WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1931, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

FINANCE MEETING. As there is not any regular meeting ’-of the Council this month, the Finance l Committee met at the County Chamblast evening to deal with the July * accounts and other business. There |» T were present : Messrs W. Sea-rle (Chair-

’ 'man of Committee), M. Keenan |“(County Chairman), W. Jeffries, M. 1 "Houston, T. R. Chesterman and HHVelis. ■

i i The accounts for July, totalling 1’“}£1,441 14s 6d, were Examined and .. for payment. GENERAL GUTTERS, t,«- A letter was read from T. E. Y--2f*Sedd'on, Wellington, thinking the « Council for expressions of sympathy I’ a in connection with the death of his 5 liipther.—Received. C Jtoadnxan Whitiskie and Overseer si “Millner reported regarding the horse fain use at Harihari. The matter was | .’'discussed, there being expressions of regarding the suitability " of) the horse foraetivc road work. It ),v as decided the seller bo asked to take i the mare back, and the Chairman and ' Stock Inspector he asked to look into f the question of the purchase of another 1 horse.

An explanation was received from the 5 ’ Overseer regarding t)re removal of f, trees causing obstruction in Little * 5 Wanganui river, apd the County Sol* | .ieitor’s opinion on the matter was rend, It wan reportftl the removal of tho was now in hand. Overseer Millner reported, regarding work on district rpads for the past month (published elsewhere). The County Solicitor (Mr Park) advised in respect to the Hawkers and Pedlars by-law, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to proceed with a new by-law, fixing the license fee' at £2. The offer of T. Nolan to purchase some plant at Waitahgi was accepted. Respecting offer from Mr W. Ritchie to. turn Diedrich’s Creek at lyoiterangi, it was resolved to agree to pav £2O towards the cost when the work was done to the satisfaction of the Overseer, the stream to be turned into the old channel. The Chairman’s report (published in. another column) was read, and it was resolved to advise Mr O’Brien of the

of the work on Kumara Junction to Chesterfield road. The opinion was expressed that to complete the road to Awatuna would cost £7OOO or £BOOO. Members considered the %oad would then be a burden on the Council for maintenance. The meeting ■ favoured prosecuting the “work to give "access to Chesterfield) for the convenience of the settlers, but not ot contribute to the cost of the work beyond tfiat point. In respect to the Chairman’s report ’ at Noiter- 1 ' angi, it was decided to ask .Mr O’Brien M.IV to approach the Minister of Public Works relative to commencing tho protective works recommended by the 'iatter’s officers. . A 'latter was received from Vf. H, Neame reporting cost of protection at Teremakuu to which the Council had contributed’ No further, action wax. taken. : A matter of fire insurance was agreed :,V • ' to. It was decided to vote £lO for repairing Gillespie’s Beach track, and to urge that a vote be provided to open the route, for tourist traffic. An application for a new slaughter house by J. Hewer, Totara, was approved and recommended to the Agricultuial Department.

REPORT ON SECONDARY HIGHWAYS. Sir:l have the honour to report upon the progress of Works on the Secon dary Highways for the month of July. Lake Kanieri Road.—Repairs vere effected with gravel, where necessary, to motor worn holes, and depressions over a distance of two miles, absorbing nine cubic yards of gravel from i cadaide dumps. Watertables were cleaned at the Forks, and beyond Boucher's Creek bridge, a distance of ten chains and the road drain cleaned a distance of four chains. Upper Kokfttahi Road.—Motor worn holes and depressions were repaired with fine gravel between Lower Kokatahi School and Bladier’s Road, a distance of approximately one and a half miles, 90 cubic yards of fine gravel being used ifor the purpose . Unemployed labour was usefully engaged in clearing gorse and blackberry .growth from both sides of the road, from the edge of formation to the frontages of property, a distance of 600 links.

OVERSEER’S MONTHLY REPORT* Sir: I have the honour to report upon the progress of work during the month of July. NORTHERN RIDING. Kumara to Chesterfield Government and County Grant. The work of reforming, clearing, corduroying, and fas* cining .was in hand on the 6th of July and the metalling commenced at peg 0 chains, the terminus otf old metalling. 60 chains south of Ktimnra Beach Road also at peg 1 mile 15 chains where a small supply of gravel exists. Now formation was commenced at peg 1 mile 57 chains, and continued to 1 mile 64 chains on the northern bank of Ivapitea Creek. The work performed consists j.

of clearing 1 mile, reforming at upper end 23 chains, forming at Kapitea Creek 7 chains, metalling 12 feet wide 9 inches high, 28 chains; corduroy and fascine 11 chains ;one new 12 inch diameter concrete pipe culvert constructed 30 feet- in length, and one 12 inch diameter pipe culvert removed and replaced on lower level to improve drainage.

MAINTENANCE. Unemployed labour did very useful work in assisting to clear and clean watertahles, and repair ruts and motor worn boles on Kumara Road; clearing and cleaning tables on Callaghans Rond; cleaning drains at Stafford; completing the clearing and cleaning ol the main drain on the Highway beyond Awatuna "Road; clearing gorse, and blackberry growth from the Highways on Piper’s Hill; widening formation,- clening growth and draining One Mile Hoad ; repairing Arahura Valley, Humphreys and Blue Spur-Aralmra Roads; costructing a new drain on the Main Highway at the Three Mile mill; clearing and reopening tables, and drains on Blue Spur-Arnhurn, and eom_ pitting euvduroy on Muir’s Road.

