COUNTY OF GREY, 1877-1928

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 February 1928, Page 30 (Supplement)

COUNTY OF GREY, 1877-1928

'T’HE Grey County Council, which under the provisions of the Counties Act of 1876, was established in that year, met for the first time on January 4, 1877. The first Council to be elected consisted of Messrs Guinness, Woolcock, McGuire, Drennan, Taylor," Purcell, McLaughlin, Noonan and Foley. (Sir) A. R. Guinness, who later represented the Grey District in Parliament from 1884 till 1913, was the first County Chairman and under his able guidance, the interests of the County were well and carefully handled. The Paroa Road Board which formed part of the County at its inception was formally dissolved in 1880 and the entire district from the Taramakau River in the south to Punakaiki and Big Grey River in the North came under the jurisdiction of the-County of Grey. The total area of the County is 1594 square miles with a grand total of 288 miles of metalled roads within its borders. The roads which radiate from dreymouth, extend from Punakaiki in the North to Taramakau in the South. The completion of the road to Westport early next year will see a highway from Karamea to Waiho, which for scenic attractions has no rival In the Dominion. The Main Highway runs from Greymouth to Reefton and Grey to Hokitika with branch roads (Stillwater-Ruru, Ngahere-Roa, Ngahere-Moonlight, Ngahere-Bell Hill, Ahaura-Haupiri, Totara Fiat-Gran-ville, Big Grey-Waipuna). From Paroa branch roads lead to Dunganville and Greenstone, thence from Greenstone to Mitchells (Lake Brunner) and Taramakau Settlement. An important arterial road which will open up the rich Poerua and Inchbonnie Settlements will be open to traffic during the year. The route of this road will be -from Stillwater to Kotuku, thence via Bell Hill, Rotomanu to Inchbonnie. The County is therefore served with a very complete reading system, full credit for which must be given to the Engineer, Mr.* John Higgins, who since 1880 has devoted a whole lifetime to the reading of the County of Grey. Mr. Higgins who joined the Council staff in 1880 as Road Overseer, was appointed Engineer in 1884 on the death of Mr. J. Butler, the then Engineer. Mr. Higgins has been associat-

ed with the County ever since and the roading system of the Grey District is a striking testimony to his engineer-

ing skill and ability The advent of the motor has had the effect of revolutionising all methods of road maintenance and the County of Grey has kept pace with the times, so muq|i so, that the roads in the Grey .district compare more than favourably with the metalled roads in many parts of the Dominion. The Council possesses a very complete road making plant, the cost of which runs to well over £7OOO and includes a road roller, stone crushing plant, four tip motor lorries, McCormack Deering tractor and road grader, two road graders and scarifier, in addition to bridge building plant and motor garage and equipment. The Council adopted the patrol system in 191§ for maintaining its roads, being one of the first councils in the Dominion to adopt the “patrol” system. A permanent staff of some twenty-six roadmen and mptor drivers is required to look after the 275 miles of road, the maintenance cost of which now runs into £16,000 per annum. Heavy motor lorries which are engaged in the sawmill and coal mining indus-

tries are responsible for meeting the increased cost of maintenance, whilst the very heavy tourist traffic to the many scenic resorts in the country also helps to swell the expenditure on the various highways. The Greymouth Westport coast road, which should be open for traffic within the next twelve months, presents a wonderful panorama of forest, mountain and ,sea, and nowhere in the Dominion is to be found such a wealth of scenic gran-

deur. Raging mountain torrents, surmounted with iron-bound bluffs and towering cliffs, the road winding in and out amidst semitropical vegetation with the sea hundreds of feet below. The panorama from the NineMjle Bluff looking* north is one of the most magnificent views to be found on any road in the Dominion. The road also passes through one of the greatest coalfields in the Dominion, no less than a dozen coal mines operating alongside the road and all within a few miles of Greymouth. Punakaiki' with its famous Blow Holes is among the show places on the route and the tourist can spend a very pleasant day in the immediate vicinity. A first-class camping ground is available whilst the Pororari Beach has few rivals in the Dominion as a surfing resort. Another road of historic and scenic importance is that which runs from Greymouth to Lake Brunner via Kumara, Greenstone (Pounamu) and Mitchells on the south-eastern shore of the Lake. The road follows the sea coast for eight or ten miles and then passes through the famous Kumara and Greenstone goldfields. The. last seven miles of the road passes through one of the finest pine forests in the Dominion. The road through the Pounamu district is of historic interest to the pioneers as it was here that the first payable gold was discovered. Greenstone now is a thing of the past as there are only two alluvial claims in operation. Both of them, however, still show profitable returns and tlie Hohonu Sluicing Coy. is well worthy ot a visit -of inspection. The company is working a 300 ft. face, and a good

idea can be obtained of what the Greenstone field was like in the roaring sixties. — Cost of Construction The Government recently asked for a return showing the capital cost of the roads within the Dominion and the figures for the Grey County make interesting reading. Road making was fraught with rare difficulties, the heavy bush had first to be cleared, the many rivers, creeks and even small water courses had to be provided with bridges and culverts, whilst the rough nature of the country that had to be traversed all helped to add to the difficulties and cost of construction. Up to the present time, the 288 miles of metalled roads has cost £459,794. The figures for the Main Highway from Ikamatua to Taramakau (33 miles)

being £121,880. Greymouth-Punakaiki (27 miles) £90,354. Grey Valley-Tara-makau (not yet completed) £25,834. Arnold Valley (13 miles) £22,625. Grey-Kumara (via Marsden) 16 miles £ 54,950. Greenst.one-Inchbonnie (16 miles) £16,969. Ahaura-Amuri (23 miles) £13,513. The cost of construction has been borne as follows: General Government £264,955. Grey County £194,839. The cost of maintenance, with the ever increasing mileage of roads and heavy traffic has advanced by leaps and bounds. Prior to the advent of the motor in 1913, the cost of maintenance amounted to £.6000 whilst last year the figures totalled £16,000. Th© Councillors

