WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1930, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18th. The Councli met at 2 p.m. Pres-ent:^—-Messrs Wm. Searle (County Chairman), H. Wells, B. Ward, M. Houston, J. Donovan, W. Jeffries, J. A. Murdoch, T. It. Chesterman, and M. Keenan. i The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence' approved. , INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. Erom Treasury, notifying amount ol accrued revenue placed to credit ol County Fund Account.—Received. * From Audit Department, acknowled ging letter noting Council has resolvec to discontinue practice of paying emer gency wages out of cash between Coun cil meetings.—Received. From Public Works Department, ad vising’ Council’s request for subsidy for Kapitea Creek Bridge flood damage eminipt be favourably considered.— Received. ' > From same approving proposals for Alfred Road bridge, Inter Wanganui. —Received. From Same, asking for resolution regarding future maintenance: Okarito Road, following expenditure of Government Grant:—Received. From National Provident. Euild, Wei lington, advising that Council might be prepared to reconsider superannuation position if it wms pointed out that apparent present high cost, induced by those cases of employees over retiring age,—Received; no action taken. From Health Department, Chnchurch, forwarding circular regarding Drainage and Plumbing Regulations. Drain Layers Fees, asking for Council’s opinion on proposed amendment. I —Received. From J. -O’Brien M.P., Greymoutli. forwarding letter reecived from .Public Works in respect to Brownings Pass Track, in which Minister refuses favourable consideration to request. Re-

ceived. f From W. M. Harcourt, Koiterangi. Regarding request by R. Harcourt 'junr., for drain to take flood water off his property, asking Council for consideration in the matter, and explaining —Received ; no alteration to ;be made to previous proposal, which .cannot be done without the authority of settler affected., f From Butler Bros., applying for perimission to make temporary tramwa\ (Crossing of Ruatapu Road, for purpose (of obtaining ballast. —Received. •• From Same, confirming acceptance of certain conditions regarding tempor-

ary crossing.—Received. From P. Douglas and Others, ’Waitaha Road, advising that they will b. F prepared- to do certain works on South Wait aha -Road, providing Council bridge creek and complete remainder of road.—Received. Overseer MiUiier’s report stated the cost of ovei two miles of road required ivbuld be £0 per chain. i Mr Jeffries suggested that a confiaronee be called of the settlers In the southern bank of the Wui.taha, Mi Wright, the Chairman and Southern members, to endeavour to comp to c definite settlement. He moved to this effect. Seconded by Mr Chesterman and carried. It was decided to also invite Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., to be present, Wednesday, December 3rd

being fixed for the conference. From Park and Murdoch, froward■ing copy of application from John Corbett for tail race crossing main highway this side of Piper’s Flat Bridge over Waimea Creek, asking for consent of same.—Received and approved. k

From A. R. Elcock, forwarding application from West Coast Gold Concessions Ltd., for water-race license at Okarito River, asking for favourable consideration of same.—Received. Mr Houston moved the request he granted. Seconded by Mr Donovan and carried. j. From Overseer Millner, forwarding I report upon progress of works on S?c- ---' ondary Highways for month of October.—Received. From Transport Department suto- . mitting draft regulations for new mot's ]: or drivers licenses, ard asking for expression of opinion on some prior to December 1. (Note, Applicants must certify their physical ability or produce medical certificate, a more comj prehensive driving test is intended j with an oral examination, etc.) —Received. , Mr Murdoch suggested that all ' drivers should provide a medical eerj; tificate, not only lorry drivers, and drivers of commercial vehicles. This suggestion was generally approved. Mr Houston thought a youth of 18 was as able to drive as one of ,21. He moved that this be given effect to. Seconded bv Mr Keenan and carried. Mr Murdoch moved that a medical certificate be prov’ted bv every driveri of a motor vehicle. Seconded by Mr Jeffries. Opposed by Mr Houston aud lost, Messrs Wells, Keenan. Ward, Houston, CViestdrman and Chairman voting against. From Eltham Borough Council submitting a land settlement scheme for the relief of unemployment and ask—Received.

From Park and Murdoch forwarding application for an ordinary pro'sp°etin"’r on behalf of -S. Hvndmnn, Rim a.—Received; request grant. ed.

From S. Hyndman, Rimu, applying for prospecting subsidy to drive a tunnel of about 200 feet to prospect low level ground, starting from Garibaldi Gully.—Received; to be recommended.

