COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1933, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL

WESTLAND 81-MONTHLY

MEETING

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS

The Westland County Council held its bi-monthly meeting ' yesterday whan 1 there were present Crs W. Jeffries (chairmhu), - T. R.Cheslerman, M. Keenan, J. A. Murdoch, J. Donovan, J. J.i McKay, B. Ward, W. Searle, and \) r . A. Jamieson.

' f The chairman; referred .to the passing of two old identiites.- in the county, AL\ Staines, a former member and chairman of the Council, and Mrs Jamieson, -mother of Or . Jamieston. It was decided, that letters of sympathy be [setlt-vflo.; the relatives, • and that the Council's deep appreciation of their sterling services to the County he placed :on recod. ~ Members- stood in silence as a mark of respect. : . INWARD CORRESPONDENCE From Mrs James Kennedy and family,- Greymouth, thanking Council for kind expression of sympathy in recent bereavement.- . ... ... From M. J. Kennedy, Wellington, thanking Council for expression of, sympathy. From Treasury, notifying amount of accrued revenue to credit of County fund.—Received. From Public Works Department, for-, warding list of annual Estimates, advising Department wa* prepared to receive proposals for same, so that the necessary authorities can be obtained. —Received.: - - -. Council, Greymouth, with regard to proposals for Harris Creek ./bridge, advising same are. approved subject to some slight amendments. The Clerk enumerated the , amendments; and an agreement to do the work by' Sir Reynolds' was accepted. From Jas. O’Brien, M.P., Wellington, with respect to death of H. E. Holland, advising a wreath was procured on behalf of the Council; also conveying appreciation of Airs Holland and family, for kind consideration. —Received with .appreciation. From Westland, Branch Automobile Association, calling attention to the wandering stock nuisance on County roads,„ asking -if attention could be given to same; and also in respect to repairs to Dorothy Falls road. The: chairman said it 'Was. a- .' big problem; .and'iliad ;bepn ; 'before ‘ the • Council,•'before! In his the ■danger was not an .the county roads, but on the main highways. Cr Keenan m a fs responsible for supervision highways ? .The police, adR/ie Council ? The chairman : It is not the Council Or Jamieson' said that last evening he encountered stock on tile main on. -his. wav_li<mKL_jbutafteV gaining the - County roads he had seen none.

Cr Ward: We’ve tried several things in years past. We’ve had a ranger hut it was money thrown away. He was fully aware that stock on the road at night was a danger. However, he was of the opinion that any cattle on the road were not let loose deliberately, but had wandered there. His belief was that, if the owners could be discovered an official- letter should be sent by the Council warning against a repetition. The chairman: That is for County roads ?

Cr Ward: Yes. We have no control over the main highways. Cr Murdoch moved that the Westland branch be informed of the position, and asking ;if it could state definitely that the complaint referred to County roads. If so, and the Council were notified of the owners, the Council would issue a warning to them. ' The motion was carried.

It was further decided that the Council reply regarding the condition of the Dorothy Falls road, advising that the Council had always and would continue to give it its attention. Cr Murdoch said that the condition of the road was due in some measure to the unsafe speed at which some motorists traversed this road.

! From Canterbury-West Coast Highways League, advising of the chairman’s appointment to the League and asking for support in the campaign to be instituted. The chairman said that this matter was in reference to the proposal to ■bridge the Walmakariri on the road to the East Coast,

The Council appointed Cr Jeffries to represent it on the League. From W, H. Knowles, Rimu, thanking Council for appointment as Assistant Overseer. —Received.

From Dillmans Tennis Club, applying for two unemployed to be plated on tennis coui-t at Dillmans. The Clerk reported that available men were scarce there at present. It was -decided to supply the men when available.

From Wm. Ritchie, Koiterangi, asking for permission to erect a footbridge over Granite Creek, Hokitika Gorge, same to be charged against rate account.

The Overseer reported on Mr Ritchie’s plans for the construction. The chairman said .it was a question of whether the bridge was necessary. .

Cr Jamieson said that the bridge cross the gorge would be used more iv the public than the residents, as •i ha gorge was one of the beauty spots .in the district, and attracted many visitors.