During the past half,a century many distinguished men have given their services to the County of Grey and one of the most remarkable features of the County’s history is the fact that most of them have died in harness. Mr. Joseph Taylor of Cobden is perhaps the one exception as he was a member of the first Council in 1877 and is still a “live” member of the community being still actively engaged in opening up the district’s natural resources. Sir Arthur Guinness and Hon. Jas. Marshall who both filled the position of County chairman on several occasions, have also distinguished themselves in the Parliament and Leg-

islative Councils of the Dominion. One of the most outstanding figures in the history of the County of Grey is that of the late Michael Hannan who represented the Paroa Riding from 1889 till his death in 1919. The late Cr. Hannan occupied the chair in 1892, 1898, 1905, 1907 and 1915 and it was mainly due to his knowledge of mining and local body legislation that the Council to-day is in the same financial position it occupies. The Royalties from the sale of timber, which is the Council’s principal source of revenue, were carefully safeguarded during his term of office, and the necessary legislation placed upon the Statute Book to this effect. Another member in Jeremiah McCarthy who served as County Chairman in 1891, 1898, 1906 and 1921 also holds a long and distinguished record of. service in connection with the County of Grey whilst Denis Ryall, Robert Harris, James Hargreaves, William McKechnie, James Finn, Richard Larkin, Adam Blair, Patrick Ryder, John Tindale, Patrick Donnellan and John J. Greaney are names that have all been closely .connected with the history of the County

of Grey. The Present Council . Cr. J. Ryall who occupies the position of County Chairman has been a member of the Council- since 1891, having represented Cobden and Barrytojvn districts. Since the above date Cr. Ryall has been elected unopposed since joining the Council and he has proved a most energetic member for the County as a whole. It is mainly owing to ■ Cr. Ryall’s efforts that the Greymouth-Westport road is now within measurable distance of completion and it is to be hoped that the linking up of the two great coalfields of the Dominion will be fittingly celebrated before the close of the Jubilee year. Cr. Ryall is also a member of the Greymouth Harbour Board and the Crown tenants’ representative on the Westland Land Board. Cr. Baybutt represents the Riding of Waipuna which includes Totara Flat and Ahaura districts and has been a member of the Council for

many years having succeeded to office at the death of the late Hon. Jas. Marshall. Cr. Baybutt has filled the position of chairman on two occasions and has been a prominent figure on Grey Valley Goldfields during the past 50 years. Cr..Baybutt-is now farming at Red Jacks and Ngahere. James P. Irvine has been a member of the Council since 1914 having represented the Brunnerton Riding for the past 14 years. Cr. Irvine has been identified with the Blackball district for many years. Prior to the construction of the Blackball Bridge and railway to Blackball, he conducted the coach and carrying business from Ngahere to the mining township. He then went into the hotel business at Blackball and Roa. Cr. Irvine is also a member of the Grey River Hospital Board, being one of the County, representatives. He occupied the position of County Chairman in 1920, the Royal visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales being the chief event of that year.

Cr. J. W. Hannan who was elected to fill the vacancy for the Paroa Riding caused by the death of his father, has occupied a seat on the Council since 1919 and has occupied the chair

on three occasions since; Cr. Hannan is also chairman of the Grey Hospital Board, a position he has occupied since 1920.

Cr. H. G Carter was elected for Red Jacks Riding in 1922 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late

Jeremiah McCarthy Cr. Carter has distinguished himself with the farming interests in the County and has filled the position of President of the West Coast Farmers’ Union. Cr. W. T Ogilvie represents the Marsden Riding having succeeded Cr. J. Greaney who represented this riding for many years. Cr. Ogilvie is managing director of Ogilvie & Co, Ltd., and’ has been a prominent figure in the sawmilling industry for many years. Cr. A. Robinson Iffis been a member of the Council for the past ten yeays, having represented the Hohonu Riding since 1917. Cr. Robinson has been

identified with the farming and pastotal industry in various parts of the County.

Cr. Donnellan, amative of Nelson Creek, has represented the Nelson . Creek Riding for the past two years. Cr. Donnellan has followed gold-min-ing industry for many years, but during the past few years has turried his attention to milling. Cr. Gordon Blair is a member of the well-known Blair family who have been pioneers in the early coaching days of the goldfields tend later pioneers in the timber industry. Cr. Blair, who represents the Maori Creek Riding is also a prominent figure in the milling industry. > Officials and Staff The first County Clerk, Mr. James Payne, was appointed in 1877 and held > office till his death in 1888 being replaced by Mr. M. Phillips who filled the position from 1888 till 1916. Mr. Phillips in addition acted as secretary for the Grey River Hospital Board. Mr. m; J. Phillips succeeded his father from 1916 to 1920 and the present Clerk, Mr M. Keating has filled the position since 1920. Mr. J. Butler was the first Engineer but the hardships and privations experienced in the early days of the County proved too severe and he died at the early age of 42. Mr. John Higgins succeeded Mr. Butler as Engineer and he stilt retains his position. Mr W. P. Fraser has also had a long and honourable connection with the County of Grey having acted as assistant to. Mr. Higgins since the inception of the County. Mr. Fraser who is one of the pioneers of the Grey District, has been.on the Coast since the sixties and has helped to survey and map out the road routes from one end of the Coast to 4he other. Mr. Fraser retired some three

years ago but he still retainsjhis interest in County matters, being now* caretaker at the County chambers.