WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.
TUESDAY, MARCH 10th. The Council met at 2 p.rn. Present Messrs W. Searle (County Chairman), B. Ward, H. Wells, J. Donovan. M. Keenan, A. Murdoch, M. H. Houston and T. R. Chesterman. An apology was made for the absence of Mr Jeffries. The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. MOTION OF SYMPATHY. The Chairman referred to the recent death of Mr Arthur Clifton, a former Chairman and member of the Council for many years. He moved that the Council place on record its deep sense of the loss sustained and convey the deep sympathy, of the Council to the members of the family. Mr Ward seconded paying a high tribute to the deceased and the good work he had done as a member of the Council. Supported by Mr Murdoch and carried in silence members standing.
INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Treasury, notifying amounts of accrued revenue placed to credit .of County Fund.—Received. From Prime Minister, acknowledging letter with regard to Council's protest against imposition of additional fees with respect to applications for mining rights, advising, enquiries are beihg made through Minister concerned. —Received. ■ From Minister of Mines, regarding same matter, advising same is being looked into, when a reply will be forwarded. —Received. From Same, advising rents due on certain section are being treated as not recoverable.—Received. From Public Works Department, consenting to gravel reserve, at Wataroa being used as cattle resting place.— Received.
From Commissioner of Crown Lands suggesting Conned reconsider the decision in regard to the construction of Petersen Load, by having matter reopened with a view to taking advantage of money voted.—Received/ From Valuation Department, asking for name and address of Assessor appointed hv Council.—Received. From N.Z. Counties Association, asking for all matter for discussion at meeting to be held in April to he forwarded to Wellington.—Received. From Health Officer, forwarding number of infectious cases in district for January.—Received. From County Clerk, Marton, asking for Council’s support of resolution regarding Maintenance of County Road.* other than Main Highways.—Received. From County Clerks, Gisborne, Barfield, Peninsula. Seddon, Pahiatua. Knikourn, Opotiki, Palmerston North, ; : Taranaki, Hamilton, Pongaroa,. WaiJnatd, Carterton, Nelson, Sockbufii, Hat Vera, Waipnkura. Te Araroa, Po- / hangitia, Wairoa, Waikari, Heathcote, p'iCulvcrdoii. Makara, Foilding, Sanson, •SMartinborough, Masterton, Blenheim, Tirau, Wanganui, Rawone, Cn. :>|ronmndel. Paeroa, Woodville, Warkworth, New Plymouth, Stratford, Pu- ■ |rau, approving Council’s circular let- • ter regarding Government economies.— k Received. From' James Donovan, asking for : authority to reopen North Bank track about 'i mile to get stock through.— ■ Received: Chairman’s action approved. From E. A. Gibb, Waiho, asking for
attention to Docherty Pond.—Received. From H. Linklater, Waitaha, regarding proposed road at Waitaha, advising having interviewed settlers concerned. forwarding decision arrived at. —Received. From T. G. Gill, asking Council to, have old track cleared from main south ' Okuru track into Bullock Creek, to pack supplies into Sardine Terrace.— Received., From Overseer Millner, reporting motor lorry owned by A. Naneekivell ! ■ did damage to stringers and deck planks on Brennan’s Creek bridge, Blue,. Spur Road, notifying cost of re- ; pairs to same.—Received; left to Chair-
man and Clerk. From Same, reporting upon progress : pf works on Secondary Highways dur- ; ing Februaiy.—Received. From Labour Department, notifying statutory closing days under Shops and Offices Act, Westland County being Wednesday afternoon.—Received. h torn Westland Progress League, asking for a donation to further the activities of the branch.—Received. The Chairman moved that £ls be granted. Seconded by Mr Ward and
