COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1932, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL

WESTLAND MONTHLY MEETING. ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT. The Westland County Council met yesterday afternoon .when there, were present: Messrs J. A. Murdoch (chairman), T. R. Chesterman, M. Keenan, W. J. Jeffries, J. Donovan, J. j. McKay, B. Ward, W. Searle, W. A. Jamieson and the Clerk (Mr D. J. Evans). t The outgoing correspondence was approved and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmed. Inward Correspondence. From Treasury, notifying accrued revenue to the credit of the County Fund Accoount. —Received. From Public Works Department, regarding access to sections on south bank of Hokitika River, advising consideration is being given to the con-, struction of a road to give access to same, asking Air Council’s attitude with regard to same. Cr. Jeffries said that the proposals outlined were beyond the limits of the Council, and he considered tl,iat a copy of the letter should be forwarded to the interested party. Cr. Ward said it would be suicidal ji the Council were to let themselves m for the amount involved.

Or. Jamieson said that the, road had been wished on the settler. / On the motion of the Chairman it was decided that'the Council regretted owing to its present financial position, its inability to proceed with the legalisation of the road. From Public Works Department, for. warding copy of proclamation closing portion of road in Block VJ \Vatar». S.D.—Received. •

From same, with reference to Threi Mile Creek Bridge, advising some slight amendments have been.made to the plans for same, and question auLin,rising necessary funds is being taken up with the Minister.—Received-

i’rom Highways Council, ad.ising u. the appointment of Mr J. H. cmr.as 'lrciihc Inspector for the No. i. Highways District. —Received. rroin N.Z. Railways, Christchurch advising application for jurtner strq of railway reserve for road purpose.from end of land already approved to Mananui station has been approved b,* Head Office.—Received. * From Public Works Department Wellington, regarding road adjoining Railway Reserve No. 9, advising sanu has been considered and are prepared to reeominendjjthe Minister to. approve some, provided' width of road is increased to at least 50 links.

From same, re above matter, notifying necessary to arrange for tne p a, to be amended to show a road of width of at least 50 links. * Or. Ward said he would like to set the Council secure the right over tilts .route, and have it surveyed-, even if the Council' did not' go ahead tyitu the, matter at present.

Other members- did not think that any expenditure should be undertaken, unless .; was going to push the matter.

Cr. Donovan said that this matter had bee before the Council for some time, and all tile work in this connection in the past had resulted in the Council’s present position. He would ilike to see the Council take some forward step.

The County Clerk - suggested that the residents be approached towaru living assistance in the way of fencing.

. Cr McKay: Will any of the settlers be inconvenienced H—No.

' It was decided that the Council rtfply regretting that, owing to its present position it was not able to proceed with 'the road at present, and that the persons affected he written to inquiring what assistance they could afford to the supply of material ■ for fencing. Erem Public Works regarding Wr talia South Road.

From G-. Linklater, am] others, for warding documents signed in :;eferen to Waitaha South Road.

Mr J. Peake who visited the locality in connection with the matter submit

} ted his report in which he stated that j I three signatures were secured while ; two had declined. 1

j Cr. Jeffries said that when the road went through it would add £2 to £3 |an acre to the land.'The Council had been most magnanimous in its actions in the past, and the hitch was not the fault of the Council but of some l of the settlers. One of the objectors

(Mr Douglas) bad, two or three years ago made an offer of £2OO to 'the Council to have the road put through, but now he was objecting, and it was hard to understand. It was stated that the objector was wanting £4O in recompensation as the route would mean shifting buildings and changing paddocks on his property. Cr. Donovan said that the objectionwas very unsatisfactory ,to the Council,* who had done everything*in their power t-o put through the road to the benefit of the settlers in the opening ofland. This man’s attitude was particularly unfair in that he was striving to prevent the road going through to the detriment of his fellow settlers. The Chairman said the work, if it went ahead would mean work for 40 men as well as opening the country. The Chairman moved that the Council take no further action owing to the stand made by two of the settlors in declining to accede to the proposal.

Other members supported the motion which was carried. From Minister of Mines, re erection of cage across Upper Mil-conui; river, advisino* Department prepared to authorise subsidy of £ls £ for £ provide'! proposals are submitted for the .work to the Inspector of Mines for approval or otherwise.—Received, further action in the spending of the money deferred.

' From Mines Department, regarding access by blacksanders over Qkarito Lagoon, asking, for the in'ormation of the Minister, why the ferry service wn« discontinued.—lt was decided to reply stating that the ferryman had dis-on-tinued as the ferryman considered the subsidy insufficient. From G. Thompson and others a'i plying for a renejvvl of a s'aughter house license.--i-Reoeived. From Internal Affairs Department, acknowledging letter notifying election of J. A. Murdoch as County Chairman for the e ’suing teirn.—Received. From Unemployment Commissioner, advising that the various, insurance companies have decided not to proceed with the .proposed “pool” but to reduce rate jn respect to relief workers to .a flat rate of 25/- per cent.—Approved. From Westland Hospital Board, forwarding amended estimates for 1932-33, and asking the Council’s approval of same—Received. The County Clerk Raid that the, estimates were a little more than last year. Mr Jeffries, one of the representatives of the Council on the Board, outlined the economies being practised by the Board, during the past few months, and said that Westland was l-ower than the Dominion rate. He further outlined the steps being taken to meet the present conditions, and was confident that the Board would see the year out on the rate struck. lie said that the B-oavd would fie faced with the difficulty of receiving fees from patients this year.,.

