GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1939, Page 3

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Grey County Council was held yesterday afternoon, Councillor J. Ryall presiding over an attendance of the following members: —Councillors J. Mulcare, W. Fisher, A. Robinson, A. McDonnell, J. M. Eadie, J. AV. Hannan, and H. G. Carter. The Engineer (Mr. J. Higgins) was also present. Accounts amounting to £1832/17/4 were approved, and accounts totalling £270/14/4 were passed for payment.

The Treasurer's statement of receipts for the period ended December 31, 1939, as follow, were approved: — Rates, £1915/2/8; vehicle licenses, £2312/16/5; sundry licenses, £459 10/6; royalties and rents, £9/10, sales and hire, £l7l/6/7; compensation refunds, £62/3; Main Highways, £2439 7/2; Government grants, £729/7/8; halves and thirds, £470/18/2; fifths and tenths, £1243/13/9; goldfields, £3559/17/2; deposits, £35; employ-' nient schemes, £6712/9/7; sundry revenue, £377/16. Total £20,498/18/8. In regard to the Barrytown deviation on the Westport —Greymouth Main Highway, the District Engineer (the Highways Board representative on the No. 12 District Highways Council) wrote in reply to a communication from the Engineer, stating that he would place the Council’s position before the Board, but asking the Council if it could give an indication as to when it would be in a positoin to contribute towards the cost of the work. Cr. Hannan said that if the Council was not in a position to contribute, it would be better to make representations to the Minister of Public Works on the matter.

Cr. Mulcare agreed, and added that the Council did not know when it would be in a position to contribute. It was decided that representations be made to the Minister, and the Chairman and Crs. Hannan, Carter and Fisher were appointed to represent the Council.

In reply to a, letter from the County Engineer, the District Public Works Engineer wrote stating that in regard to the reinstating of the road at the Brown River Bridge at Bell Hill, he was prepared to put the Council’s case to his Head Office. He considered that the £6O offered by the sawmillers was not sufficient, but thought that if everyone concerned made -a reasonable contribution, the Minister would probably reconsider his decision. It was decided to place the matter before the Minister of Public . Works, and to endeavour to get him to view the proposed job. Regarding tho strengthening of the river slope of the stop-bank (Coal Creek protection -work) above Peyman Road, the District Engineer wrote stating that he was asking the Department to provide funds, but suggested that the settlers and the Council I should deal with such steps that occur in the meantime. Messrs. Guinness and Kitchinghain. on account of Ellen Butler, forwarded ■ a memorandum of a transfer of threetenths of a perch of Section 2714, Block 111., Waimea S.D., for the purpose of a | public road. —Approved, subject to the i Engineer's conditions. I Messrs. Hannan and Seddon, on be«half of Barrytown Gold Dredging, Ltd., forwarded a. copy of application No. 159/39 for a water race license in

Block 5, Waiwhero S.D., for approval. —lt was decided to offer no objection.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands forwarded a tracing of an area of public road at Stillwater, proposed to be closed and disposed of, and asking if the Council was agreeable to the proposal. —The proposal was agreed to, subject to the 'approval of the Main Highways Board, of which the area is a reserve.

Gilbert, Tomasi Sawmills, Ltd., applied for permission to construct an overhead tramway to cross the Greenstone —Taramakau road near the mill site. —Granted, subject . to the Engineer’s conditions.

A letter from the Chairman of the West Coast Association regarding insurance indemnity was referred to the Engineer and Cr. Hannan to have the matter finalised.

The application of M. Graham, Rotomanu, for permission to convey a pipe-line under the drainage reserve road at their gate near Slatey Creek bridge, Poerua Settlement, was granted, subject to the Engineer’s conditions.

Barrytown Gold Dredging, Ltd., applied for permission to dredge the unformed portion of the road reserve north of the Warren Road. —Granted, subject to the Engineer’s conditions. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote in reply to the Council, detailing precautions being taken to prevent dangerous flooding at Aratika, as the result of the raising of the Kaimata dam.

The third payment, £95/1/8, of the Council’s contribution to the expenses incurred in respect to the Westland Provincial Centennial representation, was passed for .payment. A request from the Secretary of the Labourers’ and Related Trades’ Industrial Union, asking the Council’s assistance in the collection of Union dues, was left to the Clerk to deal with. The New Zealand Counties’ Association advised that a meeting of the Executive will be held on November 17 at Wellington; and also forwarded a copy of “The Occupational Re-estab-lishment Regulations, 1939.” and recommendations agreed to at a joint meeting of representatives of the Municipal Association and the Counties’ Association in connection with the treatment of officers and regular employees engaged on military service. , . The Counties’ Association forwarded a legal opinion regarding heavy traffic license fees on farmers’ lorries. The Internal Affairs Department forwarded particulars of legislation affecting County Councils passed last season.

