COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1933, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL

. TUESDAY. JUNE 13. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING. The Committee sat at 7.30 o’clock. Present; Messrs IV. Jeffries (County Chairman), J. A. Murdoch, T. R. Chesteriha.il, and M. Keenan. An apology was made fcfr the absence of Mi’ W. A. Jamieson.- ; 1 The minutes of the previous meeting wore-, confirmed. The accounts , for the balance of the month of May, totalling £1306 16s 3d were examined, and passed for payment. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Secretary, Marine Department, replying that the question of expediting the finality of plans for Okarito harbour works, rested with The promoting company. The - Department was awaiting the completed plane;.—Received. From South Westland Estates Ltd., (Auckland,' stating' the company was not to blam c with regard to the delay in .respect to, Okarito, and .adding the company Was doing everything possible to push the matter ahead.—-Received. It was resolved to ask the press to publish the ihformation supplied so that the public would appreciate the position. In view of the fear of further erosion, the Council had been doing its utmost to have the formalities finalised, s.o that the protective' work might proceed, From G. P. Rea, To tar a.; Christina Passmore, Kumara; and Henham and •McKenzie, Matainui,, applying for slaughter house licenses. —Received and recommended. / >

From J. J. McKay, M.C.C., HaTjhaii, with regard t-0.-district roeefe and drain, gg© matters.- -Received, Cron’s road to receive -attention following Overseer's

report. From J. Donovan, M.C.C., Okarito, reporting regarding repairs to Five Mile Creek bridge,, stating (Mines Department would contribute £SO,- t-hp Dredging Company £SO. and submitting offer for Council’s contribution; also supplying' further ..particulars os to the state of ; -the. structure .—Received, Mr Donovan wag thanked for his information, ■but' in view of the - finances it was regretted funds were not available to contribute to the work .as suggested. From Mrs; E- Patrick, J, Donovan, land J. Green forwarding contributions towards the cost of work in connection with Okarito..cemetery erosion.- Revived with thanks. . F-om J/ Donovan, reporting regarding boat .for Three Mile ferry, and stating Okarito Forks road was being improved greath* under W. -Price.— -Re-ceived,-.and hiving of beat approved. From- chairman, v school committee. Okarito. asking attention to the school footpath approach.—Received, work to be attended, to as unemployed labour was available. From D. JeUie, Arahura, on behalf of.Jbapitea Mining Syndicate, applying fojperntission'to taka water race under Lahiplough track, «Tid offering to construct flubatantial culvert of silver p’ue landi maintain same.—Reerved fm ' d approved on usual conditions. ’From M. J. Moyniban, Woodstock,

thanking the Council for action regarding river encroachment at Ford road, Koiterangi, but protesting against the •removal of material from the river-beet which would cause further scour.—Received, Overseer to watch developments, and avoid damage.

From Mrs Whitiskie. Harjhari, asking that the County c°ttage bo painted on the exterior. —(Received, work t.o be attended to. in spring.

Form T. Casey, Okarito, offering to laceept a reasonable price for the boat bii’.'t at Three Mile ferry, when finished with the bridge contract.—Received ;y d consideration deterred.

j From H. H. Busc-h, Mahitahi. replying regarding road access and its urge-lit need,—Received, Clerk to reply ’.n re- • gard to the vote. j Fiom chairman, advisory committee, i Okuru, reporting on local expenditure for urgent- work • offering on behalf oi Nolan Bros, to contribute £lO towarus Okuru road works ; drawing attention to Turnbull river erosion which was threatening the road and’ settlers’ holdings. Received, and contribution acceptable when vote available-. A supply of willow Eil ips to be .provided foi Turnbull river protection, and the district engineer to be interviewed regarding a grant for protection work. From Overseer Mi)l«er, reporting regarding Petersen road works; timber .account for Middle Branch bridge, drainage of Ferguson toad ; also grading of sattio; monthly report oil highways and district roads.—Received. The chairman stated Mr J. j. Mclhtosh had been, interviewed regarding gravel supply from his frontage. This had been offered on payment of £SO, but the town members found th© amount w.a« outside their jurisdiction. After further consideration the committee resolved to refer the matter to the Council. In the meantime the contractor had boon requested to carry out the contract in terms of his tender.

An -account of £1 6s for timber f° r Middle Branch bridge was approved. The Overseer was requested to attend to the drainage of Ferguson road with available -labour. It was decided the Council had not the funds to .recondition the road surface.

From Inter-Wanganui Dairy Coy., Harihari, asking permission to remove boulders from graved pits—Received land agreed to. From M. Sullivan, Weheka, with regard to work on'Gillespies’ track—- . Received, a report on the condition of the track’ and works required was asked (for.

