WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1930, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

:• - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14.. ? /TREASURER’S INTERIM REPORT; Sir and; Gentlemen,—l teg to/te-/ port iii respect to the County Fund Account-for ~tjbe.;-nalf//yea r.* ended' Sep-, temiber 36th. The half yea r opened Con/ April 'lst; 1930, with a net credit balance -of £1136 10s lid, and. closed on September 30th, with a net credit balance, of: £1166. -11 s lid - showings 'an' improvement of £3O Is, .which would have been further increased ' had Government payments earned' and ' overdue been paid. ‘ /' ././ / . ' / The net credit balance at Septemiber'3oth, 1929/ wan £3lO 7s od. The expenditure for the half year was ! as’ follows: April ' ... ...i ... £1442 9 0 May ... ... ... ... 2251 13 1 : June ■ ... ... ... 1831 15 4 July .:. ... 1769 10‘ 2 August ~...... ... 2027 5 8 September ..; ... 1617 6 9 ' Ditto prepaid • ... ' 403 14 7 .. .. ■ - • £11,403 13 10

■ .The net* receipts' for V the peritxlc Wre *11,483 14» lOd, producing tlw orf'*Bo In Gd- Above' On the revenue, ond eKpenaiture fnr, the cprrefponding half y«at of 1929, there, wm' e- debit: feeloiice of *lO3 3*< li;d. - . • i> separate sifiteuiefct of the llicting . Accounts is,being supplied member?. Thjs stateihent /discloses that for/the Vefr, £4,223 were and dqr S the haif-yfar, £2367'4s Id Was spe^, • leaving £IB6O los lid for the Temkh}y ing six months. The average month? ly expenditure has exceeded the allj>r cation, in both the Northern ajid Southern Hi dings. In ~ the . fwm)cr there were several subsidy grants-.tp be met, while in the .litter .consider--able district road 'improvement has teen carried out. Both the Central and Soqth. Ridings should Ibe Jtble to. meet their requirements with ;.;h|ilf: ancep of : £690 and £B4l. but a B , tlje , Northern ' Biding has oflj.y $l3O for six iponthf, it; will exttjfd/ probably the. allocation. ■ i;.*, .■'One of. the diflßjcijltips. afectjng Hidings expenditure ip the addjtip-nP-lialbilityaiow ,t;W9 wn oh the . v /|{V pppnts ibyi providing .for tjie Goveiip-. ipent subsidised work. From. parti^p labs supplied members, earlier, it Will have been - noted that most of ,■ t|e Governments grants approved for) .Estimates, this year. are ■. eubsidipe’d Vptbs, ‘ and the course tq be. adopted; ihi: respect ; to these wprkfi' .should (bf, determined; ~ The; first work on lift, . renewal of Pejmers, Creel? B(ridgbj v will throw ft lif/bility of £915 oh. the. Northern Hiding - Account; ''wnd,; ; will exdwd the balance remaining # \ ored,it of the . .Account. The work • urgent and. will to be put; hn haiid as -soon as possible/ ,- • /f lAnother work;in the same Riding is Kumaras.Junctloh-Arahura Road. There k »a good deal nf agitation idy the'completion of* this road, Ibecaus* of, the shortening of the. distance tb ; travel 'between the two points, as against the present/main highway via Kumara, a saving of nine miles being estimated.. . /;i - te The Riding’s: liability’in regard to this matter might be considered and s policy determined as to the future, At present the Council is committed to the completion of "the metalled road to Chesterfield (Kapitea), To date there has been spent on this section, £1966 14s 3d, whereof £IOOO was provided by -Government grant, . leaving the Council’s portion at £466 : 14s 3d. There is another vote ot ; £6OO, £2 for £1 proposed, for which the Council must provide a further £2OO. , This amount will not suffice to complete the metalling to Kapitea and at least a further grant of £2OO, £2 for £1 will (be neded. and this expenditure will not provide any of the bridges necessary for all weather motor traffic. . When this section is finished, there remains (a) the ,-ection Chesterfield to Awatuna, involving also the bridging of the IWaimea Creek and (b) the Awatuna to Afa--hura -section, on which a grant of £6OO was spent in 1921. The annual' general rates received by the Council are:—

Kumara Junction to Chesterfield ... .'. £lB 8 0 Chesterfield to Awatuna 6 1 0 Awatuna to Arahura ... 7 5 0 £3l 14 0

For the maintenance of the. existing main highway via Kumara, the Council pays £lO per mile. The new road when constructed would toe a total charge on the Council as two highways are not likely to be maintained hv the Highways Board. Assuming that there is a rush of motor traffic by tlie (shortening of tk? route, maintenance will be high owing to the narrowness of the rood, and the difficulty in parts of procuring suitable metal The road when available for traffic would be a burden too heavy for the Northern Riding and relief would require to be given by declaring it a County road, and placing the expenditure on.the.general funds. These are policy matters of administration which should be termined as early as convenient. SECONDARY HIGHWAYS.