The County Clerk said the valuation of 4he district had -been increased, and the dittle more thnt would be received in rates hereby would just about balnc» the increase in the levy. From Hokitika Harbour Board, asking for a reduction in Council’s charges lor collection of rates. The County Clerk said that the Board paid :he C'Junc'il £52 per annum for collecting rates, and a further £lO fo>' writing up the book-. If any reduction wer e to be made, he suggested that the charge for writing up books be fore, gone for a year.

This suggestion was .adopted, but members were strongly of the opinion that the Board was receiving a very cheap service. ■' ‘‘We seem :o be the chopping block for everybody,” said the chairman. From Secretary R.S.A., Hokitika, ad-, vising that a sum of money is available for relief'of unemployment amongst ex-servicemen, and asking if the Council be prepared to subsidise this £ for £ and utilise same on County works. , —Tt was decided to accept, the offer. From Secretary Progress League, asking for a donation towards funds of the (League.—Decided to grant £lO, in ■ I'.'fie of the £2O last .year. From E. H. Hewer, asking for some attention to La Fontaine Road Extension.—Referred to Treasurer and Overseer. From Overseer Millner reporting on request from E. Hewer for access to dwelling at lower end of La v Fontaine Road, advising metalling was included in the specification for the expenditure of the grant, but as soon as formation and drajnage was completed the balance was suspended until further notice from the P.W. Department.—Received. From ,T. Stephens, Harihari, advising unable to pay rent for reserve at Big Wanganui, suggesting giving Avoik on swamp road to reduce rent ampu'it.. -PeqUe.st dc lin< j; *. Q From Overseer Millner, on equest of James Stephens to .mpr.v,v •• r a Fontaine road formation. — Received. 1 ' , From James Donovan M.C.C. ad-vis-that foot bridge at Five Mile Creek \ns been washed out and is in dangerms state, asking if the Council would j utliorise £5 to do necessary repairs I :o same.—Granted.' j From W. D. Nolan, Okuru, with re- 1 oird to district nri*"'--.---Bee, From Overseer Millner, reporting avitig inspected approach eoiistmcted.

by Mr Heyward along frontage to shop at Wailio, cost being £3O; notifying Mr Heyward states satisfied if Council wi! recommend allowance of £lt> for the improvement; also reporting satisfactory completion of approach to Gibb’s property, Wailio, for which tile Council voted £4; also inspected Dry Creek between Alain Highway and Rotokino Creek, advising no sigiis of recent erosion and no good purpose would be served by construction of protective work.—Received and approved. '’

From same, forwarding report upon progress of works on the Secondary Highways for month of June.—Received From Public Works Department advising reduced rates of pay, in order that as many men as possible miglii coffin ltd' to receive employment. —Received.

'' From sani'e’rtvith regard Ho application for grarits, asking''for particulars on vfbhns isuppiied in order' of urgency. -diiVeceived’ and approved.

" ! From’’saiiie with regard to Three Mile creek bridge forwarding proposal's and authority.—Received and decided to ask Company concerned as to its attitude.

Note.—W. Vincent has withdrawn his offer to supply' timber, ( for which tenders were to he called, hut yesterday P.W.D. advised that the Dredging Company were taking steps to survey a new line of road, and until this was determined, expenditure was to be suspended. , From Lands and Survey Department asking consent declaring of the Kumara Branch ‘ railway reserve, and forwarding • plans for signature.—-Re-ceived. • , From J. C. Macfarlane offering tt> complete the road survey from, Mahiuapua Creek to Mananui station foi ,£3o.—Received, no action hi. the .mean Dime. ’ "

From Kate- Nolan, Mataimii, (again asking 'the Council to consider the removal of a concrete pipe placed on Detour (Braridt)' Road, and stating Mr Nolan was prepared to cut p. drain frei of cost, to stop any overflow over tin road.—Position to be looked into, am : an endeavour made to reach some so!u t-ion.

O. Hau-'smann wrote regarding th opening of drains- on the Kanieri road —No action- taken. . , A. J. Little drew; the attention oi the Council to amount -,.0f -stagnan 'iter in drain on Alunicipal Road.— Decided matter be attended to. j

H. A. Finch, Kaihinu, requested thaf repairs .be carried out to-track leading from -Awatuna- railway station. ed and approved. ' . The generous gift of Air -Egan jn presenting the Council with a 'photograph of the tyt'e. Rt..- Hon. R. Seqdon, ii place of. that destroyed by-’tire recen fire was , accepted with thanks. It was decided that the Public Work Department be written to asking tha ii. r,!i:;f.camp be established at Alilltowr for the. purpose of constructing the Alii.. town-Arnhu-ra road.

