COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1932, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL

WESTLAND MONTHLY MEETING. Business’ dealt With YESTERDAY. The Westland C<Mnty Council met in the County Chambers yesterday afternoon wheii there were present; Mr J. AV Mbtdcich (chairman), and €rs. W. •• A'. Jhmie'sdii; W.;' Sfearle, ft Ward, J. J. McKay,’ J. Donovan, Jf! Keenan, W. Jeffries and T. R. CheStferman. The Hokitika Golf Club wrote drawing attention to the state of the fence adjeinirig the Mahinapua. links, this having’ been broken doivn to enable ' tlfe Couhfcii to lay a’road. As ; a result * the Club 1 suffered ihtich irreoiivenience from wandering stock. Portion of the read’hak been'Washed away, arid the Clilb desired* that’the Conricii'dp something in ; the way of' providing assist-ance.'-—Request agreed' te. ; A request for work was received from an ex-employee of . the Council not eligible; for relief.—Merilbefs spokri in favour' of the it ;being suggested that,’ ndiere ■ / possible; work I might- be- portioned ’ otit, among' ekemplOyees of the Council f The applicant it was stated, had. been a, ge°d reliable workman. n*, '. Ibie chairman said; that they/ must exercise discretion in deajing with" individual*' application's such - as' this.' The Council was faced with establishing a 'precedent. ’ • The Oversee!' said lie Was willing to empilby anybody if lie* were given authority to db ; sO. - - Cri Jfeffries agreed with the chairmatt'regarding the establishment of a precedent', and’ considered that no decision Should' be made; that day. He speaking impersonaliy, fbr the applicant" had’ given good servicp over a period off,years. • t ‘ Mr Mbtiiihan waited ori I the Council in connection with the ferry 'service he had* beeri conducting at Harihaii for over twenty years, ahd akked if trie Council'would gyant him a lfease. of the restervO for which a, title ; had been issued- irp 1929.—Proyisiorial approval was given! . / : . Inward Correspondence;; The Council dealt with a considerable amount of inward ,-correspondence as follows: .• - v,v Prom- Treasury, notifyirig accrued revenue to the credit/of'the County Fund." - j s Frbm: Public Works, rfe'gretting there iS -no possibility of .Council- reCeivirig financial” assistance -towards temporary bridge erected over La Fontaine creek. —Reiieived, >•• ..s'f' .• f'-'', ■ From same, forwarding yate’ of- Wagesand' plant- Hire charges for phi-pose’ o ? ' Government and •; Highways subsidies ’Or grants to local authorities.’'. From Eggelingßros., ; Okuru, i'orWardihgi letter from ; l’.Wv Department •rfe road to Waiatoto; asking- foi Gouni *cil ! s' assistance towards • same.—rlt was decided- that -application for a of £l5O-be made ori the estimates; -' From WorkO- Department' r« ; Three* Mile Greek- bridge; stating- as' -a* survey is being' made* on behalf- of-' the Okarito Dredging; Coy. tbat, no fn r- ; -thef' commitments' in connection with 7 the-- construction be made; until- the route of the road: is definitely decided’ 1 From -Okayito Five Mile Dredging'' *Ooy;v advising that-the Company would Wait until'* the!*'pf’e|iminary survey cf' the' roadline *has been: carried out,, be fbre the -Three Mile' bridge is started’ f The matter was deferred till next /meeting. . . From- 7 Unemployment iff Committee, Ross ..asking .that action ■be takeiif to re - • piair sfeven culverts betWeeri Caider and ’Cedar- Greek which aire in ; a- Wm/y/ dar- 1 “qrfemus' condition.—Matter refeiTed 'tb oversew.- - , , From G. J. P. Sellers, oh. behalf of Jv J\ McTntosh forwarding application'for prospecting license ait Tucker Flat. Received; no objection. -V;,..’ / * 'From T. Adamson rind others,:(Hanhari,- advising that J. Hewer has* not-’ cleared obstructions from La .Fontaine track.—Matter referred to Cpmmis'sioner of Crown Lands. ' ~;,v From Inspector of'c-Mine?, Reef ton, inquiring: if proposals are'- likely to be ■shbmitted i .,fpr erection., of 'cage across Upper Mikoniii river. !' ..’; 7 . 'From Town Clerk, Ross,.fie-page over Mikonui river, advising Council* of-op-inion same should fbe erected as spon' a« possible *as several miners, .will be using same immediately it is finished,,

