COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19719, 9 September 1929, Page 7

COUNTY COUNCILS.

KAIKOURA. The monthly meeting of the Kaikoura County Council took place on Friday, present: Councillors James Boyd (chairman), D. Boyd, G. D. Smith, G. E. Parsons, E. H. Eccles, P. Curran, S. C. Heard, R. L. Withers, and Y. Robinson. The wharfinger submitted the monthly report as follows:—lnward cargo 261 i tons, timber 1704 super, feet: outward: 26 tons, wool and skins 24 bales and bundles. The Bank of New Zealand advised that an overdraft of £IO,OOO had been approved for the current year. It was decided to supply a report of woather and visibitly conditions to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and to co-operate with the Director of Air Services. It was resolved to inform Messrs Ilydo Bros. (Ferniehurst) that the Council had no intention of closing any roads near the Conway river. • The dog-tax collector was authorised to prosecute in all cases where dogs had not been registered. Approval was given regarding trasnfer of Lighthouse Reserve. The manager of the Australia, Ltd., Insurance Co. wrote as follows:—"I under stand that the Kaikoura Motor Co. stock up to 250 gallons of petrol in a small store at the rear of their premises, and that the JNew Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association also store up to 50 cases m another small shed near their premises. As this constitutes a distinct hazard to the block of wooden buildings in the centre of Kaikoura township, I would be glad to know whether your Council could take any steps to have the dangerous goods removed. Cr. Smith: What's your by-law? The chairman: The by-laws are not completed.

It was decided to ascertain the legal position, and take what action was necessary. Approval was given for the subdivision of Mrs T. Alexander's property, subject to the usual conditions.

Permission was granted the Kaikoura United Motor Co. to remove one petrol pump and reinstate another.

The Treasury advised that £1232 3s had ben placed to the credit of the Council, being a subsidy on rates collected. The Public Works Department advised that £696 17s 7d had been placed to the credit of the Council in respect of grants on main highways, and £l2 7s 8d in respect of sec ondary highways' payments. Mr N. M. Percy waited on the Council regarding access to his run. A letter from the Minister for Public Works was read, intimating that' the Council's request for a free grant for the road would be further considered when the Supplementary Estimates were being prepared. Mr S. J. Mogridge wrote stating that he had received no reply relative to N. Trolove's claim in respect of a contract which had been cancelled. The chairman said he and the Engineer had seen Mr Mogridge. but no arrangement had been arrived at. The chairman, Cr. D. Boyd and the county clerk were appointed a committee to take steps to secure unpaid rates from Native landowners.

On the motion of Councillor Eceles, seconded by Cr. Parsons, it was agreed to support the protest of the Progress League against the Government using money raised for a special purpose other than on the work which was intended by the Highways Board.

The chairman (Cr. James Boyd) said he desired to refer to the matter of County administration, and read the following report: "For the information of councillors, ratepayers, and the public generally I wish to refer to the unique position of the Kaiboura County Council as compared with other County Councils of the l- I ©million. Having, as it does not fewor than six different branches of local government, namely. County Council, Harbour Board, Electricity Supply. Domain Board, Health and Cemetery Board, coming umder Its jurisdiction, it therefore his a very Bsc tensive series of operations, so much so that without taking this fact into consideration ft ia impossible to make a fair and just comparison with our administration, and that carried out by any other County Council. When I first became a member of the Council, in 1902, its functions, as compared with the present day. were very limited, the total revenue all sources for that year being £2971. " or the year ended March 31st, 1923, the enue received by -the Council exceeded £17,000. "The new wharf was built during t.:e years 1907-8 at a cost of approximately £II,OOO. In connexion with this work a loan of £BIBB was raised, the security for such loan being a special rate over the whole of the county. The wharf having been established in the_ interests of the county and for the service of the coramun ity, naturally, is not a money-making con-, cern. Up to date the wharf has paid its