Cr Jamieson said that in the spot ■ s proposed by Mr Ritchie, there Was no danger, but it meant a wetting in rossing. It would be a useful job, (though not actually necessary. He vould like to see the job done, at a .oiicoMower—fchan.^lmfc_quoted-:,by—ap-plicant. •

Cr Ward said thajt he would like

to sec applicant given a chance to earn Lis rate-money, hut if the Council thought it a useless job, well, they need not go- on with it. Tile Council decided that Mr Ritchie be instructed to go ahead with the construction, and that he be advised that ho would have a value placed on his work, and that that amount would be deducted from his rates.

From John Murdoch, Ross, advising Totara Road needs placing in order, recommending that a man be put or, for four days—Matter to be attended to.

From W. 0. Bienvirth, mining engineer, Ross, asking that Mt. Greenianri track be given immediate attention, cost about £lO.

Cr Searle moved that the Counci] accede to the request. If the Council helped Them, it stood to- receive revenue later in return.

Crs Donovan and Ward supported Cr Searle, but Cr Murdoch contended that the Council was not receiving anything in return. Cr McKay said that this question would continue to recur, and he would like something definite done. It was decided that the Council contribute £ for £ up to £o. From Win. Perry and Coy., on behall of Waitaha Timber Ltd., asking for permission to cross the Waitaha Valiev Ellis Creek, with a‘tramway—Granted.

From R. J. Graham, Matainuj, advising J. Curtain would make 10 chain. 1 of road, also bridge and culvert for '£6o.—Matter deferred. , From D. F. Demiehy and 23 others. ■Matninui, petition asking that immediate action be taken to improve and complete the Waitangi South bark to Roto Bridge road.—Matter attended to.

From S, R. Heyward Wailio Gorge, asking for £ for £ assistance towards approaches to two new buildings. The chairman thought the amount asked for too high. Further it raised the question of whether the Council should help in the matter of private ippro.aehes. O-n the other hand as n settler he might he entitled to something, hut not the amount asked. Tim matter was referred to the Overseer.

From Health Inspector, Greymouth, forwarding report of visits for October—Received.

From W. D, Nolan, Okuru, with respect to several district matters, and willow planting at Turnbull river. —Received.

From, same, forwarding report oncondition of Okuru and Arawata cemeteries. .

He urged that the Council carry out repair and protection work at Okuru. At Arawata, he said that the growth was impenetrable, but he did not think it was opportune to do anything at Arawata at present, as there vas nobody living there. On the motion of Crs Donovan and Senile it was decided that the repairs as ,suggested ; be carried out at "Okuru. From Overseer Millner, reporting on unprotected portion <of Arahura River

bank immediately below present terminus of Malfi'oy’s bridge protection, advising cost of protecting same which vas private property, would be £3O. Cr Ward said that the Council had recently spent money on the ap-, proaches, hut in this case the erosion vas below the' bridge. As it was private property, he felt therefore that Tie Council could not expend money m private land. The chairman said that this was the irinoiple that had always been upheld >y the Council, so nothing could be lone. From same, advising that repairs to Thorpe’s Creek bridge would cost £12.; dso repairs to Purcell Bridge, La Fonaine would cost £l6.—Received, to io attended to. From same, reporting on progress of •vork on County road s during past nontlT; also monthly report on highways.— Received. | From Harihari Box-making Coy., Ltd., He repo, asking •permission to use i tractor and trailer on the road for ran,sport of logs to mill.—Granted, on ■ondition that the Company undertake ■ny necessary repairs. From P. Purcell, Matainui, asking permission to erect cream stand on Vatai'oa Flat road.—The Council offered no objection. From Clias. Smith, Karangarua, asking repairs to access road, estimated to •ost £lO ■Referred to Brace Bay Ald■risory Committee. From A. R. Elcock, lor J. J. Mcln-

tosh,, notice of application lor prospecting license at Tucker Flat, for consent of Council in regard to road iffected.—-Council offered no objection, From Chairman Highways Council,

submitting terms for adjustment of Harris Creek bridge plan amendment to adopt local instead of imported tinv her for stringers,-—Received From H. : Reynolds, contractor, agreeing to allow £2O for stringers being charged,' and offering £l9 for filling approaches, reducing contract price to £253. —Received Overseer MUlner agreed to have portion of Ferguson Road attended to ns requested to by Mr J. Mineh n. R. J. Bradley and others, drawing attention to necessity for repairs to approaches to Malfroy’s bridge.

Cr. Ward said that the approaches were certainly steep, but he did. not think 'it necessary. No .action was taken.