The Finance Committee reported that the accounts, a,- approved, -intosallet £2506 As' 10cl for June, 1932.' -Conform, able with the Treasurer’s report, -ft warecommended that concrete be discontinued for the present ,v that owing to the wi'hdrawal of -the Government grants, the bridge foreman’s ser vices be dispensed with on one ’month’; notice; that the overseer be iustructei not to employ 'casual” labour in ca-e: where the men own ■*“ farms; t’na: the overseer restrict ‘ casual : • labour expenditure, excepting iff ’cases of emergency and generally adopt all economy in administrative work.—Adopted. The treasurer’s report,'' With regard to the unemployment schemes, was sub minted to the Council' as fo'lows;

(a) That the “over the fence” schenu be curtailed and legitimate farmer,- b< recommended to adopt the £1 a wi'el subsidy scheme.—CarFed. :: \ (b) That where men ar<e' working or their own land, their weekly allocation be reduced by one day.—Carried. • (c) That farmers given “free” labour under the “over the .fence” policy pa.'. 2s for -single men per day, and 2s 6 for married men per day. These money: are paid to the Unemployment Board and are used again for further employment.—Carried.

(d) That the overseer .concentrate o’ group work’s r 6n the diStFct -roads ' Liu men employed to lie under supefyison-.--Carried. ,

(e) That with a view of con>.;efvin£ money for -legitimate unemployment, -a member of the Unemployment; Board be invited to visit the district and con fer as to the general -administration of ,No. 5 scheme to ensure the greatest public value.—Carried, the chairman remarking that he considerd this acvery wise- proposal. Th B treasurer reported ' that for th n quarter ended June 30th, the revenue' was £2OOI, as against £2244 for - the same period last year. The' expenditure for the quarter was £3219, a.s against '£13607, in the previous period. Thbank overdraft, and unpresented cheque-' for the quarter -were £1521 9s lid as against £637 0s 10d the previous year. The accounts-'-presented to the meeting totalled £2-600,'“■ whe re of £1398 had been pre-pai'd (representing unemployment, hospital levitv, and' -*icounts 1 O v 'j which discounts were: recoverable!.' The I net sum.payable for June accounts-now, I «•'--« £llO2. which, added to the over-• draft, totalled £2623. For the previous J v'-r a similar total was £2525. That j debit was altered to a credit by the month of (August, due in the main, to the prompt payment of rates, and the Tate snbsidv on the reduced rate of last year, This latter contribution would not bo available thir year, but if the rate -demands to b e sent out this Week, were paid with promptitude, th'- ! '-oyecdraft would ,be reduced substantially with a- corresponding reduction in interest charges. General revenue was not likely to increase, -and the rates must

V (lepemb’d on largely. There had been much general -expenditure of late

from previous authorities, most of which were now exhausted, ft was recommended that tile overs <*r b e requested to economise where possible in genera! works; that the making of concrete pipes be. suspended when the present supply of concrete is exhausted the suspension of Government grants, the tw.o heavy lorries be laid up, excepting in emergency, for any special repair works. Generally? e conomy would require to be exercised if the Council were to keep within 'its means for th remainder of the financial year. NOTICES OF MOTION. The Oh air nnn moved: “That the accounts for the month of -Imie 1932, as revised and recommended foi pay,.nt by tlij' 10" Mice Committee. ;.mounting to £2505 5s lCd, l,e paestnl for payment.—'Carried. Tin ('hai mi. in moved: “That the Council do now make and levy, pursuant to t' e p ov:s ons of £**:•- i ions -18-jo. of the II"ling Act. 1998 "iid its am lidnif.nts. an! 80-ti'"-s 120-21 of‘the Counties - 'Act, 1920, a general rate as follows:

(a) four farthings in the £ on the capital value of nil rateable property in the Northern Hiding of the County of Westland. (hi four farthings in the £ on' the c.ipflal value of all rateable property

in the Central Riding of the County of Westland. (e) four farthings in the £ on the capital value of all rateable property the Southern Riding of the .Coui-ty of Westland. “Such general „ rate to. he for theperiod commenced on the Ist. day of April, 1902, and ending on the 31st. day of March, 1933, and to become due and payable in one sum on the 10th July, 1932, at the office of the Westland County Council, Hokitika.” S'eeo.d bv Cr. Jeffries and carried. The Chairrnnn moved: “That nurswant to the provisions of the Rating Act and its Amendments, a rebate of five per centum be allowed. on the for-earning r'tes paid by the 16th. day of August, 1932, but not later.” —Carried. Cr. P'V'ov 'n moved: “That Over-s-av ‘Mi liner be asked to prepare plans and see'ificatiors for necessary improvements to Purcell’s road, Mataiaui, and tenders be invited for the work without delay.’l—. Carried. '