CENTRAL RIDING. Arthurstown Road Widening Grant was continued and the formation and metalling extended the specified distance of 35 chains.

MAINTENANCE. Repairs were effected to portions o>f Adair’s and| Soifth Hokitika Koadk; gorse cleared and ruts raked on Station Road; wind blown trees removed from Seddon’s Terrace track, attention gien to the rutted portions of Upper Municipal Road. Unemployed labour was engaged in clearing and cleaning tables and drains o nßlue Supr, South Hokitika and Hokitika-Hau Hau Roads ; clearing and widening HokitikaHau Hau Road on the first hill, assisting to fill gavel for Whitcombe Valley, Koiterangi and South Hokitika Road repairs.

SOUTHERN RIDING. Waitangi South Bank metalling: This work was continued and completed a distance of 108 chains, being metalled the whole distance mentioned. Th r ee Mile Track: Wet weather has interfered greatly with the progess of this work during the month, five chains of forming and metalling and two chains of corduroy being completed on the new track, and small sections of corduroy placed on the old track.

MAINTENANCE. Repairs were effected to V ataroa Flat, Scally and Richardson Roads. Foreman H. Keyno’ds attended to the dismantling of Mikor.ui Foot Bridge, also to the erection of a suspension bridgeTcfj* fooutraffie between the Main Highway and Teal Duck Track, allow traffic to cross Forks Creek, The Roadman attended to repairs to various roads in the Harihari disfuot, and it is intended to send No. 3 lorry to Harihari pext week to cart gravel for repairs to La Fountaine and ofhei roads.

Unemployed labour was utilised in continuing Ruatapu Road diversion ; re pairing culvert and removing trees on Ross-Kokatahi track; and repairing and clearing portions of Happy Valley track.

Yours faithfully,

WILLIAM MILLNER,

COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

I have the honor to report a visit to the Kumara Juotion-Chesterfield road now under construction, on the 25th July, for the purpose of forming an estimate for the information of the Member of the District (Mr O’Brien) in respect to the cost to complete the construction of the road.

I was accompanied by the Overscei and Clerk, and found there were about 20 men and five drays engaged on the work, in respect to which very satisfactory progress was being made. The work was advancing satisfactorily, nud a good serviceable road to the settlers and mill workers at Kapitea and Chesterfield will result.

The present authority available is £1,150, including £3OO provided by the Council, but this will not suffice to complete the metalled road for the distance required, A further grant will be needed, ns the cost to complete the metalling’ will be about £450. This however will not cover the bridges ot which three will be required.

Overseer Millner proposes to place a temporary low level bridge across Serpentine Creek, which would enable vehicle traffic to proceed about one mile along the new road The next crossing is that of Acre Creek, where there is a good site for a bridge. The length would he about 40 feet, and pending a grant for a standard structure it may be possible to build a temporary bridge for light traffic till the money i.s available for the peijjianent structure. The third crossing is that of Kapitea Creek which would require a bridge of about 140 feet, At present and Jor some time to come a ford can be used in ordinary weather, though the approach on the north side is soft, but it gives the Chesterfield settlers access to the railway siding at Kapitea. In each instance, where permanent bridges are erected, substantial approaches will require to be made, So that a sum of about £2.500 will be required ultimately for bridges on the length of road now in hand, in addition to the cost of mct&ffing.

The Overseer is carrying out the metalling from both ends, and will leave hard places for the final grant. The Chesterfield residents are gratelnl for the improved vehicle access provided already to the Kapitea Siding. The information acquired lias been communicated to Mr O’Brien, who has been asked to apply lor the balance of the money estimated to complete the metalling works in hand, and when available the long-deferred access by road to Chesterfield can lie finished.

On Saturday, (August Ist) in company with my colleagues oi the Central Riding (Messrs Chesterman and Wells) the Overseer and Clerk, an inspection was made oi the Hokitika river erosion below the Gorge. Some time ago, Mr Ritchie, one of the settlers directly affected hv the inroads of the river, was offered £2O £ for £, to turn Diedrich’s creek (a tributary of tlie river) into an. old channel, where it would not augment, as it docs at present, the flow ol the main stream on Mr Ritchie’s holding. Mr llitchie has agreed to accept this offer. On Saturday Messrs Ritchie and W. Jamieson were met on the river bed below Diedrich’s creek where the most serious attack by the river is being made. Mr Ritchie with additional labour was engaged blocking an overflow channel in th e hope of diverting tho stream into mid river by some low ground. The work is ot a temporary nature in scrub and stone, and will be of some service in a small flood. M> Millner advised the clearing of an old channel higher up stream as a further aid to river diversion from the north hank.

It will he remembered that the Uiiblio Works Department had the matter in hand at the beginning of the year. Visits were paid by the Council, tbe Member for tho District, and the Public Works Officers, As a result aur* Vpys were made and proposals prepared tor a definite scheme of protection, but beyond suggesting the formation of a local River Board to which the settlers have not shown any read-

iness in approving, nothing lias been done. It. would appear with the force of the river in flood in mind, that whatever is done should he substantial work, and 1 would recommend that Mr O’Brien M.P., be asked to urge the Minister of Public Works to carry out the first portion of the recommended scheme for protection. Valuable land embracing one of the best settlements on the Coast, is at stake, and action should he taken be!ore, further damage results, when the cost of remedial measures would be greater than at present. M. KEENAN, County Chairman. The meeting concluded at 9.30 o-clock.