GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1929, Page 2

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

TO-DAY’S MEETING.

The Grey County Council met this morning, Mr J. Byall presiding, in the absence of the County Chairman, Mr J. W. Hannan, over an attendance of the following:—Crs A. McDonnell, W. T. Ogilvie, H. G. Carter, A. Donnellan, A. Robertson, G. Blair and Messi’s J. Higgins (County engineer) and M. Keating (County clerk). Authority was received from the Public Works Department for the expenditure of £lOO on formation, metalling, side-draining and culvertin g on a section of 16 chains of the Inchbonnie Road. —The Engineer reported that the work was in hand. Goldfields revenue for the period from June 16 to July 30 totalled £872 14/1. _ -r The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, wrote that the position regarding completion of the remaining 2g miles of the Mitchell s to Inchbonnie section of the Kumaia Inchbonnie Road was that an engineering survey had been carried out, but he understood that the council was of opinion that preference would be given to the completion of the Haupri Junction to Haupiri and Lady Lake-to Bell Hill roads. Nevertheless an item of £2OOO was included for consideration the forthcoming Estimates, and the Minister considered that the completion of the road was a very desirable work, in view of the fact that it repre-. seated the final link in a long reading circuit which would be of great benefit to the settlers. However, in view of the large sums which would be required this year for the Haupiri to Haupiri Junction and Lady Lake to Bell Hill roads, and also for other roads in the same district, there did not appear to be much possibility of anything being authorised for Mitchell’s to Inchbonnie Road. The matter was one more for attention of the Council, as, in the event of it being found possible to make provision on the Estimates, it would rest with it to decide whether the amount should be allowed for in its allocation of Government grants for the year. Mr Higgins said that he had supplied the Public Works Department with plans, and had been informed by the District Engineer (Mr T. A. J ohnston) that there was a possibility of unemployed men being engaged to do tflie work. The Department intended to put off a number of men at present employed in the locality of Punakatki and Charleston, and the proposed work would be suitable to keep tnem going. The council had already filled its quota for the year and the engineer could see no other way of making provision for the work, as the other roads mentioned and the four bridges on the Greymouth-Punakaiki section were of more importance. Cr Robinson, when moving that it be asked that the construction of the road be undertaken as unemployment relief work, made it clear that it should not be allowed in any way to interfere with provision of the bridges, which were of prior importance. The Prime Minister wrote that the Council’s representations regarding the desirability of a water supply for Blackball township had been referred to the Minister of Health for consideration.

The Clerk said that there had been no reply from the Minister of Health, but that, judging'by the reply to the Runanga Borough Council’s similar request, he considered that the application had not a ghost of a chance of being approved. At rhe suggestion of the Chairman, the Minister will be asked for a reply to the Council’s representations. Mr William Goss, of Christchurch, was granted, a s a mining privilege, renewal of a license for a tramway at Irishman’s Track, Hohonu. Messrs Stratford and Blair were also granted a renewal of a similar license.

Mr J. Hahn, of Moana, protested against Mr Peat cutting a drain through the back of his section into liis rented property. It was draining a pig run, and the writer refused to clean such drainage from the section of drain through his land. In the summer time it would cause no end of trouble and would be a danger to health. Mr Peat was absent but had given instructions for the work to be carried on, and the correspondent contended that it should be stopped without delay. On the motion of the Chairman, it was decided to forward the letter to the local health officer.

The Runanga Borough Council asked the Council to hand over to the Municipal body a strip of road reserve along the north side of the Seven Mile road between Pitt Street and Dunollie Road. At present the land is lying idle, being of no use to the County, but the Runanga BorougTi Council considered that it might be able to make some use of it. The Engineer said that the Council •had agreed in June to alter the boundary by changing it lo the west side of the road, thus throwing the whole of the road into the borough. lie would advise the Borough Council to that effect.

The Council received a copy of a resolution of the Greymouth Borough Council asking co-operation with that body and the Greymouth Harbour Board in an endeavour to establish a landing place for aircraft in or adjacent to Greymouth. The earthquake had proved the value of aircraft in an emergency, and tne Council considered that immediate steps sfiould be taken to provide facilities necessary for the landing of machines. The Chairman said that the invitation was only a preliminary step. He moved that the Council co-operate. — The motion was carried. •

Cr Carter emphasised the point that no authority to incur expenditure was involved.

Cr Robinson : We are to co-operate, provided that it costs us nothing ? Cr Carter: I would not say that. Mrs. Hayes, of Ahaura, had applied for lease of a road reserve near the Ahaura Post Office. It was pointed out that a lease could not be granted, but it was left to the Engineer to deal with the matter of permitting the applicant to 'occupy the land. On the day of the previous meeting Councillors had visited Paroa and inspected Valley Road, but their attention was drawn to-day by the engineer to the fact that they had not recorded any decision. Cr. Cartel 1 said that the Council had agreed that it was not in a position to have the work d'one this year, and he moved that that decision be recorded. In reply to Cr. Robinson’s suggestion that the wording of th© motion be altered to “that consideration be deferred.” Cr. Carter claimed that it was no use doing that as the Council knew that it whs not in a position to do anything this year, much as he regretted it. At the chairman’s suggestion, he

added that the Council would endeavour to include the item in next year’s work. The motion was then carried.

With reference to the proposed removal of some trees on the roadside at Camerons, the engineer reported that the Chief Postmaster had agreed to provide half the men and plant. Mr. Higgins considered that to be a good offer, and the matter was left to him with power to act.

Belated receipt of approval of plans for the Moana River and other bridges caused the chairman to ask if there was any reason'for the delay. Mr. Higgins replied that it seemed that more money was put on the estimates than was actually spent during the year, and approval of one third of the plans was held over until after March 31. This year, however, they had been unduly delayed. The engineer reported upon the state of the county machinery plant, and he recommended that a new oneton and a-half truck be purchased. On the motion,of Cr. Robinson that was agreed. (Proceeding.)