E. Fell, Coal Creek, wrote complaining that a nuisance had been formed bv the erection of a piggery on an unformed road. He added that the drains had been filled with refuse from the piggery, and that there was a disagreeable stench from the piggery. Mr. A. May, writing in regard to (he piggery, said that it was not on the formed road. He considered that the complaint had been made as a result of a personal difference between complainant and the owner of the piggery.

The Engineer said that the piggery was on road reserve. He had referred the matter to the Health Inspector to inspect the property, and take the necessary action.

The Engineer’s action was endorsed. | The recommendation of the Engineer' that no action be taken regarding the j flooding of G. Hahn’s property by‘min- 4 ing. was adopted.

The Engineer reported that Buxton and Co., had disclaimed ownership of an area of 38 acres in the Ahaura S.D., and he would recommend that it be sold to recover the rates due £2 14/6. It was very swampy land. The Engineer and the Clerk were instructed to investigate the proposal to sell the land. REPLY TO CRITICISM. Mr. Mulcare said he wished to refer to some criticism made in an interview in the “Greymouth Evening Star,” by Mr. D. Faris, secretary of the Dredge Workers’ Union. He (Mr. Mulcare) seemed to be the principal culprit, and he thought that Mr. Faris had been utterly unfair. Mr. Faris had frequently ’phoned him on business when it was to his own advantage, and could have done so on this occasion. He (Mr. Mulcare) did not say that the Red Jack’s Valley was likely to be filled up; he merely asked Mr. Higgins (the Engineer) a question. The statement that the soil in the Red Jacks Valley was akin to that of the Brian Born land was ridiculous. Any man who knew the country knew that some of the best land on the West Coast was in the Red Jacks Valley. So far as Argo and Blackball Creek were concerned, it might surprise Mr. Faris to'know that the land being dredged by the Argo had at one time, and for many years supplied all the milk for the Blackball area. Mr. Faris had also made a lot of misstatements about the area being dredged by the Grey Valley dredge. He had been informed on good authority that an area of approximately 1802 acres of first class land was involved, and not 802 .as stated by Mr. Faris, and there had been no objection from the Council. He realised fully what the gold had meant to the West Coast, but he felt that the Minister should give the closest consideration to all the circumstances surrounding every application. “Mr. Faris,” added Mr. Mulcare, “seems to be more frightened about his job than anything else, and he told me —and I have proof of this statement —that he was only taking the job to keep his coat on and escape hard work. Mr. Faris can rest assured that 1 will do all I can to keep the industry going in the County.” The Chairman said that the present Minister of Mines had stated that he was doing all he could to protect valuable farm lands.

Transfers were approved as follow: j Cobden. Lot 4 of Sec. 12 (Marg. Rankin. est.. to Charles Wright); Cobden, Section 9 (Mary P. Trail to Andrew Grieve); Waipuna, Section 151-152 (Emil Simonson to James Satori); Brunnerton, Section 147 (Hunter Ritchie to Andrew Coyle); Brunnerton, Section 129 (Henry Davies to Annie Connors): Nelson Creek, Res. site 1254 (Mary Jane Ross to Archibald Ross) : Red Jacks, Res. Site 42 (Joseph Donaldson to Associated Gold Dredges Ltd.); Red Jacks, Section 46 (M. L. Ncjison to Patrick Heeney); Nelson Creek, Lots J, 6 and 7 (Thomas Murray to Arthur R. Honey); Paroa, Pt. Section 2510 (Carl Jensen 1-lende to Jas. Christian Hende and Ellie Minnie liende); Paroa, Section 2538 (Henry Norman Ellery to Allan Ellery); Paroa, Pt. Sec. 3576 (Percival S. Beck Io H. H. Robinson); Hohonu, Section 3208 (John Joseph Maughan, the younger, to John Joseph Maughan; I Hohonu, Secs. 869, 1440 (John Joseph 'Maughan to J. J. Maughan); Hohonu, j Section 871 Inchbonnie Estate Co. Ltd. 4 (in liquidation) to His Majesty the King).