WESTLAND COUNTY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1936, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY

MEETING LAST NIGHT

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16,

The Westland County Council met at the County Chambers last evening at 7.30 o’clock. There were present, Cr B- Ward (County Chairman) and Councillors J. A. Murdoch, A. Dale, J. Donovan, X- Brown, J. J. McKay and W. A. Jamieson. The previous minutes were confirmed. An apology was made for the absence of Cr W. Jeffries. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE

From Treasury notifying monies remitted to the credit of the County Fund Account. —Received. From Public Works Department replying if the cost of Stripland’s Creek bridge was considered too high, the work could be deferred.—Received ; consideration deferred. From same making suggestion as to the acceptance of a tender for Coal Creek bridge.—Received; the tender of M'r E. Shirley at £783 was accepted, with a time limit of five months. From Unemployment Board agreeing to contribution agreed upon in respect to La Fontaine road extension. —Received. From K.D.V. Boxes, Ltd., Auckland, asking that the acceptance of a tender be held only till Ministerial visit. —Received ; held over as requested. From Department of Agriculture, agreeing to payment of subsidy on kea beaks sent in.—Received. From Main Highways Board replying in regal'd to additional secondary highways for the district.—Received. From Minister of Transport notifying, amended regulations under transport law. —Received. From Medical Officer of Health notifying receipt of documents regarding Weheka cemetery.—Received. From Telegraph Engineer advising the far south telephone line was under overhaul, and the position was being watched as to the introduction of the metallic circuit. —Received. From Health Depatment forwarding copy of regulations for drainage ana plumbing.—Received. From Walter H. Neame, Turiwhate, thanking - Council for assistance with protection work.—Received. From Bruce Bay Timbers Ltd., stating the tramway bridge was’completed and offering to metal the approaches for £o. —Received and accepted. From same in regard to tents erected on roadway.—Received.

From Public Works Inspector x and W. D. Nolan reporting on Nolan’s creek bridge renewal, considered urgent.—Received ; left to Chairman with power to act. From General Manager, N.Z. Rail ways stating every care would be taken by the staff to avoid delay to traffk through shunting at Weld Street cross ing; Hokitika. —Received. From Harihari branch of Farmers' Union, asking that Government be urged to investigate a power scheme to serve the -Inter-Wanganui district, also supporting an investigation ol railway extension in South Westland. Preferring the construction of Petersen roud in preference to La Fontaine extension. —Received. Cr McKay stated the feeling in the district vas that both roads were necessary, but that the Little Wanganui road "’as tne most urgent.

From C. Stoop reporting on condi t.ion of road culverts at Waitaha and Mt Greenland track. tteeeicoJ. Cr Donovan said the Greenland Company should pay a- portion of the cost of the work, the same as other mining claims had done. Jt was received that £23 he authorised. , .

From C'. Stoop n piling on condition of Redman’s a t and ANnitalia Valley road. —'.tec-u ' d. From J. O’Brian MP. acknowledging receipt o f stale mi ut iff business to be placed Ictore Ministers —Received

From Commissioner of Crown Lands statins a request had been made for the setting aside of the pound reserve at Kok ila hi a- a domain.—Received oonsidei atio.n deferred till next meet-

ing. From Health Inspector in reference to various inspections - Received.

SEALING MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Conformable with a request from the Council, the Engineer reported as follows on tar-sealing In company with the District Engineer, an inspection was made of 'aliens sections of main highways nuclei Council control with a view to reconditioning and sealing suctions considered most, beiie'iioial to ratepayeis, with a minimum amount of expenditure. The sections considered to he most favourable in the rneaiftimo, together with the District Engineer’s recommendation are as follow: — Continuous stretch of one mile from the Kokntahi Public Hall on the Upper Kokatehi highway, terminating about mile on the Kanieri-Koitcrangi highway below Diedrich’s homestead. Con tin Haiti on of the sealed section of the Kahieri-Koiteraugi highway from Kanieri township for 4/5 chains terminating at the bottom of the hill above flood level.

Fifteen chains along the Lake Kanieri highway from the junction of Kan. ieri-Koiterangi highway. The total cost of reconditioning and sealing the above 1 mile 50 chains, would be £2,700, the Council’s share being £7OO. The major portion of this cost is in the reconditioning and would be recoverable to a certain extent by employing the Council staff and the use of the Council plant.