■prom 11. J.' 'Reynolds, Wait-aim', with respect to Hokitika Gorge footbridge contract, stating be was - not advised of the .full 'specification,, and offering to adjust the matter—Received. It was ■resolved to call fresh tenders for the work returnable at the Council meeting. The committee considered offers for ■a -light truck, final decision being deferred for' the Council meeting to await further particulars. Attention to Adand road, Kokatahi, was approved.

district roads report, The Overseer (Mr W, Millnor) reas follows in respoct to Cwsty roads during May:— NORTHERN RIDING Unemployed labour was usefully en-

gaged in clearing and repairing portions of Kumara to Ivapitea, Kumara Beach, Kumara, Awatuna, One Mile, Arahura Valley 'and Blue Spur Arahura Roads; clearing Stafford cemetery, clearing 'Hatters, Duffers and Arahura Rivers tracks; assisting .with repair, clearing and cleaning drains and watei'tables on the .main highway, clearing standing timber in Humphreys School ground and cleaning drains B°ud’s outlet. Unemployed labour with the roadman (Mr Olderog), continued with clearing .and excavating a waterway and placing 36 inch diameter pipes on Bx 4 sills,in the waterway of Black Bridge on Blue Spur Arahura Road. On completion this culvert will replace the present bridge which is very defective. To date 15/36 inch diameter concrete pi pee have been placed i,n position on Bx 4 longitudinal sills, and covered with filling for 45 lineal feet in width, at bottom 49 l.neal feet in length and between 13 and 14 feet in height over pipes, and 8 feet in .width on top. On, compilation the filling over pipes will be' 28 feet in height, 49 feet in length, 60 feet in width at toe of batters, and 16 feet in width ■On top of roadway. In addition 309 links of new road will be necessary at the southern end of bridge. The party employed are good workmen, but it will be 10 to 12 weeks before the work is completed.

.CENTRAL RIDING. Unemployed iabour assisted by. efis-u-al6 were engaged in opening 12 chains of drain on Kokatahi Road; repairing motpr.j, ssor on the secondary highways, cleaning 25 chains of Lang Road drain, j clearing, cleaning drains and watertaWes on Lake ICanieri Road ; constructing a,n 18 inch diameter pipe culvert; replacing a defective culvert on Whitcombe Valley Road; filling gravel for repairs to Stations. Upper (Municipal and Hokitika Flat ro:ds ; clearing drains on Cropp Road ; assisting with fencing at golf links; filling a hole and metaljijng a short section of South Hokitika to Mannnui Road; clearing Ruatapu Bench Road and a portion of road on the eastern bank of Mahinapua Cheek; .also removing a large wind blown tree on Militown Road. Casual labour repaired the road leading to ford crossing of Kokatahi River to connect with Koiterangi Road. SOUTHERN' RIDING.

Kakapotahi bridge protection : This work was practically completed for th© distance specified, , the balance of the grant will be extended in repairing or renewing "two nets upstream which appear to be subsiding. La -.Fontain© Road extension; Work ,'wae not possible during the greater portion of the month owing to the continued rainfall rendering the formation too s oft to cart over. To date 600 links of metalling 10 feet in .width, and 12 inches in height, also one turnout require completing. All the work .performed by ttie contractor is very satisfactory. : Petersen Road extension: Wet Weather has prevented any metalling being completed during the month and work (has been confined to .reforming low places and constructing a 12 inch diameter concrete pipe drain, Three Mile Creek bridge ; The work of construction has not commenced owing to the contractor being a patient in Westland 'Hospital. A quantity of material is On the ground in readiness to commence operations as s oon a s Mr Casey returns to duty. Graham Road metalling ; This work has beer, delayed by bad weather, the metal pit being flooded for wme time. The contractor has -completed 16 chains of -metalling and the balance of the work will be completed during next month.

MAINTENANCE. Unemployed (labour was usefully engaged in clearing ,a portion of “Redman’s Road ; filling the lorry fo r repairs to portions of. Waitaha Settlement Road; casual labour cleared a large wind blown tree from Totara Road; constructed a planked crossing at the river overflow on Kakapotahi bridge approach; repaired boggy portions on the lower end of Happy Valley track.No 1 lorry and the Austin grader commenced grading Wataroa Roads and six miles of road were graded at the end of the month; also repairs to portions of Wataroa Flat Road, including some gravel filling over the concrete pipes in Whale Creek, The resident roadman a,t Harihari (attended to to the various roads in the Inter-Wanganui district, including an approach each to M. Connolly’s and W. Muir’s holding, Poerua Road. Unemployed labour attended to repairs to Okarito Road and the Waiho Domain ; also assisting with road work at Haribari; also clearing and improving Ruatapu school ground.

HIGHWAY’S REPORT. The Overseer (Air (Miliner) reported on the progress of work on secondary highways during May. Kanicri-Koiterangi.—The road surface •was repaired from Kaniori to McArthur (Road, the terminus of the highway, the. greater portion being attended to twico using 65 cubic. yard« of gravel from roadside dumps and 55. V cubic yards carted by No. 5 lorry. The power grader was used' re surfacing over a distance of seven miles. GoMto and blackberry growth were cleared from the roadside for a distance of 700 Jinks, land the cutting ,at Lake Ro. d Junction widened a further distance of ICO ’inks; also ,a drain for 201 links on the northern side of the road at the seven mile peg. One defective plank Bx 4, 1/16, was removed and replaced cn Kokafcahi bridge.

Upper Kokaiahi Road.—Moto r worn holes wore repaired a distance of 60 ■chains, gorse innd blackberry cleared a distance of 1000 links. A drain two

feet by Ift. 6in. was constructed °n the norther,a side of the road for 400 jink's -in length ,’to prevent drainage from accumulating a.t the- roadside.

Lake Kanieri Road.—-Motor worn holes, scorns and depressions were repaired gravel a' distance of 5 miles, .Intertables’ were cleaned and blackberry and other growth cut a, distance of 300 links. The road was widened a distance of 300 links and drains ■cleaned for 400 ii-nk s in 'length. Wataroa Settlement. —No repairs •weie effected to this road during the month, but 7/18 inch diameter pipes wore carted and placed on the roadside in (readiness for culvert construction. " The meeting adjourned at 9.15 o’clock.