COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1933, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL

WESTLAND FINANCE MEETING

BUSINESS LAST EVENING

The committee met at 7.35 p.m. Present: Messrs W. Jeffries (County Ch'airman) J. A. M. Keenan, W. A. Jamieson.

The minutes of the .previous meeting were confirmed.

The accounts for the month of September were presented, examined and recommend for payment, the amount totalling £2338 8s 9d. CORRESPONDENCE. From relatives of the late M. Fitzgerald, acknowledging expression of i sympathy'in recent bereavement. —Received. From J. O’Brien, M.P., notifying I death of Mr H. E. Holland, AI.IL, Leader of the Labour Party, and advising as to the -funeiial arrangements.—Received, and resolution of sympathy passed. The chairman (stated a wreath had been procured on behalf of the Council. • ■/ From Public Works Department and Treasury, advising remittances to the credit of th© county fund account. —Received.

J From Bank of New Zealand in regard ±o. imprest account.—Received . and referred to audit inspector, From the district engineer, stating . provision had been made on the estimates for a grant for,Lime Kiln Road, | Koiterangi.--Received,; ■; ■ J From -same, stating provision had '.been made for the approach to Three Mile Creek bridge, 'Okarito, on the estimates, and asking that proposals for expenditure be submitted.—Received.

i • From sain© with regard to Harris Creek bridge, Koiterangi,- and detailing suggestions with regard to specifications and the substitution of. local j timber for hardwood.—Received, | Mr H. J. Reynolds on the same • subject, making an offer in respect jto • substituting lopal timber, which ■ would effect, a saving in the cost of the structure.—Received . Mr Reynolds attended arid it was resolved to , recommend approval heart of totara. From the district engineer advising for the informaton of the Council, proposals for the current year’s estiriiates, and stating 'that, the' department was prepared-to receive proposals in respect to works to be dealt with by the Council, so that urgent matters coukl be /put in hand as soon as possible.—Received with thanks and Council’s quota approved.

| From overseer, Public Works Department, reporting • oit large hole adjacent to the highway at Woodstock, and statjng tha’t Steps were taken to deal with sawie.-by. cutting off water from old workings,—Received, to be attended to.

From Marine/Department replying that total amount received for the remuneration of the signalman at Okuru, £3O, could not bo.exceeded,—Received, From the Commissioner of Grown Lands, Hokitika, replying that it had been decided to reserve provisionally ■an area of about five acres at Okuru as a resting place for travelling stock in accordance with the request of the Council.—Received with thanks.

I From the Aledical Officer of Health notifying that the cemeteries at Hari- : hftri, AVataroa and , Okarito had been

placed under the control of the Council

in accordance with the provisions oi the Cemeteries Act.—Received. Horn the Mackenzie County Council Fail-lie, notifying proposal to hold ; South Island Counties Conicrem.. a Christchurch on November 9*h, siskin that a delegate be appointed to repre sent the Council, -and that any busi-ue®, proposed be submitted as. early u.s pos sible.—Received, the chairman a ll * treasurer appointed to atten’. From the lion, secretary, -School o Mines, Reefton, asking f<U a grant to •wards the funds for the mrinteiianci of the sell col.—Received. From J. O’Brien, ALP., forward in; copy -of the Invalid Pensions Bill, nov before Pririiament. —Received. From the Associated Motorists Petro Co. Lid., Wellington, pointing oui that through the effo,rt s of the com -pany a reduction, of 7,’d per gallor | per gallon had been made in the price of petrol since the company was founded, and asking support in -order that competition -with the foreign companies might /be maintained .and the price kept as low as possible.—Received and filed. From Kumalra Borough Council asking for assistance in respect to work at Kumatra cemetery.—(deceived and approved as lorry available. From the resident manager, Kanieri Electric iLimitecl,. stating the company is willing to co-operate in an investigation of the conditions at Lake Kanieri to determine the extent of damage complained of by Mir Andrews, as it Wag believed the rosults would show the damage to ibe negligible and of infrequent occurrence.—Received, advise Mr Andrews with copy of letter. Council accepted no liability in matter. From the County solicitor reporting with regard to the deposit of tailings at Shenandoah Creek, and pointing - out the liability incurred unddr the Alining Act.—-Received.