way. and as the loan charges have from time to time been paid out of revenue, the Council has not had any occasion to exercise its power to levy a special rate to meet snch charges. While the year 1957-28 commenced with a credit balance of £B6l 17s Bd, and concluded with a credit o£ £313 9s Sd, in addition to paying loan charges £368 10s out of revenue account, there was also a capitai expenditure of £4B 16s Id. The loan matures in 1935-36, and as there is every prospect of the district being then served by railway by that time there will then be no necessity for the wharf. The wharfinger's salary is £2OO per annum, overtime payments being debited to and paid for by the steamers. In accordance' with the requirements of the Audit Department the wharf accounts are kept at the County Office, this having been introduced some years ago. For thiß clerical work and supervision a charge of £SO per annum is made against the wharf account. "The Public Domains call upon the time and attention of the county engineer and the clerk, and as these domains are se-t aside as recreation grounds for the community the Council makes no charge against the domain accounts for the services of such officials.

"Public health matters also take up the time and attention of county - officials. No revenue is received from the administration under this Department. "While the Council has only recently been appointed trustees of the Kaikoura cemetery, it has already had extensive improvements effected. I have received numerous expressions of appreciation of these improvements, and the county engineer is to be congratulated on the work carried out; while I am a member of the Council I will certainly give every consideration to the care and attention of this sacred ground.

''l was not county chairman at the time that the electrical department was decided on, nor could I then speak with any knowledge or authority on the wisdom of the venture. At the time that the installation was decided on the information then furnished to the Council appeared to show it as a sound business proposition. Our first engineer even showed where it was possible for the gross profit to run to £3OOO. However, our sceond engineer informed us that the plant was not big enough to carry the load, with the result that people hesitated to connect with our system, and some already connected installed their own plant. Our third engineer now tells us that the plant is capable of doing much more than it is doing at present. Our plant is 42 k.w., and the average load carried during last year was 12.7 k.w. The highest peak load registered during the year was 28 k.w. The total load connected to the machine, including lamps, irons, motors, and heaters, is 105 k.w. The electrical department is I credited with the sum of £3OO per annum for street lighting: there are 41 street lamps, ! and the streets served are well lighted. ' "With reference to the question of cartage of coal from Parnassus to power-house, I would say that when the present engineer took over from Mr Girling on June 17th. 1925, the coal then arrived at the Council's wharf by steamer. At this time there were 258 bags at the wharf, and of this number he found only 54 fit for use, and those in poor condition for gas-making on account of salt water. He immediately got in touch with the company running an almost daily service to Parnassus, the Fishermen's Transport Company. They at first seriously objected to carry coal on their fish truck ou account of the dirt getting on the fish cases. Eventually they agreed to give it a trial at the same rate as the steamer charge, 27s 6(1. Since then, as the road business has increased, the Transport Company have reduced their charge to us as the current rates were reduced, first to 255, then to 22s 6d, and for some time past to 20s per ton. For this 20s per ton they handle all our railway business, thereby saving us a good deal of office work in connexion with the railway. The Transport Company have always given us good service. When the engineer changed over to the land transport, and paying the same rate as by steamer, his estimated saving was from 10s to 12s per ton, this saving being local cartage charges 6s, and also wharf charges at Lyttelton. "In conclusion, I take the opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the services rendered by the Council's official staff, their various duties being faithfully and efficiently fulfilled and the various departments working in complete harmony. While recognising that it is impossible for any person filling a public position to please everybody, these remarks have, I feel sure, the endorsement of all members of the Council and of the ratepayers generally." No discussion took place on the report. The engineer submitted a report covering works required in accordance with the loan proposals suggested by Cr. G. Smith, totalling £82,000. It was decided flhat councillors be supplied with a copy of the report, with a view to eliminating items not needed.

The electrical engineer reported that the revenue for the month amounted to £l4B 9s 2d and expenditure £122 7s 4d. It was decided to reduco the subsidy on kea beaks to 2s 6d.