Mr J. Sin, Ross, wrote stating that the road leading to hi s farm w a s in danger of being washed over by the Mikonui river, and soliciting attention. —Referred to chairman and ovenseer. The resignation of Mr H. Wells as /representative of the, ‘ •‘Central Riding on the Hospital Board, was received with regret, .and the of appointing his successor was referred to the finance committee. An anonymous letter was received. from an Okarito resident' criticising the administration of the Council. . The chairman-said that, it was not the I policy of the Council to deal with any j letter to which the writer failed to attach his signature. The letter, which was not .read, was ignored, the clerk 'briefly stating its contents,

■lt wa 6 decided that a title bo issued to Mr -Minehan in connection with the Little Wanganui ferry reserve, auid that Cr. Murdoch be thanked for his attention, On the motion of Or. iSearle the Overseer was instructed to lay off ground at the Hasrihari cemetery. Or. McKay asked df any steps to finalise the work of completing the work on jthe Little Wanganui track. The Overseer said that instructions had been given to do the work, and Mr Millner was instructed to have the matter attended to at once. Or. Keenan asked that attention be given to Seddon Terrace, HaviH’s joad and Adsirs road. It was decided that the work would be done when the grader was available. The finance committee reported that, on October 10, it received four tenders for Petersen road metalling and culvert, and accepted the lowest, James Adamson and party, £B4 10s, which had been approved by the Public Works Department. At the meeting on October 10, it was. intimated that owing to illhealth, the 'Overseer (Mr W. Millner), was/ftot able to carry on his duties as usual and contemplated resigning. After consideration, it was resolved to grant assistance by appointing an assistant at £l7 10s per calendar month. Mr Millner’s salary to be reviewed after December 31. In view of the urgency, the committee adjourned the meeting to Octobeir 16, calling applications for an assistant in the interim.

Twenty-seven applications were received, and W. :'H. Knowles of Pi mu, was appointed, taking up his duties on November 1. The committee, in .appreciating the services rendered, resolved to restore the last ten per cent reduction on the typiiste’s salary, as from October 1. The committee had authorised definite action in regard to suing for overdue rates, and a batch of summons has bean issued. It recommended the ."npoinfment of Mr E. W. Ffeenan, of Hokitika, to the vacancy on the Westland Hospital Board. It also recommended that the Controller and Auditor. General be asked to increase the limit of the imprest account to £IOO.

Or. McKnv, apropos of Petersen road, said that the On-noil should safeguard its interest's, and get the v-orth of its ■money. County money had been anpnt in at-!)veiling the road which should have been gre veiled before. He suggested that the Council should have some means of knowing the amount ef grovel that -was aoinrr on. TTp the Overseer’s. assurance that thi s was thr> cafie.

The-chairman said that the Council’s decision to fake steps to recover outstanding fates would meet with gen-

eral approval. There had been a tendency in some cases to ‘ think that

rates could be ignored, but the committee’s step in this direction should have the desired effect. /

The 'finance committee’s a’eport was adopted. An application to gravel an approach to a dwelling in the Kokafiahi township was approved, the matter being left to the Overseer. The value of the work by the Council was fixed at £2,. , Cr; Searle ' asked that authority be given for assistance in the ‘ matter of gravelling an approach to Mr Renders Harihari, this being, granted.

ORDER, PAPER. ’ The Chairman moved ‘‘That the accounts for 'the month of September. 1933, a s revised and,, approved by the Finance Committee, totalling £2328 8s 9d, he passed for .payment.—Canned. The Chairman moved .“That (the accounts for the month of October, 1933, as revised and recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amouning to £1976 12 S Id, b e passed for payment-—Carried. The Chairman moved “That Edward T. Stoop ■ be' appointed valuer of mining property in the County of Westland for the , ensuing valuation period.—Carried. Or. Keenan’s motion: “That in view of the amount of bicycle traffic between Kanieri > and Hokitika, that the Overseer be Instructed to prepare an estimate of/tar sealing 2ft. Gin. path in centre of Kanieri tram .from Kanieri to Gibson, Hokitika,. wijth a view to having work done by unemployed labour,’’ was withdrawn. He stated that, in ite place it wa,s proposed : to Jay 25 yards of gravel. (Or. Donovan moved “That the north hank Wataroa tr;»ck be cleared, repaired and deviated ’where washed away, at ,a cost not exceeding £lo.” Seconded by Cr. McKay and carried.