From John Marks, Kanieri, agreeing to refrain from depositing tailings in

Hail Hau Creek, Blue Spui* read—Re- j ceivcd as satisfactory. ] From James Don°va' n , M.C-'C., re-, porting the necessity of clearing Rotokino 'Road, also stating that J. Thom-p-i son, applicant frir Okarito Ferry, is not inclined to'accept the salary of-j fered.—Received. . -

From James Thompson, Okarito, of- j fering to take up the position o-f ferry- j man at 'Okarito at' £1 per week.—Re- j ceived and declined. , |

From J. C- Christensen, Okarito, ' calling attention to the necessity of making a small .bridge'across the track through AlcChiggage’s bush, estimating the‘cost at £sj. also ' stating that the track ovelr Oameroa Flat is in a -bad ) way and. requires attention.—Received, and culvert' work. approved. j From R. J. Graham conveying an offer from J. Curtain to extend Graham Road at a cost of £so.—Received and referred to Council meeting. !

From F. G. Williams - and Sons, 1 Weheka reporting, damage' by Clear- j water Creek, estimating cost of repairs at £3O, and offering, to /'do the work if the Council would supply ten wire crafios.— -Received, find ‘urates to be j supplied, / , | From John -Condon. 1 ATahitahi, reporting on behalf of the! Bruce Bay com-' mittee ns regards the : road wricks, and appreciating the report supplied by the, chaarma-n. —Received. : i From W. D. Nolan, ©ml behalf of the j 'Okuru district committee, i reporting on works put in hand in connection with the chairman's'.visit, end stating the.

planting of willows and the fencing ■ were now well in hand, also staring > that it was intended to remove the i goods shod on the north beach to a j t place of greater safety.—Received, to ; inquire -if Air Buchanan’s planting had - been done as promised. { From the Health Officer monthly - report regarding seven visits in the 1 country district.—Received. j From Overseer Millner monthly re- ’; port on district works and also in re- .! speet to highways.—Received. > From saine reporting with regard jto the delay in respect to Little r j Wanganua track by Hewer and party.

• j —Received, work to be completed at contractor’s risk and expense. ! From same reporting with regard to ; the deposit of tailings in Shenandoah ■ Greek.—Received. From P. Heslan, Kokatnhi, objecting to diversion of Doughboy creek, ; K-oiterangi.—Received, no action takj on as matter not under consideration. | From H. Growcott, similar objection. ! —No action. From A. C. Gralmm and others asking repairs to borough boundary track, South Hokitika. Received and referred to the overseer. From J. F. AlcKay, Harihnri, regarding road works.—Received 'and referred to overseer. From ,T. Donovan, Okarito, respecting works in Okarito district, Received and approved, overseer to | supply material for ferryman's hut at Okarito. r OVERSEER'S MONTHLY REPORT. WORK DONE DURING SEPTEMBER The County Overseer (Air W. MiUnor). reports on work in the Westland (County during September as follows p Northern Riding, ‘Atalfroy’s bridge protection. £IOO grant. This work was in hand on 'September 20 and on the 30th a loosp manuka scrub fascine was laid for M 0 feet, absorbing 300 yards -of manuka s crub. A loaded fascine of manuka scrub and stone enclosed wiriiin a continuous wire was also placed in position, and short portion of bank partly eroded, sheathed with manuka scrub ; anchor rope<s to secure the fascine were constructed. Alaintenance: Unemployed labour w.,-)s engaged in improving Kumai'a Junction school ground, clearing creek ne.ar the Junction, assisting to construct Kumai’a swimriiing baths, clean-'

ing watertables, and repairing Kumara and Terema-kau Settlement roads, clean, ing dr-ain s at Stafford, clearing Fourth Terrace and Balkfcat -Hill track, cutting

manuka scrub for Malfroy’s Ibridge protection, filling gravel for repairs', to Arahura Valley . a «d Blue Spur-Arahura roads, clearing track for prospectors be-

tween I,eft Hand Branch and Humphrey’s, running stone- from Arahura river bed and repairing. One Mile road. CeJiti'al Rddiiig: Lake Kariicri road protection, £l2O grant, protective work consisting of five courses of manuka scrub, and stone enclosed within continuous wive nets anchored with wire ropes. On the eastern side of McKay’s Greek a damaged groin was restored, short eroded portion .was protected with two .wire net s and a quantity of loose stone. The northern abutment to Kanieri. river bridge was protected with manuka scrub and stone.