From D. F. Dennehv, Matainui, renewing application on behalf of self and Meharry, for subsidy grant to improve a bad s°ction of Roto road, South Wataroa. —Rooeived. From same with respect to refusal of subsidv offered by Public M orbs Department of grant £250, £2 for £1

for road isouth bank of Wateroa river to Roto bridge, asking- that the matter be 'reconsidered favourably.—Received; Chairman to report. From Overseer MiUner recommending repairs to Redmans road in lieu of concrete creek; stating £5 expenditure w-as necessary to locate outlet drain at Kanieri township; forwarding monthly report on district . reads and grants expenditure, and giving particulars of operations by road much, .nery and consumption of benzine, etc.; all so supplying lengthy annual reports on state of bridges on secondary highways for information of Main Highways Board. —Received. From W. Graham, Kokatahi. a P‘ pying for access to Crough load.— Received; referred to Overseer to report. DEPUTATION.

The Council met Mr R. A\ hiley again to consider the question of the upkeep of Wall road in connection with his milling operations. Mr Jeffries stated that the Councillors appointed met Air Whiley at tho mill. Councillors inspected the road from the junction with the jnain road and the mill. Mr Whiley finally made an offer towards the upkeep of Die road, which was rot favourably considered and then Mr Whiley was asked to again meet the Council that day in the endeavour to come to a d?' finite decision. Mr Whiley addressed the Council. The length of the road was 2} miles. There was a portion that had; fievei been gravelled. At present he had two men at work carting 'gravel', ■ The County lorry had not: so'far come to hand as promised. He suggested that the Council gravel that portion not gravelled, and repair one bad portion, and that the Council carry out the ordinary repair work, and he would do the balance.'

Mr Jeffries said it had been suggested that a bond for £3OO he entered into by Mr Whiley, hut the latter had declined to do so. Mr- Chesterman said ten times more had been spent on that road, than Had been received in rates. They had always had a lot of trouble with the millers who said they would keep the roads in order, but they had alwajs failed to do so. . Mr. Ward considered the Council should continue to pay the annual cost of upkeep, and that the miller be asked to find the balance necessary to keen the road in order sufficient for his heavy traffic.

•Mr Donovan asked for i an explanation as to why the fifty yards of giaiel that had to be delivered at the junction of the road, decided upon at last meeting,'had not been so delivered*

The Chairman stated he had not known it was not delivered, till Mi Whiley had stated so. Mr Murdoch, supported the suggestion of Mr Ward, with the (exception, that some margin be made in favour of the gawnliiei*. THO Chairman Suggested that the 50 loads be provided and Mr Whiley's offer to keep the road in order be accepted Mr Jeffries said they should have something more tangible than a statement 5 that; Mr Whiley would keep th? road in order.. "• ■

Mr Whiley said he was prepared to provide men to load tbe lorry, and also to keep tlie road in order at his own expense, beyond tbe ordinary expenditure of tbe Council. At the suggestion of Mr Murdoch It was added :—-To tbe approval of tbe County Overseer and Central Riding members, the position to be reviewed ast tbe end of six months.

This suggestion was then approved and agreed to accordingly.

Mr Whilev assured the Council that, if they were fair to him, he would b Q fair to He thanked them and withdrew'.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPO El

Your Committee the honour to report that the account* presented for the mouth'of October.. 1930. have been examined carefully, and beg to recommend that \be amount ns approved, totalling £-18,31 2s 7d. he parsed for payment-.—Received and adopted. GRIPER PAPER. The Chairman moved“ That the accounts presented for the month of October, 193 Q, as revised and recommended for payment, by the Finance Committee, amounting to £lß3l 2s 7d be passed fdr payment.” Seconded by Mr Chestennan and carried. ■The Chairman moved: —“That John Peake tie appointed Valuer of Mining Property within the County of Westland for the ensuing year, in accordance with the provisions of the Rating Act !\nd its amendments.” Seconded by Mr •Chestennan and carried. ' The Chairman moved:—“That the Council agree •to carry out the future maintenance of roads in respect to which workis are being completed under Government grants now up wise authorised.” Seconded by Mr Ward ,and carried. \ Cr. Donovan moved:—“That the \Vataroa-Bluff track be cleared and repaired at a cost not exceeding £12.” Seconded by Mr Jeffries and carried.

Council discussed the Treasurer's \Report submitted at last meeting, and 5-n connection therewith the Council resolved not to provide any money in conKection with the £2 for £1 vote fpr the'' extension of the AwatunaKau i tea 'road. The Council rose at 4.20 p.m.