I The chairman said that he thought that they should-first-wait for a, report? afe to the likelihood of finding gold before making a road. ” 1 ’ Other councillors supported this suggestion which was adopted; *: >

f From Lands and Survey Department, forwarding copy of an order-in-Counci! changing reserve 912 Block XIII Wataroa S.D. from a reserve for gravel ;pUrposes to one for a resting place for travelling stock.—Received. , From Butler Bros. Ltd., asking fcr consent of Council to supply houses i’ Ruatapu with electric light.—Granted Front W. O. Bierwirth, Ro&s, informing Council that pack track lias befit' ;blocked and had' td be cleared/ asking the tvorlt 'be authorised.r^-RcreiVecl. From W. Wallabe, Totara 1 , drawing Council’s ,Attention’ to ttie' statd of the /Totara track.—The overseer said that the P.W.D. had spent £IOO there last • February .—Left? in hands • of overseer From Norman Friend; Okarito; nott Ifying Council' that the river has en I cropched on Ifmd'Ptid residence and-com pletely destroyed same.—Received. I iFrom S. M. Honey and others,,Kn ' niara, advising that an application hahben imad" for ft water race tfi crd-o Kapitea-Chesterfield track, asking that' Overseer be instructed'to fidviSe correct kind- of culvert needed.—Consent > given, subject to■ overseer’ s appreyrI | From Marine Department, 'advising i that the Government hits; decided 'to' I 'mouislj ' cdiitrol/of the fibrt' of Okurn from ‘3oth September, 1932. asking if thi Council: will take over same.

■ V Df NolaUj- OkUruj'with re* gard fo 1 the above .matter; ’; ,' ■ , Mi- R. Wild waited ’ ori the Council, rCgardirig tlies' signalman at Okuru. The directors of the Westland Snipping Company realised the position of the people at Okuru was very difficult. Recently, a reduction in trie freight to Okuru had been made, and the Company Was doirig what it’ could to assist the residents. If trie Council would appoint the signalman as, say, ferryman, his company would pay the sum of £3O toward this. 11l reply tb a question Mr Wild said that thirteen’ trips were made to Okura last year whereas they were required by contract to make only six. No wharfage was collected there Cr. Searle said the Company had made a very fair offer, and he thought the Council .should accept it. It Would mean that the residents would riot have to pay towards it.

' Or. Donovan was opposed to the Cotmcil taking controi of the ferry, ari they would haVe tb riieet considerable expense in the way of repairs and upkeep. He thought that if the Government were not going tb take control, the in’ conjunction wth the Shipping Company should take the riiatter up. He failed to see why the Council should'be saddled with the responsibility of the Okuru ferry. He was sure that it Would not be a very difficult jbb to find' the -difference .between the-£3O offered by the Company and the amount necessary.

In-reply to Gr. McKay the chairman said, that the Council; if it tbok over the Control,, would automatically, resolve "itoSlto into a 'harbour board. It was notvobligatory to take it over* nut they ooUld'-ihot leave the residents as flotsrim and'jetsam; r. Or. Jeffries said he was in sympathy to a great extent with Cr. Donovan. Once they took over the control, the signalman became a responsibility on the Council. The Shipping Company had done good Work in aiding the, residents, but the Council was contributing more to the ratepayers there than what it received from them. It’ was in the ratio of £3 spent to £1 received. The Obuncil’s financial position did not permit of the Council finding the additional £lO.

Cr. McKay said it was not so much a question of the few pounds, as w' o was going to take over the control-

Cr Donovan: What about the Department taking it over and' the Company paying the,,£3o to the Department?

Mr Wild said .it would, b e a bad, precedent to deal with the Department in- that direction. It was. desirable that the public authority should take control of all property in its own district. •’ ;

1 Cr Ward : What would be -the responsibility to this Council ? What other public body can take over th 6 control, i Ilf we decline, it will mean that the residents will have no one to look after them.

•The shipping company, lie said, were assisting them to a .great extent, and he -thought the Council .should meets the company in some way ; He fully,; realised t;h 6 , several points raked by the other councillors, but they were; the- - public .authority, and; 1 he thought the council should- meet the company to the extent of £lO. \r: ■ . ’i Cr. 'Jamieson agreed yvith- this; last suggestion, and recommend; d th t; the Department be asked to carry on with the, control.