Crushed metal is- (considered essential for modern road construction, including sealing, and the sections recommended above ar© within, reason-

able distance from suitable metal pits. To complete the intermediatp section of 5j miles between the- proposed sealings on the Kanieri-Koiterangi highway would -cost £9,350 plus £2500 for the raising of road surface above flood level.

The above proposals provide for a second, class highway, 'the formation width being increased to 24 feet to allow for 3 feet shoulders, outside the sealed width of 18 feet.

The work of reconditioning on the three sections suggested could b e carried out during the winter months, so that the road would he ready for scaling during next summer months.

MAIN HIGHWAYS REPORT. The County Engineer reported upon the progress of work on secondary highways during the month, as follows: Kanieri-Koiterangi M.H.—The power grader put in 7 days grading this section throughout, followed by patching various sections for 193 yards. Handrails, wheelguards, and approach rails have been painted on Kauieri river, Owen’s Creek and Cropps Creek bridges.

Lake Kanieri M.H.—General maintenance work was carried out by the surfacemen. The power grader operated along a section of 5 miles, followed with metal patching for 26 yards. Upper Kokatahi M.H.—A total of 66 yards of metal were delivered along the lower portion of this highway. Surfacemen were engaged in cutting hack blackberries, etc. on several bridge approaches. Okarito-Forks M.H.—The surfaceman put in 6 days on general surface repairs. Repairs have beeu completed on Farm Creek and Deep Creek bridges. Approach rails are being erected at Sleeper Creek i /and Tidal Creek bridges. A start will he made next week on the Forks bridge repairs. DISTRICT ROADS REPORT. The Engineer submitted his report mi the works carried out during the past month, as follows: NORTHERN RIDING. Repairs to Kapitoa bridge on Sandy’s Hill road were completed early in the month. The quantity of timber used exceeded 5000 super feet. The laying of 2|;in. running planks will considerably strengthen the decking and distributes heavy loading. Sandy’s Hill road was graded and patch metalled throughout. The traffic bridge on the Awatuna road received temporary repairs. Application is being made to the Public Works Department for a grant to renew the superstructure. Minor repairs were carried out to the stock bridge and approaches across the mouth of the Waimea Creek, Awatuna. Blackberry., gorse, etc., were cleared along Hogan’s access road at Awatuna and followed with gravel repairs. During the holidays. County employees i enewed the bridge ; cross the overflow channel 7 chains above Maifiov’s bridge at Arahura. The two outside spans were removed and replaced with 200 yards of filling. Metal repairs were carried out along the Arahura Valley road, Spencer road and Muir’s access road. Men are employed clearing road drains above Humphreys. Two feet concrete pipes have been delivered at a badly scoured portion of the Blue Spur road near Schroeder’s residence, and will be put in as soon as convenient.

{ CENTRAL RIDING. The formation of the second and filial section of McArthur-StatTon road contract has been completed, and a start lias been made with the metalling. Tenders have been called tor 2 miles 28 chains of Milltown-Arahura track formation. Repairs to Murray Creek bridge and approaches on the Hokitika flat road were completed early in the month. Metal repairs were carried out along Municipal road for 70 yards. The work of cleaning and wuPning! drains along Camel Rack road is proceedings as labour is available. A 2 chain cut has been made through the shingle bank opposite a point of threatened erosion in overflow channel at the end of Camel Rack road. Following an inspection after r. small flood 1 am of opinion that 3 or 4 stub groynes similar to the ones recently put in for the A rah lira river bank protection near Malirov’s bridge, would be most suitable. Workmen are at present engaged in carrying out repairs to the Styx suspension bridge. Following a further inspection of the drainage along the far end of Municipal road, instructions have been given to clean out an old drain that is capable of diverting the major portion of the flood water into the creek. The flood water at present flows freely along the road surface necessitating constant repair. Two small sections of the creek bank along the edge of the road formation will be protected from erosion with manuka and wire nets. Metal repairs were attended to on Dorothy Falls, Sunny Right and Dawson roads. A decayed wooden culvert on Seddon’s Terrace road was replaced with ICin. concrete pipes. Matianui r ad formation contract has been satisfactorily completed for 32 chains. The contractor for the metalling made a start this week" with three trucks and should make good progress if the present weather continues. Metal is be-ir-r taken from the river bed pits along Authurstown road, Arrangements are in hand to clean several drains aim carry out culvert repairs in Kanieri township. Repairs are being carried out along Arahura and Styx Pass tracks.