carried. From Denia Bros., asking leave to put a small culvert under Redman’s road, Totara, to carry tailings from a claim.—Received; request granted, subject to approval of Overseer. From A. J. \vall, Harihari. expressing thanks for £5 grant for Petersen road, and asking that available money bj spent on the legal road line, also asking that Mr Mclntosh be requested to fence one side of the road line in bis section, as the writer had attended to the fencing in his section ; also desiring leave to improve Petersen road dim at his own expense from time to time. —Received. From F. Dennehy, senr., reporting tin* Waitangi south bank road impassable since the flood, and asking attention to same.—Received; referred to Overseer. From F. Heveldt and others, applying for a footbridge across the outlet of Lake Wahapo on the Tidal Creek track to facilitate traffic for mining operations.—Received ; referred to Overseer to report. From J. Christianson, Okarito, enouiring if there was a public road down I Dochertv Creek past F. Gibbs’ hous?, ! and complaining of a serious hindrance bv Mr Gibb when cattle was being
brought up by the writer.—Received; Clerk to advise in regard to road reserve. From Foreman Reynolds, reporting on condition of Comity cottage at Hari hari, repairs £10; and attention to Thorpe’s bridge, La Fontaine, £5 10s.— Received; repairs to house authorised. From Roadman Whitiskie, reporting regarding the horse used at Harihari. —Received. From Overseer Millner, monthly report on district roads and works.— Received. From F. R. Havill, Kanieri Forks, asking assistance in connection with finding places at Lake Kanieri.— Received; no action taken. From District Engineer. Greymoutb, conveying letters received in connection with Petersen Road extension.—Reeeved. The Chairman said under all the conditions he thought they should spend the £4O grant as suggested by the Resident Engineer and Commissioner of Crown Lands and give access to Mr Wall.
Mr Donovan supported this action being taken. He thought Coucillors should review the position, The authority of the Resident Engineer is for gravelling work in Mr Wall’s property. Mr Ward moved that the Council proceed to expend the £-10 available and that Mr Wall's request to be allowed to improve the legalised road he granted; Seconded b,V Mr Donovafi. Mr Houston supported the first part of the motion, but objected to the latter portion as it was against the decision of the Council. Mr Keenan supported the attitude taken up by. Mr Houston. After discussion the motion was put and carried. Ayes—Messrs Ward, Donovan, Chesterman and Chairman. Noes—Messrs Wells, Keenan,'Houston and Murdoch. The Chairman gave his casting vote for the motion.
A DEPUTATION. Mr P. Douglas waited on the Council in reference to the south bank of Waitaha river road. Pie stated he had offered to make 30 chains of the road at his own expense and now it was proposed that he should also bo specially rated for payment of the loan that was to be raised by the Council for the other settlers share of the work. The Clerk stated that the Government grant expected by Mr O’Brien M.P. was not yet available. Mr Ward said the offer of Mr Douglas was a very substantial one involving an outlay of about £IBO. Mr Houston said in view (of Mr Douglas offering to make portion of the road, lie did not think it fair that lie should also be rated. After further discussion Mr Keenan moved that Mr Douglas be released from his offer to make portion of the road, in view of the letter of the other settlers in favour of this course. Seconded by Mr Houstoil and carried Mr Douglas thafiked the Council for their consideration and Withdrew.
OVERSEER’S MONTHLY REPORT. NORTHERN RIDING, Palmers Creek Bridge.—The hardwood piling, and sawn hardwood silver pine lining and ironwork, are on the bridge site in readiness for the work of reconstruction to commence about March 12th.
Maintenance. —Watertables were cleaned and growth cleared from watertables on Sandy’s and Steele’s Hills, Kumara Road; defective decking removed and replaced'on a bridge on Loopline Road. Repairs were effected with gravel to portions of Arahura Valley and Loopline Roads. Watertables were cleaned mid encroaching growth removed from a portion of Blue Spur-Arahura Road. Sections of Humphreys, Arahura Valley and One Mile Roads were cleared of gorse and blackberry growth from the edge of the road to the boundary fences pa rail'l with the roads. The northern roadside drain on One mile Road was cleared, cleaned and deepened for 30 chains in length, the clearing and drain work being performed by unemployed labour.
