GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1939, Page 11

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The chairman (Cr. J. Ryall) was in the chair at the monthly meeting of the Grey County Council last evening, when there were also present Crs H. G. Carter, J. W. Hannan, G. Blair J. Mulcare, W. Fisher, J. M. Eadie, A. Robinson, and A. McDonnell. Also present were the Engineer (Mr J. Higgins) and the Clerk (Miss E. M. Heaphy). Accounts amounting to £1952 19s 2;1 were approved, and accounts amounting to £l5l 2s 7d were passed for payment.

The Minister of Mines advised that an order directing that rent amounting t 0 £2 15s 2d on Alluvial Claim (L. G. Fell) be treated as irrecoverable had been issued.

Peter Donnellan (Nelson Creek) wrote applying for a reduction in the rates on his water race No. 2098 stating that there had been practically no returns from it for two years. The Clerk said that the rating had been reduced from £lOOO to £5OO on Donnellan’s objection in 193&. Cr. Fisher said that the job of keeping the race in order occupied several men at a time.

On the motion of the chairman and Cr. Mulcare, the letter was received It was decided to grant the Omoto Sawmilling Co Ltd. permission to erect three lean-to huts on. the road reserve on the Brunner-Blackball road.

Chandler and Hunter wrote asking for assistance in placing McDonald’s Road at Totara Flat and the bridge In order. Cr. McDonnell said that the applicants had a contract to supply chips for tar sealing at Ahaura. It was not a county road, and he would not recommend the council to spend any money on it. The Engineer said that the road was Class V permitting loads up to 31- tons, whereas ten ton loads were being carted. The request was referred to the Engineer on the motion of Crs McDonnell and Blair. Messrs Burr, Donnellan, Oquist and O’Brien drew attention to the bad state of the road leading to their residences and asked that gravel be put on it. The request was left to the engineer for a report. T. W. Perry wrote making application for the return to him of bond covering the road line reserve worked by White’s Electric Golj Dredging Ltd., the work having been completed. ~ The request was deferred to enable the Engineer to inspect the work. A letter was received from the Board’s Representative No. 12 Highways District Council advising that th’fe Main Highways Board could not favourably consider the Council’s application for the provision of a main highway from Brunner to Bell Hill as it was so heavily committed already that an increase in the number of highways was not possible at present; also that the application for provision fox; a highway to Roa via Blackball had been held over for further consideration. , , It was decided to forward copy of the letter relating to the Blackball road to the Blackball Women’s Institute. , , The Board’s representative also wrote stating that he agreed the highway over Razorback at the south side of the Punakaiki River should be improved as it was a danger’ spot, and advised that the question, of ascertaining if the men employed to the north could be put on to the work was being gone into before the matter was placed before the Highways Board. The secretary Grey Automobile Association wrote expressing the Association’s pleasure at the improvements made on the Greenstone-Mitchell’s Road, and stating that credit was due t 0 the Engineei’ and county for having the work done without spoiling the beauty of the road. The Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple wrote stating that he was agreeable to making a grant (free) to £260 to provide access to Barretts on the Grey-Kotuku Road, provided the council paid £lOO as promised. As soon as payment was made the necessary steps would be taken to proceed with the work. The Minister of Mines (Hon. P. Webb) wrote in similar’ strain. It was decided that the £lOO be paid to the Department’s account. RAGWORT ERADICATION.

Mr J. Fleming, Inspector of Stock, Greymouth, wrote enclosing conditions of the scheme to be supervised by the council in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture for the eradication of ragwort, and suggesting that a meeting of the committee be held in the near future.

Cr. Robinson said that the County's job was to look after the roads and not to cut weeds. It was strange to see the ratepayers’ money spent on clearing weeds last 'year, and this year to find the weeds worse than ever. The Engineer said that the work cost the council nothing last year. Cr. Robinson: I thought it was £3OO.

The chairman: No. Cr Mulcare said that if the council did not co-operate it was possible that nothing would be done. The chairman move f ] that Crs. Carter, Fisher, Mulcare, and the Engineer be appointed a committee to discuss arrangements with the Agricultural Department. Cr. Carter said that the committee fully appreciated that the council could not be committed to any liability. The motion was seconded by Cr. Blair and carried. It was decided to accept dedication by Rankin estate of .5 perches of land on Lot 7 Plan 739, Runanga for road purposes. , J. V. Scales, Riccarton applied for permission to erect a shed at South Beach and for a license to dry sheepskins and salt hides therein. The Inspector of Health reported that applicant had already storey skins m the shed when he visited the place, and pointed out that this contravened the bv-laws. . A , It was left to the Engineer to take the necessary action to enforce the by The' S Engineer reported that the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Hokitika had put before him an application bv United Sawmills Ltd., for permission to cut timber on the reserve skirting Kangaroo Lake for the council’s consent. The Assistant Engineer bad visited the locality an fl informed him that there was very little timber available. He understood that the company would not proceed with its application. It was decided on the motion of the chairman and Cr. Robinson that the recommendation of the Engineer that the application be refused be adopted. On Cr. Carter’s motion the Engineer