INANGAHUA

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1932, Page 12

INANGAHUA

COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING.

[on: OWN COKIIESrONJIF.NT.]

REEFTON. October 27

The monthly meeting of the Inangahua County Council was held yesterday. Present: Crs W. Blackadder (Chairman), J. B. Auld, J. O. Byrne, D. Panckhurst, Thos. AAatson, F. W. Archer, W. Clayton. A motion of condolence with the relatives of the late G. C. Black, M.L., was mo vied by the ChaiJrman. Cl Clayton seconded, and it was carried by members standing in silence. The Minister' of Mines advised that Mt. David Sluicing Coy. has been granted a reduction in rent to 2/6 per acre for one year from 1/</19,>2., ,T. O’Regan wrote regarding AVairoa earthquake. Cr Clayton moved and Cr Blackadder seconded that a subscription list be opened for above, and that the Council donate £5 for relief. —Carried. The Medical Officer of Health wrote regarding contribution for Health Inspector’s services and advising that Inspector R. McCrone of Westport will now serve the Inangahua County. —Cr Watson moved and Cr Archer seconded that Mr McCrone be appointed Inspector for the County. The Chairman, Greymouth Harbour Board wrote regarding report of National Expenditure Commission. — Resolved that Council support Harbour Board in above. J. T. Switzer and F. R. Hoy applied to connect their premises with the town water service.—Connections to be made subject to usual conditions. The Unemployed Workers’ Movement wrote regarding hours worked by unemployed workers.—Resolved that the workers’ movement be informed that the Council cannot alter the working hours, and that the Unemployed Workers’ Movement be informed that while the Council will do its utmost to work with the unemployed men, the Foreman cannot be held responsible for any seeming irregularities that may take place as to starting of work. . The Inangahua Valley Farmers Union wrote advising that the Union cannot offer any subsidy for the running of the train to Inangahua Junction on Saturday evenings; asking for the Council’s support on the matter of loading bank and stock yards at the Cronadun Railway Station. Granted. Also, regarding protection works at A. Douglas’s property,, Waitahu.—Resolved that the matter be left in the hands of Crs. Archer and O’Regan, the settlers to provide horses and drays and that the Foreman be instructed to utilise unemployed, labour on this work. H. Astridge forwarded particulars of work done by H. Astridge out at Alexander Track via Brown Creek.— Cr. Clayton moved and Cr. Archer seconded, that Mr Astridge be paid for the work at ruling rates at the time the work was done. Mesrs Wright and Oliphant drew attention to the state of the CronadunCapleston road. —'Matter left to the Foreman for attention.

T. Coghlan wrote regarding the connection of dwellings at Capleston with the water service.—Permission to connect his premises with the water service.

T. S. Paterson asked for a remission of water rent charge during the period that Mrs Moonie’s dwelling on Buller road remained untenanted. — Rebate granted. L. E. Morgan asked that rent due on mining privileges held by Wealth of Nations Mine, Ltd., be treated as irrecoverable. ,

The Fire Brigade wrote drawing attention to the state of the firebell tcwer in Lower Broadway.—Foreman to prepare an estimate for a new tower and submit same to next meeting.

A. Perry requested permission to graze cattle on river bank at Blackspoint.—Applicant to be informed that the* Council has no control over this land.

Th e Dispatch Foundry, Greymouth, wrote enclosing quotations fox* pipes. The Cobden Engineering Company also wrote regarding the same matter. — Left to the town members and Cr. Archer for attention.

Mr Longman, a settler of Burton’s Creek, waited on the Council relative to reading access to this ground. Mr Longman stated that £6O would construct an Bft track right to their property ,and answered several questions put by councillors. Cr. Clayton moved that application be made for £l5O on the Supplementary Estimates for the construction of Byrne and Sommerville’s road, and that application be made to the Local Unemployment Committee for assistance for the work.—Cr. Byrne seconded.