SOUTHERN RIDING Metal repairs were carried out along

la. Fontaine, Inter Wanganui, Petersen ancf"Haddoock’s roads in the Harihari district, . and Wataroa Flat, Whale, Bird and Richardson roads in the Wataroa district. A survey "track has been cut along the centre of Gunn road reserve between Wataroa Flat road and Waitangi river for the purpose of taking levels and preparing proposals for formation and metalling. The work of removing stumps etc. and cutting channel through the shingle bank at Poerua river bed above Cron’s residence proved very satisfactory. The mam flow of water during recent floods returned to its original course along | the centre ,*of the river bed. An inspection was made of all timber culverts along the Waitaha Settlement road. At least 12 will require renewing in the near future. Opportunity will be taken to deliver the necessary pipes as soon as trucks are available. Owing to continuous heavy, traffic over the new deviation on Redman’s road, two days work with a County truck is necessary for improvements. Siftiilar attention is necessary on Totara road. Arrangements were made with Gibb Bros, at Waiho to carry out repairs to road and track at Doclierty’s Creek. A start has been .made with local labour on repairs to Gillespie’s track below Weheka. The work so far has been done quite satisfactorily and instructions were given as to where the balance of the grant was to be spent. Two days clearing up of thei Gillespie’s cemetery is required. Karangarua river is in a very bad state. Several swampy stretches require corduroying, numerous trees are lying across the track, and scrub requires cutting back. Mr A. O. Scott is. arranging for this work to he done to the extent of the grant. A survey was made of the proposed deviation through the bush along the south bank of the Mahitahi river to give improved acres!; to the settlers. The length of the deviation is 10 chains. Three chains of the northern approach to th» tramway bridge also requires reforming and metalling. Minor repairs were authorised to be carried out to the trainway bridge between Flower-Pot rock and the main land, also repairs to the stageing supporting the shore shed.

He recommended consideration be given to draining a section of the Kan-ieri-Koiterangi main highway for 48 chains above Whilcy’s property. The present weather conditions are ideal for such works. Mr Whiley has recently completed a large drain through his property to the road reserve within 20 chains of the highway and is quite willing for the highways drainage to pass through his property to the Taminelli stream. A considerable ’ fall would be available for the proposed drain including the various existing drains within this locality. Approval of the scheme has been given by the local Highways Eoard representative.

Plans and specifications are -being prepared for this work and tenders will he invited, for consideration .at a meeting on Saturday, February I.'

FINANCE RE POUT. Account amounting to £2838 3s 9d were passed for payment.

ORDER PAPER

The Chairman moved: “That the accounts for the month of December, 1935, as revised and recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to £2837 3s 9d, be passed for payment. Seconded by Cr Murdoch and carried. The Chairman moved: “That Wednesday afternoon of each week be declared the weekly half-holiday for the County of W istland.” —Seconded by Cr Jamieson and carried. The Chairman moved: ‘ ‘That public notice be given to the intention in accordance with the provisions of the Rating Act, to impose the penalty of ten per cent on all outstanding and unpaid rates after March 1A next.”—Seconded by Cr Brown ana carried.

The Chairman moved: “That David John Evans be reappointed representative of the Council on the Hokitika High School Board.” —-Seconded bv Cr Donovan and carried. Cr Murdoch moved: “That the attention of the Tourist Department be drawn to the difficulty of navigating Mahinapua stream due to windfalls and accumulated debris, and the. Department be urged to have the water-way reopened 'Tor boating, and so revive the popularity of Lake Mahinapua a holiday and tourist resort.”—Seconded by Cr Dale and carriel. Cr Murdoch moved: '“That the Finance Committee having discussed matters relating to wages and salaries in committee, th 9 Council in view ol the substantial reductions made in 1931 and subsequently, and the present promise of increasing revenue, authorises the following restorations, viz: fa) Casual labour to 12s per day. (b) Clerk to £450; engineer to £330 and expenses; assistant clerk and mining valuer to £276; motor mechanic and driver, £252; grader motorman, £240; roadmen each to £2lO ; typist to £l3O. All increases to be from December 1 last.”—Held over till next meeting. Cr Brown moved that from. Jan. 1. wages of casual labour be 12s per Pay and for roadmen 12s 6d per day.—Seconded by Cr McKay and’carried. Cr Donovan moved: “That scrub, gorse, etc. be cleared off Three eVfile Bluff track; cost not to exceed £5.” —Seconded by Cr Murdoch and carried. . ...

The Council discussed arrangements in connection with the visit of Min-

isters next day and adjourned at ,9.30 p.m.