GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 7 February 1941, Page 12

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. There were present at the last evening: Councillors J. Kya , meeting of fbe Grey County Conned, M.L.C. (acting-Chairman), J. M. Eadie W. Fisher, A. Robinson, J. Mui care E McDonnell, H. G. Carter and W. Blair: also Mr J. W//’ s . (Engineer,) and Miss E. M. Heaph.. (County Clerk). „ Accounts amounting to 0s lid were passed for Payment and counts amounting to £545 16s 5d . A. & P- Association applied foi a grant towards the Associations special prize fund, pointing out tl < any proceeds of the show were to be handed to the Patriotic On the motion of Crs. Blau a Fisher, it was decided to make “The Trey 0 ' Patriotic Committee wrote, soliciting the Council’s co-op-eration in connection with the Ms Westland" Beauty Contest to be held in conjunction with the A. & P. Show. The Chairman said that it seemec a matter for the individual Councillors. Or. Mulcare asked if it we ie A County Queen whom Councillors were to find. If that were the case, it was a' matter for the whole Council. It was decided to leave the matter in the Chairman’s hands to make enquiries. „ The Mining Registrar forwarded an application, No. 19/40, under the Mining Act 1926, from the Nemona Gold Dredging Company, for a license for a road. The Engineer in a' lengthy report on the subject,'said that the dredge had been working the bed of Cockeye Creek, and, as it moved along, a road had been built by the Company following it. However, timber being brought along the road by another firm had caused the road to become in a bad state of repair. Already repairs to the road had cost £213 5s 2d. Now, in the Engineer’s opinion, the road’ had become a public road and, this being the case, the Warden had no power to consent to the applica- ; >n. The Chairman’s motion that the Engineer’s report be approved, and that a copy of it be sent to the Warden was carried. , The Acting-District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote suggesting that, as the Rough River bridge at Mi’rfins adjoined the Grey and Inangahua Counties, was not fully controlled by either, it be handed with both approaches to one County for future control and maintenance.

The Engineer, reporting on the matter, said that neither County accepted full responsibility for the bridge. The ordinary maintenance of the bridge was not great. The only thing to be done was to keep the supports clear of snags, etc. A discussion on the matter had taken place at the bridge among members of both Councils, and it had been decided to remove all snags on a fiftyfifty basis, at a cost of about £4O each. The District Engineer had had the work done with the bulldozer. Recent floods might make the cost to each County a little more. He recommended that he should be authorised to meet the Inangahua County and make suitable arrangements about the disposal of the bridge. The Chairman moved that the Engineer’s recommendation be given effect to, and the matter be left in his hands to finalise. The Engineer said that he would rather see the Inangahua County take the bridge than the Grey County as the structure was only 18 miles from Reefton, while it was >0 miles from Greymouth. The motion was carried. Mr A. R. Elcock Hokitika, on behalf of Mr S. M. Wallace, who had taken over the property of Mallinson's Ltd., Kopara, stated that if the Council went on with the proposed scheme to alter the channel of the Kopara River, thus sending the water on to his client’s property, legal action would be taken. The Engineer stated that no proposal had been made to the Council in regard to protection works at the river. The matter was left to the Engineer to make a suitable reply. I

The Assistant Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, Wellington, forwarded a copy of the “Grey-mouth-Waiho State Highway—Nelson Creek Crossing Elimination Proclamation, issued in terms of Section 12 of “The Land Act, 1924,” stating that a copy of the proclamation with a copy of the plan had been sent to the Land Registrar for registration. The South Beach-Paroa Ratepayers’ Association wrote, asking that a footpath be built at Boddytown near the school. The school was for pupils up to Standard One, and the youthfulness of the children, together with the speed of the numerous cars which passed through the township, made the risk of a serious accident very great. The Council was a'sked to eliminate a grave source of danger to the younger generation of Boddytown. The Chairman moved that the letter be referred to the Engineer for a report at the next meeting of the Council. This was agreed to. The Association also wrote regarding the system of rating on the unimproved value, and suggested that a meeting between two members of the Council and two members of the Association be held to discuss the advantages and . disadvantages of the system.

* The Chairman moved that the letter be received and that the Association be asked to state their case by letter, so that the whole of the Council could discuss the matter. Cr. Mulcare suggested that, when thp letter was put before the Council, members of the Association be present to give their views on the matter. The explanation on paper might be taken by the Councillors to mean something different, and only the ratepayers themselves knew what they meant. The motion was carried, with a' proviso that members of the Association be invited to be present. Mr Linford, Health Inspector, submitted a report of work performed in the County during the month of December and January. The report was received. Messrs Guinness and Kitchingham, on behalf of Jack Bros., Ltd., forwarded minuted copies of applications 11/41, 12/41, and 13/41 for tramways, asking if the Council had any objections to the applications. The Council decided to raise no objections subject to the usual conditions being complied with. Messrs Parnham and Thorn, Surveyors, on behalf of J'. McGrath, forwarded for approval amended scheme of proposed subdivision of Section

3708, and part Section 2548, Block XVI., Greymouth Survey District. The plan was approved and the County seal to be fixed. Cr. Mulcare complained of the condition of roads in the Atarau district, which, he stated, were in a particularly bad state of repair. He moved that the matter be referred to the Engineer to make an examination. Cr. Carter seconded the motion, which was carried. The Engineer said that the roads were in a very bad condition, the surface having been worn rough. The road now wanted a surfacing of fine metal to cover the stones that were on the surface. The job would be rather expensive. Cr. Fisher said that the New Forest Sawmill, Ngahere, had complained to him about the state of the south road. On one day water covered it to such a depth that sixty men were unable to go to work. On one occasion the water washed away' the railway. He asked that something be done towards abating the inconvenience. The Engineer said that the County could do nothing to remedy this matter, which should have been referred to the Main Highways Board. Cr. Carter said that it should be recommended to the Highways Board that the matter be attended to. There had been many occasions when the traffic had been held up by this nuisance. Many ratepayers were concerned in the matter.

Cr. Mulcare said that hundreds of pounds had been spent on mistakes, in that section. There was incompetence somewhere. The flooding of the road had occurred many times. Cr. Blair suggested that the bridge couldn’t hold all the water. . It was decided that the Engineer report on the matter at the next meeting, and also that representations be made to the Main Highways Board. The Chairman said that it would be necessary to hold a meeting to confirm the resolution in regard to the alteration of the ridings. Cr. Mulcare’s motion that the ordinary and special meeting be held on March 13, was carried. The Treasurer’s statement of receipts for the period ended February 5, 1941, was approved as follows; the estimates for the year being in parenthesis: —Rates £3,459 14s (£9,000), Vehicle Licenses £3,284 14s 9d (£3 500); Sundry Licenses £525 18s (£450); Royalties and Rents £2B (£50); Sales and Hire £324 5s 7d (£l5O/; Compensation Refunds £135 8s 4d (£100); Main Highways £3,817 8s 8d (£7,400); Government Grants £1,619 19s 7d (£2,221); “Halves” and “Thirds” (£525 18s Id (£800); “Fifths” and “Tenths” £1,678 19s Id (£2,750); Goldfields £3,950 2s (£5,500); Employment Scheme £12,701 12s 9d (£13,000); Sundries £7BB 13s (£800). Totals £32,840 13s 10d (£45,721),