The Unemployment Board notified the Council that the track to the Alexander Mine from the top of the hill to the mine must be only three feet wide. Cr. Auld took strong exception to the tone of this letter and pointed out that the track via Steven’s Flat was only six miles long, while the Snowy River route was 22 miles long, and the Stevenson’s Flat route placed the Alexander Mine within 20 miles of Reefton, which was the banking centre and the natural centre for this mine. Cr. Archer pointed out that the Unemployment Board' were misinformed concerning the facts relative to this road, and he proposed that the County Clerk write the Unemployment Board very fully regarding this. —Seconded by Cr. Auld and carried. The County Foreman’s report was presented. It was resolved that an extra day’s work be given the men working on Brown Creek road at County rates, provided the men camp on the work. The mattter of the blockage in the stream on the roadside at Mahnai was left in the hand's of the Foreman for- attention. Seventeen days’ work has been done on the Alexander Track. Seven men . have been woiking on this and the camps have been re-erected near the top of the

Cr. Clayton reported on the interview with Messrs Wild and Robertson regarding the Rough River .sawmill road, and on the motion of Cr. Clayton, seconded by Cr. Byrne, it was resolved’ that the Public Works Department be asked to complete Burton’s Creek road up to the Rough River sawmill.

Cr. Clayton moved and Cr. Byrne seconded, that the Public Works Department be asked to undertake (.lie river protection work at Mirlin’s bridge.—Carried.

Cr. Auld moved that the Defence Department be asked to rebuild the Drill l.all. Cr. Archer seconded.—Carried resolve / 1 the Electric n gl , t . Company bo asekd to remove the light pole at the School of Mines corner; also it. was resolved to ask

the company to erect a further light in Bridge Street, and that the matter of attention to water tables on Waiuta Hill be left to the Foreman; and that Cemetery Creek be cleared; also that the Foreman be instructed to place the necessary culverts in the road at Specimen Hill, Capleston. Cr. Archer moved and Cr. Panckhurst seconded, that the Buller road from the station to town be cleared and graded on the sides by unemployed labour. Cr. Archer moved and Cr. Panckhurst seconded, that the Domain Board be asked to erect conveniences on the Domain.—Carried. HOSPITAL BOARD REEFTON, October 28. The monthly meeting of the Inangahua Hospital Board was held last evening. Present: Messrs. J. B. Auld (Chairman). T. .Seawright, G. B. McInroe, J. O. Byrne, T. R. Watson, W. F. Archer, AV. Blackadder, AV. Clayton. Dr. Marshall, Medical Superintendent, was also present. The Waiuta Miners’ Medical Association wrote regarding equipment of Waiuta Hospital and stating that the secretary of the Association would wait upon the Board. Messrs. Murley and Ord waited upon the Board on the matter. They considered the terms too hard, and hoped that the Board woud allow them the use of the furniture and equipment at a nominal rental. They suggested that these articles be given to the Miners’ Medical Association free of cost.

The Chairman moved that unless the AVaiuta Medical Association guaranteed patients’ payments at 4/6 per day, all patients be charged the full rate, 9/- per day, and the Board take the risk of collecting the fees. Mr. Archer seconded. The motion was put and carried.

Resolved that the Board’s former resolution regarding payment for equipment at AA’aiuta Hospital be adhered to.

Tlie Grey Hospital Board wrote, asking co-operation of Board in endeavouring to secure early payment of balance outstanding on account of the timber workers.—-The Chairman and Secretary were instructed to attend to the matter.

The Empire Cancer Campaign Society, Christchurch, wrote stating that the Chairman of the Inangahua Board was appointed a permanent member of the General Committee of the Nelson and Westland Division. Margaret Patterson wrote applying for position of probationer.—Filed for reference.

J. Williams wrote accepting lease of Board’s property on Buller Road, for a further term of three years, and enclosing a year’s rent. —Received. Matron Gibson’s report stated that the ball was a great success, the receipts exceeding £7O. The Chairman referred to the splendid management of the gathering, and it was carried that the Board express its appreciation to the Matron and staff. Matron Gibson reported that Sister Peters had been off duty for three weeks, folio-wing a minor operation, and also asking that Mrs Ramsay be granted sick leave. —It was carried that the latter be granted sick leave required. Dr. Marshall, Medical Superintendent, reported for the month: —Admitted 19, discharged 15, died 2, remaining 30, operations 6, anaesthetics 6, outpatients 1, attendances 10, births 10.

It was decided to co-operate with the Returned Soldiers’ Association in endeavouring to secure pensions for returned soldier patients in hospital.