GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 August 1929, Page 8

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

YESTERDAY’S MEETING.

The following business was dealt with" at yesterday’s County Council meeting • after the . “Star” went to press:— The Health Department and Medical Officer of Health for the District, wrote in reference to the demolition order 1 on the Union Hotel, at Ahaura. The Chairman’s motion that the demolition order on the property be referred to the Public Trustee (how administering the estate concerned) was carried. A member pointed out that the recent earthquake had partially demolished the hotel. The Commissioner of Crown Lands forwarded a copy of the report submitted to the Minister of Lands on the request for access to Becker’s property, at Te Kinga, stating that favourable consideration could not be given. It was decided to send a copy of the letter, which gave the reasons for tlie refusal to allow access, to the Rotomanu Branch of the Farmers’ Union, which body referred the matter to the County Council originally. Before this was' decided on Mr. Mulcare remarked that it was unfortunate that the - owner ' of tlie land could not be helped j.n some way, "by giving him access. Cr. Robimson said that the road would cost too much money in comparison to the revenue of the land to which it would give access. The circumstances were unfortunate, but could not be helped. Cr. Mulcare continued that he would say openly that it was “damnable” that the Crown on the Coast should .take money in any -shape or form — rent — on second-class land. 'Every one knew that it was all right with first-class productive land, but on the Coast with the second-class land generally the type—the Crown should assist a settler- financially instead of taking his rent. He did not know the circumstances of the particular case, but. he objected to the‘‘princip le. Cr. Robinson thought that everyone realised that if there was any hope of getting access to the land, it would have been provided long ago. The area, he said, was between Te Kinga and Rotomanu.

The. Runanga Borough Council advised that the rubbish (lump at the Nine Mile had been cleared up and would be kept clean in future. The Briandale Colliery wrote statingthat the amount due by the Company as coal levy would be forwarded in due course. It was decided to write to other parties who had not yet complied with the agreement, asking them to do so. ■ An application from E. E. Williams to have the road continued past his property at Blackball (Dawes Street) was referred to Mr Higgins for a report. An appliication from the I’unakaiki Tennis Club for a donation towards laying down a court at I’unakaiki, was referred back to the Club, it to be pointed out that I’unakaiki came under the Buller County’s jurisdiction. | R. Mackley applied for permission to erect swing gates across Sneddon Road at Paroa. —It was decided to have the applicant notified that he would have to advertise the matter. Mr. Mackley also wrote pointing out the difficulty of negotiating the steep road grade to Paroa Railway station, asking that same be attended to. He

slated that in order to cart flax to the station a load had to be taken in half to transport it up the steep approach. —The matter was held over pending an inspection of the road. Applications for permission to erect tram-crossings were granted (under the usual conditions) as follow: —From Tbtara Flat. Sawmill Co., (across main road at Raupo); J. Brownlee & Co., (across Bell FTill-Ilaupiri Road); and Ogilvie & Co., (across Marsden-Dun-ganville Road). The 'New Zealand Farmers’ Union wrote asking that the Council consider the widening of the Greymouth-Coal Creek road at Cobden Hill. The Chairman (Cr. Ryall) in moving that the letter be received, stated he concurred with the view that the road was dangerous for a chain or so. The County Engineer pointed out that the Council was asking for so much this year that he did not think the work could be considered in the

