WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1930, Page 7

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

9th. COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. . Gentlemen:—ln have the honor to report that in accordance with the Council’s'resolution at last meeting a visit was paid to South Westland on the 3rd and 4th inst to look into various roading matters. ,1 was glad to hiffie the company of my colleagues of the Southern Riding, Messrs' Jeffries, Donovan and Houston, and extremely pleased to have also the company of \ Cr. Chesterman, .Mr O’Brien • M.P. and lafct but not least Mr Johnston, District Engineer. I must thank Mr O’Brien and -Mr Johnston for their Valuable cio-operation throughout, and also for the interest displayed by them in the welfare of the district, likewise to my fellow councillors for their help in regard to the various matters dealt-with. All co-operated very read- . ily in the desire to advance the interests of the district. Our thanks are due also, to’ the settlers who met us at various points, , and for the reasonable way in which their requests were- put forward and the readiness instances to assist financially yvith the projects proposed. 1. Waitaha South Bank road. Messrs P;. Douglas,' Trembath, Linklater (2), Wright and Hende were met regarding access. The • settlers were opposed to the proposal- of foot bridge, and asked : for'a' road. Mr Douglas extended his offer to construct SO chains free of-cost, of the South Bank road proposal, and Mr Wright said he would be prepared to agree to the rpad passing through section 935, subject to payment of compensation, and the erection of gates at each boundary fence. Seven ■ acres and a half are required ,for the-road,- and £so' was offered as full, compensation, and accepted by Mr Wright, and this payment. is recommended to the Council fdr confirmation., Messrs , Linklater, Trembath and Douglas agreed to a cash contribution in conjunction • with the: Council, 'a’s a - special ’ means ' to’ aid Hhej. earliest f construction of ; the rejadi l : which Mr O’Brien thought could be'. ,brought under the -unemployment Bc;jieme\for/£2 for £1 subsidy. Tile estimated of the road is £l,ooo in round figures; Government to provide £.looo,:,thfeVsettiers £3oo'(under a' loan repayable-'with interest - at 5 per cent, iiy ten j’eftfs)- and £2OO from the Council. Mr O’Drien .was rgood enough, to offer to proceed to Wellington at the earliest i possible date, and endeavour td .-have matters - settled with the Departments.' Needless to- say if this matter.ican be adjusted as proposed, it? will Jbqka. great boon to' the settlers who- are;..without proper access. There Kii ; -an area 'of 2,221 acres of . land, involved, nnd *its fuller use;is most de'sirable. /pie settlers appreciated' the ■ finalising 5 a scheme for the loading of thdSdistrict,. and extended their thinks. ' Thanks are due also to Mr / Wright fop-jus- consideration in agree--1 ing to the road passing through his

section at a price which is not unreasonable.

2. Waitaha. 'Ferry Reserve. Mr Wright the lessee of this area, approached the members with regard to- a reduction of- the annual rent, which is £5 per annum. An inspection was made and it was seen a considerable area- has bean washed away. Mr Wright was advised to write the Council in respect to the rent being reviewed.

