Public Works, conveying a favourable reply regarding the foregoing grants,—JWceiyed. It was resolved to thank Mr O’Brien for the action he had taken,

From Director of Town Planning, acknowledging letter regarding regional boundaries.—Received.

From Lands Department, advising Department cannot make any financial assistance towards clearing of WaE Creek.— Received. From Same, advising it has been decided to abandon exchange proposed regarding timber on roads through Butler Bros. Freehold-Reserve 145 Mahinapua S.D. and deal with the timber in usual way.—Received. From Same, forwarding two tracings showing proposed road exchange, at AlcCullough’s road, asking for Council’s consent to same.—Received and approved. From Arthur Pass National Board, thanking Council.for grant of £lO for funds of Board.—Received. From J.- ,O’Brien Esq. ALP., acknowledging letter forwarding copy of Estimates?' for 1930-31. —Received, » From Kanieri Eleetri c Uoy,. l hanking Council for permission to-’'erect bridges across Kanieri River, advising same is being constructed in accordance with the specifications.—Received. From Library Committee, Stafford, advising no,.. subscribers , to . Library, books having"’been donated to Westland Hospital

From D. J. S. Diedrichs, Hokitika, applying for position-' as motor lorry driver for County;—Received;., to be filed for reference.:

From School .Committee, Evans Creek, asking Council for use of frontage of school property at Evans Creek for playground for children.—Received. The Chairman reported enquiries made and it wais resolved to reply that no objection was' made. From L. Millard, Okarito, asking account be settled, or proceedings will be taken to recover same.—Received. It was resolved to reply that the Council were still prepared to, complete their former offer, without prejudice, and failing acceptance, to take no action.

From Overseer Millner, forwarding repea t on progress of work on Secondary Highways for month of June.—Received. - •* .

From -District Highways Council replying that' holes on side of the road near Arahum School, complained of by Committee, were clear of the surface and had no connection wii.li the highway.—Received; school committee to be advised accordingly. From District Engineer, reporting a recommendathion had been made for £IOO grant to improve Whitoombe Valley track as suggested by the Engineer-in-Chief, the work to be for unemployment relief.—Received.

From Royal Commission on Railways, notifying sittings and stating evidence would be received from representative persons 01* organisations. *—Received. Mr Murdoch moved that

a Sub-committee consisting of Chairman and town members draw up a statement to be forwarded to the Commission conveying suggestions for improvements as affecting this district.— Seconded by Mr Houston and carried.

From N.Z. Counties’ Association, forwarding copies of President’s address at the Conference; also copies of special reports presented to the Conference.—Received. Air Murdoch tributed the long and valuable work done by Air Jull for the Counties of Now Zealand. He moved that the Council convey to Air Jull its deep appreciation of the valued services’rendered to local bodies as Chairman of the Counties Conference over a long period of years.—Seconded by the Chairman, supported by Afessre AVard and Jeffries and" carried. .

From Clark Construction Coy. Ltd., asking permission to transport'excavating plant over Kanieri road to site of now water race for Kanieri Electric Ltd?—Received. Action of Chairman in granting permission was approved.

From Jamieson Bros. Koiterangi, applying for some pipes for an approach over a drain lately cut by the Council.—Received; referred to Overseer.

From P. Douglas and others, AVaitnha, renewing application for road access to sections on the south side of the river.—Received. Air Jeffries moved that the writers be advised that the .Council 1 had done everything in their power, but were unsuccessful, and requesting, the settlers to interview Air Wright, with a view to. his granting permission to make the required. road through his property. —Seconded by Air Houston and carried,''

From Rondman Bernhard, thanking Council for increase in wages.—Received, From Overseer Afillner, reporting necessity of repairs to Upper Kokatnhi rone!; stating A. Wnll enquired when Alfred bridge would be erected; supplying particulars of operations of road plant; and report on road work's for June.—Receive'd. It was resolved to carry out repairs to Upper Kokatahi road.

FINANCE. COMMITTEE’S REPORT,

Your Committee has the honor to report .that the accounts presented for thp month of , June, 1953, have been examined carefully, and beg to recommend j .that • the amount h as } approved, totalling £1758 10s 1 2d be passed for payment—Received' and adopted. The’ Chairman reported action taken in connection, ■ withi the purchase of a light truck.—Received. It was resolved that the matter be left to the Chairman to complete. ORDER PAPER. The Chairman moved:—“That the accounts for the month of June, 1930, as revised and recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to £1759 10s 2d be passed for payment.”—Seconded by Air Chestermnn and carried. The Chairmun moved I “That the Council make and levy, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 48-55 of the Rating Aot, 1008, and its amendments, and sections 120-121 of the Counties’ Act, 1920, a General Rate as follows: '(a)—Six farthings in the £on the capital value of all rateable property in the Northern Riding of the County of Westland, (b)—Six farthings in the £on +he capital value of all rateable property in the Central Riding of the County of Westland,

(c)—Six farthings in the £cn the capital value of all rateable property in the Southern Riding of the Coi:nty of Westland. Such - general rate to be for the period commenced on the Ist day of April, 1930, and ending on the 31st day of March, 1931. and to become due and payable in one sum on the 22nd day of July, 1930, at the office of the Westland County Council, Hokitika,” Mr Jeffries asked if it were not possible to reduce the rate to five farthings. He was one pledged to endeavour to reduce the rates if possible.

The Clerk stated the Council had decided two meetings ago to the six farthing rate and the rate book and notices were all made our. The Chairman said that it was too late to move now,'though lie also favoured a reduction.

Air Ward said he was surprised at the suggestions made. The Westland County rate was the lowest on the West Coast and the Council wanted every portion of the proposed rate.

Air Ghestermnn said he supper w-d the attitude of Air Ward. In any event a reduction of one tanning would not materially nffect any individual, though it would nffect the Council in the aggregate. Air Donovan snported the motion. He thought it far better to keep the rate ns. at present and the settlers would benefit the more. Mr Murdoch favoured keeping the rates a® at present,, a new valuation was in progress and next year they could consider the position. The motion was then agreed to.

The Chairman moved:—“That pursuant to the provisions of the Rating Act and its amendments, a rebate of five per cent be allowed on the foregoing rates paid by 21st August, 1930, but not later, and public notice is given accordingly.” —Seconded by Air Alurdoch and carried.

Mr Jeffries asked that his objection to the proposed rate be noted, and that an opportunity be given next year in proper time (to allow the question of the amount of the rate to be discussed. The Clerk stated the amount of the rate proposed was agreed to in May, contained in the Treasurer’s report. On Mr Murdoch’s suggestion it was resolved that at the' April meeting next year’s rate be discussed.

Tt was resolved that necessary repairs at Arahura near the salevards, be affected. Mr Murdoch moved that the offer of Mr Langford to supply one man and the Council two for repairs to Gillam’s Gully road be accepted—Seconded by Mr Ward and carried. The Council rise at 4 p.m.