COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1929, Page 8

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The usual monthly meeting of the Grey County Council was held at the County Chambers yesterday. There were present Crs J. Ryall, D. Baybuttj. W. T. Ogilvie, H. G. Carter and D. Kidd. Apologies for absence were received from the Chairman, Cr A. Robinson, and Crs G. Blair and J. W. Hannan. Cr Ryall was voted to the chair. The Treasury Department wrote advising payment to County fund of the following amounts: main highway and grants £3759, Haupiri Junction to Haupiri Road £273, Greenstone-Blackwater Road deviation £62 4s 3d ; goldfields (December) £470 14s 7d*. halves £458 2s 8d. —Received.

The Main Highways Board forwarded authority for vote of £766 for Grey-mouth-Punakaiki road, and vote of £2OO (extra) for Ahuura-Haupiri road.—deceived. The Chairman, No .12 District, Highways Council, Mr T. A. Johnson, wrote' intimating that at the next meeting of the Council the question of additional highways would be discussed and recommendations would be made, and it was requested that the County Council should submit plans and particulars' in connection with roads which it was claimed should be included in the highways system. The Board, however, was prepared to consider only a limited number of recommendations, and it was not intended to make a further wholesale declaration of main highways, but to review all applications which had been made up to the present, with a view to adjustment in those cases where! an alteration in traffic and other conditions showed that the substitution of some other road or route was justified.

The Engineer proposed that lhe Council apply for the following additions: From main highway at Nelson Creek to Bell Hill, 15 miles; Ngahere to Moonlight, 7 miles; Kumara to Lake Brunner, 13 miles; Stillwater to Ko'tukq, Rotomanu and Inchbonnie. 34 miles. The Council resolved that the Engineer’s recommendations be approved. Messrs Guinness and Kitchingham wrote on behalf of debenture holders of the Hochstetter Company applying for a remission of mining rent due by the Company, amounting to £74 ss. The Clerk mentioned that the Council had already agreed to reduce the rents by 2s 6d. The Council resolved to adhere to its forme r resolution. The Receiver of Gold Revenue forwarded schedule of rents deemed to be irrecoverable. —The Council agreed that same be written off. The Cobden Town Board wrote soliciting support for the proposal to complete the Cobden road to Point Elizabeth. —The Council agreed to co-oper-ate with the Town Board in the matter. The A« and P. Association acknowledged donation of £5 5s thanking the Council for same. —Received. The West Coast Executive of the Farmers’ Union wrote asking the Council to supply poisoned grain to farmers free.—Referred to Clerk to make inquiries. Allen Rothery wrote requesting the Council to consider the matter of giving him road access to his property at Inchbonnie. The writer mentioned that the former Member for the District had informed him that there was £lOO on the estimates for road formation adjoining his sections. The present position was intolerable, and the Council was requested to do its utmost to forward his claim.

The Council agreed to expend the sum of £lOO available for road formation in that locality. V. C. Palmer. Springs Junction, wrote re crossing of Brown-Grey River, suggesting that if the Council would cut their out rates for two years, the settlers would be prepared to build the necessary bridge and approaches, and also put in a crate further up the river.—Referred to Engineer, with power to act. F. Jacobs applied for a permit to erect a garage at South Beach. —Granted on usual conditions. A. Curtis and W. G. Parkinson applied for permit to erect garage at Wai lis Siding.—Referred to Engineer. The Chairman of No. 12, District Highways Council forwarded circular re regulations concerning traffic inspectors on main highways. —Received. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote re sale of timber on Crown lands, stating that the total amount payable by the United Sawmill Coy was £478 17 s.—Received.

The Chief Surveyor, Lands Department (Mr W. T. Morpeth) wrote re application by Mr Dennehy. lessee of section 2988 (Barrytown) t for a portion of the road intersecting the section deviated on his western boundary, in order that his holding be made more compact. Plans were enclosed, it being pointed out that a portion of the road was not surveyed. The Council was asked for an expression of opinion oil the matter.

The Engineer submitted a report showing that the present condition of the track was practically the same as it had been left by the miners following the gold rush at Barrytown in 187980, when a track had been formed by the Council Io give access to claims along the foothills. Some little widen ing had, however, been done by Dennchy Bros, t 0 enable them to use drays on it. When the land w’as taken up. the line of the track was reserved as a road,, one chain wide. The proposed deviation was on low ground, and before it could be used for traffic a road would have to be constructed thereon. He was unable to recommend the Council to consent to the donation. The Engineer’s recommendation was approved.

Th e South Island Counties’ Association wrote intimating that the annual conference would be held at Ashburton on March 14th. The principal matters to be dealt with were hospital levies and the maintenance of main highways. —Deferred till next meeting. The County Solicitor (Mr W. J. Joyce) submitted opinion on proposed agreement between the Council and the Grey Power Board for lighting the township of Blackball.' It was pointed out that if the County Council eon-

seated t 0 the agreement submitted by the Power Board, it would b e liable for the full period of 15 years. As the Blackball Coal Coy, the biggest ratepayers in the riding, do not come within the rating area, the burden fell on the mining township, which was totally dependent for its existence on a large continued output from the mine; and it was problematical how long it would continue. .Jit therefore Reined advisable that the term of the agreement •should be very considerably reduced, say to five yearst with rights of renewal, if desired by the Council, for two further periods of five years each. The solicitor’s recommendation was approved. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The following report was submitted by the Engineer (Mr J. Higgins):— There are now 150 men employed by ! the Council on various road and bridge works—ss pre on the Greymouth-Puna-kaiki road, and 40 between Big Grey and Taramakau. The Crooked River bridge has been finished, and the approaches are well under way. All the piles have been driven for Moonlight Creek bridge, eight piers capped, and steel joists fixed on four spans. The road approaches are well forward. Timber has been delivered and construction advanced for Arnold Creek bridge, and Big Grey bridge. The various improvements between Greymouth and Punakaiki are well in hand, and surveys made for seven bridges on same road. The widening between Paroa and Taramakau is progressing. The Council is contributing £l5O on a £2 for £1 subsidy for this work, and a further £566 is available if Council agrees to subsidise it on the same terms. The road between Haiipirj Junction and Haupiri is progressing satisfactorily, and the present contracts should be finished in six weeks, when th e question of further funds to continue the road will arise. A contract was let for a section of Grey Vnlley-Taramakau road at Bell Hill. The unfinished gap is only two miles, and an effort should be made to have it completed. A contract has been let for Clear Ureek bridge, and all materials delivered on site. The improvement of Spring Creek railway crossing and of the hill at Ten Mile peg. both on main highway,, have been completed; whil n the half bridge nt 1 mile 29 chain is almost finished. The main highway on Totara is being coated with fine gravel and some minor improvements carried out thorQ, and between Greymouth and Paroa.

Jt was resolved, on the motion of Cr Carter, that the Council apply to the Public Works Department for a of £lOOO for the Haupiri Junc-tion-Lake road, and that Mr Jas. O'Brien* M.P., be advised accordingly. It was also agreed to apply for a vote of £5OO for the Grey Valley-Taramakau road. Th e Council agreed to find an extra £l5O for widening the Paroa-Tarama-kau road, making the Council's contribution £3OO, the total estimated cost being £966. The tender of J. Gilbert for erection of Clear at a cost of £2OO, was approved. It was agreed, on the recommendation of the Engineer, to purchase an electric. motor for the road crusher plant.