The following are the particulars of the grants aud works for the half7'ear».

Lake Kanieri road, £2OO, £2 for i£l. The total expenditure was £l5O, Highway Board providing £IOO and the: Council £SO. The 'balance carried- forward is £l5O. Kokatahi-Koiteraiigi road, £3OO, £2 for £l. The expenditure was £399. To this the Highways Board contributed £266 and the local body £133. The balance forward is £sl. 7, Upper Kokatahi Road, £IOO, £2 for £l. The expenditure .exceeded the grant being £156, to which the Highways Board contributed £IOO and the ,Couucil £56.... The grant, is overdrawn temporarily, £6. > Wataroa Detour Road, £IOO, £2 for £l. The expenditure totalled if) 121; the Highways Board finding £Bl,. and the local body £4O. The /balance forward is £29. Summary : Amount subsidised £1050; expended, £825, carried forward £224. ‘lt is pleasing to remark that all . the secondary highways under the Council's control are in excellent surface condition. GENERAL WORKS. A considerable amount of'permanent work has been done with regard to concrete culverts, particularly in (the Inter-Wanganui district. The pipes were all taken out of stock having been paid for previously out of general funds, and have u°t 'been made, a charge on the Riding. Pipes to. the value of £l9O 18s were sold during the six months. 1 The No. 3 light lorry which wap purchased in May for £353 has given satisfaction. Also the Austin mot. or car purchased in April for £193. Both vehicles were pwrohnsed out of revenue. The 'cash earnings of the plant far the., half-year have , .teeil

No,- l lorry ... ... £278 6 3 No. 2 lorry ... ... 258 3 6 No, 3 lorry ... ... 12 16 6 Power grader 88 0 0 Roller 1 19 12 0 £75617 3 SEPARATE RIDING ACCOUNTS. FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER, 1930. r—4 g O r " t ■ ’ "’a o" i ■ ■ « - I C « sis i- , £opCO I r-H .s- CO H 00 I H 3 ■ M (SMI- ■** 1' I - ■jt -r oo h to a . ’ .2 -S. , „ •a -r c. oo S S? y ■; '■ bp S g ■ a 3rg i; ■" J 3 3§ a 3 Note:' /Average expenditure per month available £332 0 6 Average expenditure per month actual ... ... 894 10 .8 MONTHLY HIDING ACCOUNT. Riding Allocation Actual Northern ... 44 lo 0 67 17 1 Central ... 142 16 0 137 7 4 Southern ... 104 15 0 189 6 3 852 6 8 *394 10 8 D. J. EVANS/ County Treasurer. Hokitika, Ist October, 1930. OVERSEA’S MONTHLY REPORT. Sir,—-I have the honour to report upon the progress of work during the njonth of September. NORTHERN RIDING.

Malfroys Bridge Protection, The northern bank of the Arahura River was - protected during the month of August over a distance of 850 links and the balance otf the grant expenditure in protecting between 600 and 675 links of the southern bank from the outlet of Palmer’s Creek downstream, with a lower loose manuka scrub fascine laid along the water edge, and parallel with the hank. A manuka scrub and stone fascine enclosed in a continuous wire net was built on the scrub apron for the full distance, secured at six feet centres with three and four ply No. 8 twisted wire anchor ropes. . The bank the net battered and laced" with manuka scrub kept in position by the wire ropes passing oyer the top of the scrub before being secured to a wooden anchor sunk two feet below the top of the surface, and twenty feet back from the bank edge. MAINTENANCE.

'Repairs were effected with gravel to Watson’s Road, and portions of Kumara Road between the Main Highway and Kumara Borough. Portions @f Arahura Valley and One Mile Roads were repaired with gravel where necessary. Gillman Gully road was cleared and graded with the Power Grader tills proving a very rough job owing to large stonevS on the outer side of metalling. Defective decking was removed and replaced on a planked culvert on Humphreys Road. Short sections of Arahura Valley Road were cleared of en-

X crouching gorse and blackberry. The old Kumara Road was repaired, gor-.se cleared and watertables cleaned between the Main Highway and Gohl.sborougji scliool.