3. Petersen Road route. The objection will l>e recalled of Mr McIntosh to the road being carried through his section along the road reserve. At his request the Public Works Department surveyed a new route round the hill, practically the same length, but the cost to complete will be £SCO roughly more than by the original route. The settlers interested and representatives of the local branch of the Farmers Union were met on the ground. Mr Wall, the adjoining section holder was not favourable to the deviation which took off a small part of his section and avoided an already constructed bridge. Mr Mclntosh in urging the deviation route offered to construct it for the estimated cost of the original line, so that there need be no additional cost, and he was prepared to proceed expeditiously with the work as the survey for the road was available. The matter was discussed hv all concerned at great length without reaching a settlement. Mr Mclntosh maintained his objection to the original route, while Mr Wall and other settlers present opposed any deviation, and' asked for the speedy completion of the through road. There the matter rests and the Council may feel disposed to discuss the position further, so that finality mav be reached with a view to the completion of the road, which is required urgently by Mr Wall, being put through. 4. La Fountain© road and swamp lands. Messrs O’Brien and Johnston inspected the line of road to complete to the swamp area, for which a vote of approximately £SOO is required, and this work is to be included in next year’s "applications for grants. With regard to the utilisation of the swamp area, Mr O’Brien was well pleased with’ his inspection, and; will: consult the' Drainage Engineer - at .Wellington as to tlie utilisation of the area for settlement purposes in the near future. 5. Road to Rotokino Flaxmill. At Tetaho Messrs I) 1 . Stock and W. H. Chinn, on behalf of the New Zealand Flax Investment Coy. waited on the party with reference to the opening of a road on the reserve from the main road to the Rotokino road, and thence by a further reserve off the Rotokino road, to the flaxmill site where plant and equipment are to be erected, and where it is proposed ultimately to employ upwards of 200 men on planting and milling operations, following the drainage, works to he .put in hand shortly, some of the party are on the ground already. ■ Mr Stock supplied details of the proposition, and stated the Company would assist financially with the roading. while it was hoped the Council would help, in the endeavour to secure a Government Grant. A rough' es-

timate of the cost of the roading required was ’ £1,500, and a grant of £2 for £l, was suggested. The quota to be found by the Company being £3OO, and the local body £2OO. Your representatives were disposed to view this proposal favourably, and recommend adoption accordingly with a County contribution up to £2OO. The Company has an area of over 2000 acres, to operate on, and when established will he a large employer of labour, and at the same time initiate a large development, which will be of great assistance to the district. For that reason it is appropriate the Council should co-operate at this juncture, and the matter is favourably recommended with a view of a County vote not exceeding £250 being earmarked for the roading when put in hand under the proposal outlined above. In thanking the party for the hearing given Mr Stock stated initial work was now being undertaken, and a start with drainage would be commenced shortly.

6. Matainm requirements. Messrs T. Nolan and J. Gloher, on behalf of the. residents asked for some small requirements, including attention to a footpath, and an approach to the site for the proposed residence for the doctor; also some attention to the cemetery road. The roading matters were authorised, and the question of the approach is referred to the, Council for consideration.

7. Wnitangi South Bank road. Messrs F. Dennehy and H. Meharry with Messrs H. Friend and H, Adamson were met on the ground, facilities being provided to ford the Waitangt river. There is a considerable length of cleared roadway on solid country, but there are many pot holes which makes access difficult and heavy. Earlier the District Engineer had gone over the route, and inspected the condition of the road, and in view of the length of settlement country affected, was disposed to grant £250 £2 for £l, under the vote “Roads for Outlying Districts,” When considered previously the Council was not disposed to accept this offer, but following the inspection on Thursday last, the members of the Riding were disposed.to recommend the Council to accept the offer. The .expenditure will enable ■ the worst parts of the road tp he improved’ over a considerable distance, Y|ml give better:'access to the settlers for getting in .material for the improvement of their holdings, which is intended; Bush felling is in hand now, and other works contemplated. There ' are over 5,000 acres of land affected, and this road , is the main access to the service, road. In view of the prospective development the Council .is recommended to adopt the suggestion of the members of the Biding who were unanimous in agreeing when on the ground to the proposal. 8. Roto Road. An offer was made of Messrs Dennehy and Meharry of £25 £ for £, to improve this* side road which divides their two holdings of 1,500 and 950 acres respectively. After inspecting the (conditions the Council is recommended to grant the subsidy asked for; the work to he carried out to a, specification pre-

pared by, Overseer Millner and payment to lie made, on his certificate. With regard to drain clearing required by Mr Meharry, a vote of £5 is recommended on similar lines. This 'expenditure will be an assistance in improving local conditions and should lie an encouragement to the settlers to proceed at once with their improvements. The land in that locality is good and as access is improved, the holdings by the greater facilities provided should lie more used, and will he responsible for greater productivity. 9. District Progress. Pleasure must lie expressed at the promising character of the several propositions looked into. They each and all betoken a measure of district progress which is verv gratifying. Settlers met, with at various points were in good heart despite the drop in commodity prices, and the future is being met in the right spirit. The works for which the Council’s support is recommended in this report are all of a. promising character and when put in hand must do a great deal to assist the progress of the district. It is because of thiat material value that the practical support of the Council is recommended in the several matters referred to in the foregoing and the approval of members is therefore sought on the lines indicated.