Hokitika Gorge suspension bridge. The contractors for this work had almost completed the bridge and track, and several small extras to be attended to, would occupy them till Tuesday, •October 10. The timber and other material used in the structure was of very -good quality and there was nothing to complain of in the workmanship which was good throughout. Kokatahi bridge protection £IOO grant, was continued, unemployed labour assisting in the work of construction which ponsisted of a manuka scrub apron retained in position by a manuka scrub and stone fascine enclosed wfcihin a continuous wire net for 130 feet.

Kokatahi (bridge repairs: A quantity of timber was carted to the bridge in readiness to oommenco repairs. Maintenance: Unemployed labour attended to repairs and cleaning watertables on the upper end of Blue Spur road, cleaning drain on Han hau road, cleaning and re-opening drains on Municipal and Koiterangi roads, clearing, cleaning and repairing Kaniori tram road, clearing (South Hokitika .and improving the road through the golf links, metalling low places on Kokatahi ford road and dressing a beam for renewal of footbridge at Dorothy Falls; also removing a quantity of stone from beaches on Ivanieri river to check further erosion of the northern bank.

•Southern Riding; Graham r°ad metalling and culvert. The contractor attended to the construction of a totara log covered culvert 16 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 3 feet high. Three Mile creek bridge. The contractor had advanced the structure fairly well during the month and with ordinary Aveather conditions the work should bo completed early in November.

Maintenance : The resident .roadman Attended to repairs to la Fontaine, Wanganui Flat- roads, and to the construction of a concrete pipe culvert on Robertson ro~.d, completion of metalling frontage to the public hall end the school at .Harihnr : . Repairs were effected by casual labour to Wataroa fI at and Purcell roads, also construction of concrete pipe culverts on Watnroai Flat road, and cleaning drains TiOan Block road. Unemployed labour attended to repairs t.o portions of Three Mile track, river track,

Otari to domain and cleaning road reserve of !gorse growth, clearing and improving Waiho do tin in. 'Casual lab-

our attended, to cleaving nn d cleaning wat ortablets' eg W'ooi.house road.

HIGHWAYS REPORT

Mr Millner reported on work done j on secondary highways as follows: —,- Secondary Highways; Unemployed labour was used principally in attend- , ing to repairs on Kanieri-Koiterangi j road for ten miles. Motor worn, holes i scours and slight depressions were re- j paired using 30 cubic yards of material j from roadside -dumps. A lorry w a s i -used in carting river beach gravel f U repairs to the flat on the western side of Morris Hill, asd beyond the seven j mile peg, 45 cubic yards being spread j on the road. The heavy King- Drag; lorry was Used to reduce the corruga-, tions for two miles.

take Kahiet'i Road*. Unemployed labour attended to 'repairs to depressions for seven miles; •water tab log were cleaned fw 500 links, and encroaching growth, cleaned from the lower side of the road below McKay’s 'Creek, a distance of 300 links. A short section was widened two feet in width beyond (Kanieri iriver bridge, and inlets of cnlvert s cleared beyond Coal .creek bridge. The vote available for protective work was expended in protecting the outer side of the road from further erosion at the point McKay’s Creek, renewing a groin that was partly destroyed ibelow the Power Company’s bridge ; protecting the point beyond McKay’s Creek ; also securing the abutment of Kanieri river bridge. . A portion of necessary timber was i procured for a new culvert near Ward road.

Wataroa- Settlement Road • Motor worn holes were repaired over the full length of road using fine material from the roadside.

GENERAL. The clerk submitted a list of outstanding rates in regard to which replies bad not been received. It was resolved to hand the list to. the County solicitor to take action.

The treasurer’s report for the half year was received and laid on the table.

The following tenders were received for metalling Petersen road extension, and construction of culvert.

James Adamson and party £B4 10s A. L. 0. Robertson £125.

B. Searle and party £135. J. and A. Woolhouse £147. The lowest tender was received for 'acceptance. The chairman reported the overseer had requested to be relieved of part of his duties by granting assistance and if the Council wished, Mr Millner offered to resign at the end of the year.

The 'Chairman and councillors expressed a desire to retain Mr Millno i* 1 s services and it was resolved to call applications for an assistant at £l7 10s per month, to take up duties on November 1. The overseer’s salary will be reviewed at the end of the year. Applications to be dealt with by the commitee on Monday next. Mr Milliter thanked the members for the arrangements made. Adjustment of payments in respect to .southern accounts was referred to the clerk.

The meeting adjourned at 10 p.m. till 7.30 o’clock on Monday evening to deal with 'applications for an assistant overseer.