CENTRAL RIDING. Upper Kokatahi Road Widening.The work of clearing,. forming and metalling wag satisfactorily completed over the specified distance of 30 chains. In addition one new concrete pipe culvert was constructed 24 feet in length and one 12 inch diameter pipe culvert lengthened 6 feet. Kokatahi Bridge Protection No. 1 section of 500 links in length and No. 2 section 150 links in length at the southern abutment of the bridge were completed with a scouring apron, ot trees and scrub retained by a continuous wire net, enclosing a loaded fascine of manuku scrub and stone, secured to sunken anchors with three and four ply No. 8 twisted wire ropes. The bank above the nets being battered to a suitable slope and sheathed with a coating of long manuka scrub.
Maintenance.—Repairs were effected with gravel to portions of Cropps and Walls roads, and the approach metalled to B. Moynihan’s entrance gates, Lower Kokatahi Road. Unemployed labour was engaged in clearing gorse and blackberry growth and clearing drains on Lower Kokatahi Ro"d, clearing growth and cleaning watertables on Hokitika-Hnu Han, Seddons Terrace and Back Creek Ronds, clearing gorse and blackberry growth on AitluirstoWn, South Hokitika and Adairs Roads.
SOUTHERN RIDING. Alfred Road Bridge Construction was continued under the direction of Bridge Foreman H. Reynolds who has made a good job of the whole of the work which was completed on March 4th. The piling being Australian hardwood renders the structure more durable and less liable to damage than the previous structure destroyed by flood.
Maintenance.—The resident Roadman attention to repairs, principally caused by flood to the various roads in the Inter Wanganui District. Watertaljles were cleaned and cleared on Woolhouse Road. Flood damage repairs were effected to Detour, Wataroa Flat and Richardson Roads and a small draiu was cleaned and reopened between; the road and Air T. Nolan’s frontage. Portions of Happy Valley. Totnra and Ross-Kokatahi Tracks, were cleared of trees and encroaching growth principally by unemployed labour.
FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. 1. Your Committee has the honor to report that the accounts presented for payment for the month of Februarv, 1931, h ave been carefully examined, and beg to recommend that the amount as approved, totalling £176.1 9s 4d, he passed for payment. 2. Your Committee further recommends that- as the present month closes the yearly period, the Treasurer prepare for next meeting a general report on the finances .indicating in what direction economics can be effected without inquiring the efficiency of the Council, with a view to reducing the annual rating revenue.—Received ana adopted.
TENDERS FOR OIL. The tender of Big Tree Company for the supply of petrol for the ensuing six months Was accepted, after a ballot. Order paper. The Chairman illoverl: “That the accounts for the month of February. 1.D31, as revised and recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounted to £1761 9s 4d he passed for payment,” Seconded by Mr Murdoch and carried. The Chairman moved:—“That the Treasurer prepare the annual statement of the apportionment of the gross income (as estimated for the financial year commencing on Ist. April next) for presentation at next monthly meeting, together with the proposed allocation of the surplus revenue over the several Ridings, as required by the Counties Act, and that in the compilation of such statement and estimated expenditure, provision he made for such economies as can he made with a view to the possible reduction of the annual rate for the time being.” Seconded hv Mr Murdoch and. carried. The Chairman moved:—‘‘That the Overseer prepare a list of public works for application for Government grants for the year 1931—32.” Seconded hv Mr Murdoch and carried. The Chairman moved that his Excellency the Governor lie requested to appoint Mr D. .T. Evans as memiV'r of the Hokitika High School Board in place of the late Air Arthur Clifton, who for many years occupied that position as representative of the Council. Seconded by Air Murdoch and carried. The Councikro.se a.t 4.10 p.m.
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Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1931, Page 2
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1,988WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL. Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1931, Page 2
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