GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1929, Page 8

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Grey County Council took place to-day, the County Chairman, Mr. J. W. Hannan, presiding over an attendance of the following members: —iCrs. G. Blair, J. Ryall, H. G. Carter, A. McDonnell, A. Donnellan, and J. Mulcare. The Treasury advised payment oi £4761 12s 4d, comprising the following amounts:—Goldfields revenue for October, £694 8s 4d; Crooked River, £325; Moonlight Creek, £36; earthquake damage, £1005; Grey Valley— Taramakau, £180; Haupiri Junction — Haupiri, £706 4s; Main Highway, £275; Westport—Greymouth Road, £1535. . The Main Highways Board forwarded a copy of estimates for the current; year, totalling £35,760. Mr. W. T. Morpeth, Commissioner of Crown Lands, wrote regarding Mr. Edward Doherty’s letter, re reference to drainage requirements in Holland Street at Rapahoe, that when the town streets were being formed, for which provision is made in this year’s estimates, the Public Works Department would be asked to give the necessary attention to the drainage of Holland The Commissioner of Crown Lands advised that no further action would be taken relative to closing a road in Block V., Cobden Survey District (the road giving access at. Coal Creek to the Grey River), until an application lodged by Mr. Lynch for an area in the vicinity had been dealt with. The Bellvue Co-operative Coal Mining Company forwarded a cheque for £2O on account of royalty. Messrs. Hannan and Seddon applied for remission of rent due on the Terrace Gold Dredging Company’s claim. Approximately £2OO had been paid, and some £50,000 to £60,000 had been expended without any return to the shareholders or company. The County Clerk said that at present the Company was paying a rental of 7/6 per acre. The Chairman added that the directors in Auckland had asked that this year’s rental be remitted. Cr. Mulcare felt that the Company was struggling hard, and if it succeeded it would be of decided benefit to the district. Consequently, he favoured granting the request. On the motion of Cr. Blair it was de-

cided to remit the rates for this year. Mr. M. J. Fogarty, secretary to the Greymouth Jockey Club, wrote that the road leading from the main highway to the Omoto course was sadly in need of repair. As the Club contributed a large sum annually to the funds of the Council, he considered that it was not too much to ask that the road be put in order.

The Engineer said it was not a private road, and on his recommendation it was decided to have the short length of access road put in order. Messrs. A. R. Wallis and Co. were granted authority to put a tranucrossmg over Bell Hill road. Medical Officer of Health, Dr. I. Fletcher Telford, suggested that as he understood the Counties’ Association was providing a comprehensive set of by-laws for all counties, that the health by-laws as drafted by him be taken as the basis of the model bylaws. ' ’ J

It was intimated in-a letter from the Association that the by-laws would be drafted by Mr T. F. Martin, an admitted authority on local government. Cr. Ryall: Have we not sufficient by-laws now? The Chairman responded that it might be well to have a uniform set, but he thought that they should be submitted to the various councils for approval.

Mr Higgins, County Engineer, said that a model set of by-laws would doubtless include many that would not apply to the county. The chairman stated that the Council need not necessarily adopt all the by-laws.; It was decided to comply. with the request for co-operation. Messrs Hannan and Seddon submitted the following transfers which were approved: James Estate to Rhoda Smith • James Estate to R. Ward; Moore and Wilson to W. Kirk ; J. Haisty to J. Gibson; H.' C. Allen to J. Kinsella; Allen and Kinsella to A. R. Thompson; J. Haisty to W. Dempster; F. Kinsella to D. Adamson and J. Kinsella to D. Adamson. An invitation was extended to mem-

bers of the Council staff to attend the opening ceremony of the new Moonlight bridge on December 10. At Cr. Ry all’s suggestion it was decided that as many members of the Council as possible should attend. Mr L. J. Kinsella, secretary of the Baths Committee at Blackball, soiight a grant towards restoration of the baths which were badly damaged in the earthquake and would cost over £lOO to repair. Cr. Mulcare said that he had no other information than a verbal assurance from the secretary that the committee had intended, prior to the strike, to meet the cost unaided from the earthquake fund. However, when the strike occurred the swimming authorities had been unable to raise money. Cr. Donnellan moved that the matter be held over and enquiries made as to whether the committee had obtained any assistance. The Rotomanu branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union drew attentionthe narrow and dangerous state of thS’’approaches to Slaty Creek bridge. The matter was referred to the engineer for investigation and report. (Proceeding.)