MINISTER SAYS RESIDENT ENGINEER NOT WARRANTED

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1947, Page 9

MINISTER SAYS RESIDENT ENGINEER NOT WARRANTED

Replies to the council’s request for a resident engineer on the West Coast, were received from the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple) and the Minister of Lands (Mr Skinner) at yesterday’s meeting of the Westland County Council at Hokitika. Mr Semple, in his letter, however, stated that he did not think it would be necessary to have a resident engineer when Mr A. S. Bremner, a capable engineer with West Coast experience, became available. The council decided to accept Mr Bremner’s services providing he was given full authority to carry out works without reference to Christchurch.

The Public Works Department, Greymouth, wrote advising that no better subsidy than £ 1 for £ 1 could be granted for the Okuru road- deviation. After pointing out that the Government obtained considerable revenue from the whitebait factory to which the road gave access, it was decided that the council again approach the Government with a view to obtaining a subsidy of £2 for £l. Turnbull River Protection The secretary of the Westland Catchment Board, Greymouth, wrote advising that, relative to the Turnbull River protection, the Board was willing to pay one-third of the total cost of £4l 18s 8d if the council would also contribute one-third in view of the fact that a County road was ■ affected. —The request was agreed to. The Lake Kanieri Scenic Board and the West Coast branch of the Automobile Association asked if the road to Sunny Bight could be widened to provide passing places, and also for the clearing of corners on the same road.—The request was referred to the engineer for a report to the next meeting. On the motion of Cr Wallace it was decided to confirm the arrangements made between the council, the Westland Dairy Co., Westland Transport Ida, and Mr L. Stopforth for work to be carried out on the Lake Arthur road extension. The engineer (Mr Clarke) reported that the work was satisfactorily. Following recommendations made be the engineer (Mr A. F. Clarke) and the chairman (Cr M. Wallace), the council decided to dispose of the truck maintenance shop in Tancred street, and enter into an agreement with the firm supplying the new fleet of trucks for their maintenance. Notice of termination of engagement was also given to the mechanic employed in the repair shop. Residence For Engineer

The matter of a residence for the county engineer was discussed at considerable length and the engineer was instructed to proceed with the preparation of plans for a house _at an estimated cost of £l5OO. Authority was also given for the purchase of a section and the erection of the house as soon as a building permit could be procured. Regarding the question of the engineer’s salary, Mr Wallace said that Mr Clarke had joined the staff on a probationary scale of £6lO per annum. He had proved entirely satisfactory and it was, decided to apply to the Economic Stabilisation, Commission for authority to increase the engineer’s salary to £ 750 per annum. An application from Mr S. Wail, Koiterangi, for assistance in erecting bridge access to his property was received. The council decided that it would consider providing only one main entrance and no additional access or maintenance would be provided.

TOWN CLERK RESIGNS AFTER LONG SERVICE (0.C.) HOKITIKA, This Day. The resignation of the town clerk (Mr G. F. Coles) was accepted with regret, at a meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council last evening. Mr Coles has been town clerk at Hokitika for 20 years and in that time had not received a tag from the Audit Department on his. work. Members of the council eulogised the. services given by Mr Coles to the council and to the people of Hokitika,