The-''-chairman waid he l was entirely sympathetic with th 6 people there, but there 'wer© other* features—the taking over of control -add- appointing toesignalman. Regarding the first it hr l volved a tremendous amount of responsibility, 'He thought the' actioni of the Government in this in dance was dteis»tic, and he did not think that a' Minister should shove all His responsibilities on to- the Council. He moved that thiCouncil' decline under Section II of tht Act, 'to accept the responsibility of taking over th© Okuru harbour, iu place he fnoved that th e Council prefers to offer a subsidy by paying half of what was paid to th© -signalman;

..id' that the Department cont'nne to maintain the control. —Agreed to. From W. D. Nolan with regard to YVaiaitoto ferry, -asking if Council would be prepared to hand over ferry reserve --for us©-of* the Ferryman.—Received. From same, with regard to saiiie ■uiatter, advising there is a-’ man in trict who would take over the ferry at - a salary of £SO if Council would agree- : to-same;—Received,'.

T-he chairman said that there was no 1 £SO : available for this purpose. Of- Donovan said 'that this matter was- continually before the Council. The* river was not so very dangerous. A subsidy 1 of £3B- Was • already received as-well as the [ two boats provided. This wag af contrast to the conditions prevrilling at Okarito. 1 >He moved that the Gouilcil is unable to comply with the request regarding the subsidy.— Agreed to.

From Harbour Board, Hokitika; forwarding resolution with regard to special 'harbour rate'.—’Received. From Health Officbs; Christchurch:;; asking that notice be served to E. T. Croft; Ariffiura, to hnye certain works carried dtifc, at premi|g| at Arahura.—; Received.From M. Carroll, Waiho, informing Council that following an inspection of Collyer Greek bridge, same Was found ’•) be in a- very good ■ condition.—Received. From Or. Jeffries and • the 'Overseer, reporting" o>n inspection mad 6 of . Evans’ road.—Reports adopted. From E. Mitchell, Stafford, asking if the Council would have the main path : at the Cemetery asphalted;—Referred to the Overgeer. From. Midland Sawmill Co;, Mn T*-i----nui, advising. Go; are prepared to offer fencing material for fencing to Ijnanui to the value of £25, —Received. From C. Atkiiison, re same matter, regretting unaide to help financially -nth fencing.—Received.

'Frorif Oversoer Millner, reporting on ’inspection with the railway engineer to' the, line.of road: ftom"Golf Links to: Miftnanui.—Received..

; From' District Bugiiieer N.Z', Railways, re railway reserve for road, purposes, advising land hals been approved by Head Office, on same tei'ias.—Received. ' * '

I-n view of the attitude; ■of , Mr ‘Atkinson, the chairman' thought the matter should not be- proceeded with.

Mr \W atr d said he would like to see the offer still deft open, ' >■ From Overseer Millner, repotting on aonoiiete pipe drain constructed on Blue-Spur-Arahura road; and com'plained *bf by D. Agn©w.—Received.

From same, reporting, having inspected sea erosion at Okarito,''advising, erosion has extended to Withirr four feet of cemetery fence, but nothing can be" fiorie f! to-. : lifevri'St.; .Vf-tee.—Reri&ved. . ' Fromsame,, reporting for , the infor'.mation of theo District Engineer,' of - duties required ’to be' performed by County employees bn Seeb'ndrii-y Highways.—Received. ' From same, reporting re T. spoor's complaint of blocked drains rit South Hokitika.—-Received. >*

From same, reporting upon progress of, work on Secondary Highways for August.—'Received. From Grey Electric Power Board, inviting- chairman to opening of power works at Kaimata on 21st inst. —Accepted with thanks. From R. Graham, Matainui, asking when Graham’s road gravelling will be completed.—Details to be supplied regarding- the matter. \ From' Joseph McLean, Grey mouth, urging the completion of Petersen : ’ : -

Ftoin D; Rribe'fts; Evans ' Creek, reporting good :#brk dofte by Brown and Nijssoff on Evans. Road, stating same in very good condition.—Received. From Kate Nolan 71 Matainui, complaining of the \vritor overflowing on to her laid, asking/the nuisance to be diverted,—On the motion' of C r . Donovan it was decided to take no action. - . ■ :''- v -■ ■”

From Minister o r Mines, acknowledging letter requesting- rents ori claim owing by J'. Toohey arid N. Warren be treated as irrecoverable, asking if- applicants file an application to surrender same, rent will be' treated as irrecoverable.—Received-

From Overseer Millnerg/reporting re lettef fi-om T. Gasey,; with amended particulars, re’- repairs to footbridge, Wat'a-roa bridge.' l — 'Received . ’ ‘ From same, reporting'-on the clearing of Teal DUck track.