CENTRAL RIDING MAINTENANCE

Repairs were effected with gravel to worn and sc'i't spots, and depressions on portio nof Blue .Spur, Artburstown, Hokitika, Han Him, Adairs, South Hokitika, Camel back and the northern section of Station Hoad. Watertables were cleaned on portions of Gaylors, Adairs, Han Hau Roads and encroaching gorse and blackberry cleared from Artburstown Road. Defective decking was removed and placed on M array Creek and Diedriehs Creek Bridges. A portion of the road drain oh the west ern side of Gainelback Hoad was cleared of debris and weed growth between the Lime Kiln and McArthur Road. CONCRETE PIPES. Concrete pipe construction was continued at Kanieri. POWER GRADER. The Power Grader was occupied in grading two miles of Cropp’s and Walls roads, and a short portion of Municipal Hoad, the weather conditions being unfavourable tfor continuation of the work. GRANTS EXPENDITURE. A section of Upper Kokatahi Road was chained, pegged and levelled and plans and specifications prepared for widening ns soon ns the grant is authorised for expenditure. SOUTHERN RIDING. Ruutnpu Road widening is progressing in a satisfactory manner, the greater portion of the deep filling and cutting being completed ; also two concrete pipe culverts installed. Cron’s Road construction was continued and work to absorb .balance oi the grant, consisting of formation and metalling completed a distance of 16 chains Detour Road. Repairs were effected to .motor worn boles with fine gravel over a distance of two miles. Richardson Road Bridge and approch es. Tlie balance of the grant was expended in improving the metalling on tbfe'approaches to the bridge. MAINTENANCE. Repairs were effected to Ruatapu Road the surface being greatly improved by metalling rough spots. A defective covered culvert was removed on Waitaha Settlement Road, and converted to a platform culvert 11 feet in width, 7-18 inch concrete pipes were carted to Waitaha Settlement Road for the renewal of a small defective culvert but the continued rainfall prevented the work being completed. The roads in the inter-Wanganui District were repaired and several of them very effectively dragged with the King Drag REPORT ON SECONDARY HIGHWAYS. I have the honour to report upon the progress of works on the Secondary Highways for the month of September. LAKE KANIERI ROAD,

The 'formation including the removal of a quantity, of stone was completed on Slip Hill over a distance of 95U links; one tunnel- under the road 40 feet in length by 6x4, and a drainage race. 3J feet in length by 4x3, were filled in and packed tightly with stone, A .stone retaining wall 75 links jn length and 6 feet in height'was bnjiC on the upper side of the road. The reef bluff at the foot of the lull was widened Bft. in height for 150 links in length and a drain cleaned out for 3 feet in width for 200 links in length. The road was also metalled for 1250 links, 12 feet in width and 12 inches ju height, including 300 links at the foot of Slip Hill and 950 links on the western slope, absorbing 413 cubic yards of gravel, 75 cubic yards of stone and earth removed in forming; 20 cubic yards of slip removed where the wall was constructed, 30 cubic yards of stone used in filling tunnels. In addjr tioivan 18 inch diameter pipe culvert 25 feet in length, was constructed at the

foot of Slip Hill and 2 IS inch diameter concrete pipes in the culvert, 1000 links west of McKay’s Creek. Repairs were effected to motor worn holes and had holes over a distance of one mile beyond AVard Hoad, using 33 cubic yards' of gravel. Defective decking Bx 4 3/12 •and traffic planking 9x2 3/12 were removed and replaced on Black Bridge.

LOWER KOKATAHI, M.cARTHUR HOAD. Motor worn holes were patched witii fine gravel between Kanieri and Cropp’s Hoad, a distance of nine miles absorbing 75 cubic yards of gravel. The Hower Grader operated between Kanieri and Kokatahi -bridge a distance of 7-V miles, collecf/ig displaced material from the outer road edges and restoring it to the road centre. Eighteen cubic yards of crushed metal were carted from the storage' bin and spread on the road where necessary between Catnelback Hoad and Harris Creek Bridge No. 3. Blackberry and gorse growth were cleared 'from the roadside, and drain cleaned, between Taminelli and Cumming road, a distance of 15 chains. Blackberry and other growth were cleared from the roadside and drains near Lang Hoad a distance of 6 chains. The curve on the southern side of road at Dawson’s Road intersection, partly widened last month was completed over a distance of 225 links. Two 36 inch diameter pipes were delivered tfor the renewal of a- defective box culvert 400 links beyond Raft Creek bridge, and a. similar number of pipes of the same dimensions placed in readiness for the renewal of a short and defective box culvert opposite Marshall's cheese factory. A double course of- 18 inch efia-

meter pipes were delivered on Cropp’s Road iror the , renewal of a defective covered culvert midway between Dimmick Creek Bridge No. 2, and Harris Creek Bridge No. 13. Roadside dumps were replenished with 38 cubic yards of gravel and 25 cubic yards dumped in readiness for renewal of the fourculverts mentioned. A defective end strut 12 xlox 15 J feet in length was removed and .replaced in Ivokatahi also 8/10 feet by Bx 4 defective planks renewed. Total amount of timber used 491 superficial feet. UPPER. KOKATAHI ROAD. Eight 8 inch diameter pipes were carted from Kanieri for the renewal oF a defective box culvert near the intersection of Murray Road, and four cubic yards of gravel dumped in readiness for tilling.