SECONDARY HIGHWAY. I have the honour to report upon the progress of works on the Secondary Highways during the month of Novem* bet 1 . LAKE KANIERI ROAD. Motor worn holes and ruts were repaired between Kokatahi Road junction and Ward Road, a distance of more than seven miles, 94 cubic yards of gravel being used. The road surface on the eastern descent of the hill at the 7 mile peg being scoured in several places, was repaired with 12 cubic yards of fine gravel. Encroaching scrub was cleared lor three feet in width along the north eastern side of the road near Boucher’s. Track for a distance, of six' •chains-: were 'cleaned in ': various vplaceis over a total’length of; fifteen chains, and a culvei't : > outlet drain widened, and cleaned .'.for fifty links'in length. A section’oftthe.upper portion of Grayfish Creek Hill was widened five feet in width, antkaverag-. ing seven; feet in depth foiv2Qo links in'length, formation widened; eight feet in width and three feet in height foi 100 links, in length. The . cutting at the top of the' hill widened; three feet in width on one side and two feet six inches in width on the southern side, the ? average height of cutting being four feet for 150 links in length'. The road formation on the top of the rise was widened three feet in width and two feet in height, for a distance of 200 links on the southern side of the road, and metalled 12 feet in width' and six inches in height for 300 links and 0 feet in width and 9 inches in height for 400 links. In addition, ft 12 inch diameter concrete pipe drain was. lengthened nine feet and a defective plank

18 feet in length by Bx 4 removed and replaced on Crayfish Creek bridge. The amount of material removed and used in formation is approximately 269 cubic yards of gravel.

LOWER KOKATAHI McARTHUR ROAD. Repairs to defective struts on Kokatahi Bridge were put in hand under the direction of Bridge Foreman H. Reynolds, the following timber being removed and replaced with inner heart of rimu 7x15x12x10, 1050 feet. Repairs were confined to portions of the road surface principally to traffic worn holes and depressions over a distance of 8 miles, absorbing 143 cubic yards of line gravel. A light coat of fine-sur-facing gravel was also placed on the road between Kanieri and the foot of Morris Hill, 45 cubic yards of gravel being used for the purpose. A portion of the road drain was cleared and cleaned from Robinson Road upward a distance of ten chains. The eastern road drain with an outlet to Lang Creek culvert was extended 500 links towards Lang Road. This was necessary work as the accumulated drainage had no outlet and was causing damage to the road. A defective box culvert 300 links beyond Raft Creek Bridge was removed and replaced with Bxl2 inch dinmeter concrete pipes. A short and partly defective box culvert near Marshall’s cheese factory was also removed and replaced with Bxl2 inch diameter pipes. Two short sections of drains were constructed to convey stagnant water from - the roadside to the Inst mentioned culvert. A collapsed box ou}vert below Mr Dipdrich’s homestead was removed and replaced with Bxl2 inch diameter concrete pipes. The power grader was in use heavily grading the outer ide of the road for 66 '•’’'dna below Robinson Road. The ten ton roller was used in rolling the road after grading for a distance of two miles. ™UPPER KOKATAHI ROAD. An old and defective box culvert causing drainage to block and back on to the roadway near the Post Office, was removed' and replaced with Bxßin. diameter concrete pipes. Repairs were effected to ' the roads- surface where necessary, between Ghahant’s Hotel and the public Pound, 20 cubic, yards of gravel being used'for the purpose. ' DETOUR. ROAD. . General maintenance,-* was in hand under Roadman Dale, No. 3 lorry being used for delivery of. material.