1929 estimates. They had been* given £BOOO for bridges and £3OOO for road , improvements. It would be hard to 1 ask for money for the Cobden road .work on top of this. If they asked for the money it would not be given as a free grant like the other. It was decided to reply to the letter that in all probability money for the work would be on the estimates for next year. Referring to the illegal use of the Taramakau Settlement Road for-heavy carting the Engineer stated that the road was classified as a 21 ton road. The property adjacent had been taken up by Wallace & Co., who had been given permission to take one load over providing any damage done was repaired. The road had suffered no harm from, the one load' but.recently he had discovered that the road was being used by four-ton lorries...carrying..3 tons of timber,-the timber to be used in the construction of a mill. He had written the carting- firms and the timber people pointing out that the heavy carting .was breaking up the road and must be discontinued. The Engineer’s action was endorsed. Mr. Higgins also pointed out that a complaint had. been received from settlers using the Ahaura-Haupiri road, near Grand Creek, that mill sheds and skids were being erected so as to encroach too close to the road and endanger traffic and stock. The road was also a 21 ton class, and could be used with heavy loading by a sixwheeler. He had 'addressed a letter , to the owners of the mill, Wild and Robertson pointing out the complaint. Cr. Carter stated that he had been approached by some of the settlers concerning the matter. The obstruction he said would cause ordinary traffic trouble and perhaps result in loss of stock. He seconded the resolution that the mill people be asked to keep the sheds, etc., away from the road. Cr. Ogilvie said that the millers should be encouraged to open up the land by removing the timber. He was sure the people in the vicinity of the mill had not complained. Cr. Carter pointed out that the settlers did not wish to interfere with the industry, but had a right to complain if sheds etc., were 'obstructing the road. The resolution was passed. With reference to a request from a Paroa resident for attention to Dow, ling Road, the Engineer asked that ■ Councillors pay the area a visit of in- J specticn before discussing the matter. The Engineer pointed out that in connection with the estate of J. F. 1 White, of Ahaura, a garage was for ' l sale which he thought the Council 1 should acquire. At present, no gar.ag- I

ing facilities "were owned by the Council at Aliaura; and the section on which the building’ stood would prove handy for the purpose of erecting a workman's cottage. It was decided to negotiate for the purchase of the garage. The Engineer' reported on tenders received for the Haupiri Junction (Section 77), road, and Section 5, of the Lady Lake to Bell Hill road. For the former work one tender was received, from W. Burns, for £Bl6, the, estimated cost of the work being £673. For the latter Colton and O’Brien’s was the only tender, of £842, the estimated cost being £693. The Engineer stated that the tenderers had agreed to carry out tire works at the estimated cost. Cr Mulcare’s notice of motion “that the footpath on the main road to Blackball be constructed to the cemetery” caused considerable discussion. Speaking in support of his motion, Cr Mulcare stated that it was realised that in a mining township like Blackball, revenue was pretty hard to find. Consolidated revenue provided funds for country transport, roads' serving farming districts, but a township had to have streets and side streets, funds for which had to be provided out of the rates, and charged up to the riding, in this case the Blackball riding. The road in question led to the cemetery, unfortunately, as with other such roads, much used, by women and children, and the extension of the footpath was necessary. Cr Carter seconded the motion. The Blackball township was in the County and the expense would have to be stood up to. After some discussion, Cr Blair movojl that il the path is constructed the. money'.for it should come out of the year’s estimates. Cr Mulcare. said that 'he could not accept anything until he knew how the estimates were arrived at. Cr Carter: If the township is in the County we must put up with the expense. There is no need for a long discussion.

Cr Robinson: There is nothing against the footpath being constructed. It must be made clear that the money comes out of the estimates, however. Cr Blair was not against the footpath but did not think that the Council should have to bear the cost in the estimates of every £l5O job such as this. Cr Mulcare: Why grant two-thirds of the residents on the road the facility of the path and deny it to the balance. Cr Robinson stated that the matter could be discussed when the estimates were being considered at next meeting “then Cr Mulcare could get the rates put up to 5d if he wanted it.” After further discussion Cr Blair’s motion .“that the money for the path be taken out of this year’s allocation” was carried. Cr Mulcare asked if, in view of the Council’s credit balance of £2OOO over last year’s working, would any of that amount be required tor new road making plant” this year. The Engineer stated that two trucks were running at present, which would perhaps have to be scrapped. They were now running seven where there were only three. The trucks were earning money all the time and paying for themselves. The work was increasing enormously in that direction.