Am application for repairs to Dawson road by J. Taylor.—Referred- to the Overseer. . .1 v: .. -jr ~ ORDER PAPER. : • / The Chairman moved. “That the accounts- for the month of July, 1932-, -"as passed tor paj’iuent by tne Finance Committee, amounting to LU6B2 ’l6«s 6d, be now (ajppyQyed;.”— G&UCifAliii 'i.K’iyyiu {i-K .J.tiij Jow-i «»ir . ;The-.r ; r iGhairman< moved : ~; “'rhat the accounts for the month of August, 1932ras' recommended by the- Finance :Committee, amounting td ;r £>i'7A6 19s 7d, be passed for payment.-’—Gafried; —.

The Chairman * moved?-' • ‘That fresh tenders be. invited- for the supply of benzine at Kanieri for a period ot six; months.”•—’Carried; w t-->r- v Cr. Donovan' moved ; ': ''That- th< 'Hon.. Minister of Marine -be" requested to place -a substantial vote on the Estimates this year for the improvement of the Okarito Harbour in accordance with estimates' and,; plans prepared by the late John Thompson, and that a rate of'one' shilling per 100 feet be levied on all timher exported' to pay, interest and principal on the cost of, construction 'and that in the event of the Government- being unable to provide the necessary finanoc, this Council, strongly urges the Hon. Minister qf Marine to allow private enterprise. to complete the necessary harbour., irpproyements, thus enabling the milling and shipping of some five hundred million feet of white pine in the vicinity of Okarito which at present is in demand, and that a copy of the foregoing resolution - be forwarded to the Hon. Minister' 'of Marine and ' James O’Brien, M.P., member for Westland.” Cr. 'Donovan said that the agitation commenced several years 'ago; Repeated efforts had been made to induce the Government to go ahead with , the harbdur, but they had; been unsuccessful. Ais the present time an. Auckland gyndicate had. taken options on as many, areas as possible containing white pine, but they had to haye an outlet, and the syndicate desired the Council to back them in going/aheadi with the harbour improvement. With the export of the .white pine, considerable benefits would -accrue to the district. The adoption -of his -resolution . would strengthen the syndicate’s hand in its effort. < . . • • 1 • Cr. Seaa’le seconded the motion which was carried. . • Or. Searie -moved-. • “That the Council find tlie necessary amount for ?t}ie cogipletion of the Petersen Road grant and that Overseer MiUneiv piv* pare plans- a.ud sjoeoifierttions with r view to inviting tenders for the Work.” Regarding'the,.first, clause the mover said that the Council would have to find- £2BO for 1 a work which was nqces‘sary. Now that. Government money wag available he thought: it was the Council’s duty to gq ahead. , Or. Jeffries wished to know where the £2BO wai.s coming from. Cr. Ward , said the Council wag in a comparatively good position, and he wn* aware that a sum of money was available to have this road made. He did not know how long it was since he had seen such economy in print a" represented in the financial statements in connection with the respective Rid intrg. Re saw no -reason for gloom over ;• the matter of finance, and saw no reason for any further delay, but

was of the opinion that money habeen lost in the delaying of the issue. Cr. -McKay said that, with the cheuuness of labour, h 6 was sure the estimated cost would be higher than that •actually to be found. ' The chairman saia that, personally he wag not in favour of spending £2* w'h© i an injustice -w going to be don© to a settler. ~. , Cr. Chesterman said that if he were a settler down th e river, h© would want access, and it was time that a settlement . was reached. He was .prepared to support th 6 proposal. Cr. Jeffries wag of the . same opinion as the chairman. Or Searl© denied that any inustce would be don e to a settler by the proposed route. It was the *rOad surveyed in the first place. The chairman moved an amendm* it that tli 6 matter be -deferred r— f". fi ' position , had been reviewed- by the new members-of th© Council. A d'■>-*’Mon was taken, and the rnoti'"was ultimately carried by five votes V four. It was also decided that the wo-- 1 - be proceeded with as soon as authoi'ity is to hand.