WESTLAND COUNTY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 November 1936, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING YESTERDAY

The Westland County Council met yesterday when there were present Crs. J. J. McKay (Chairman), J. A. Murdoch, A. Dale, W. Jeffries, J. Donovan, B. Ward, T. R. Chesterman, N. H. Brown and W. A. Jamieson.

INWARD CORRESPONDENCE From Treasury advising particulars of accrued revenue. From Minister of Mines intimating two special prospecting .parties, were being selected . for South Westland. —Received.

From District Engineer replying regarding Arahura river protection, and promising to mi.ike recommendations when aerial survey photographs were available.

From same on behalf of the Highways Board in respect to tar-sealing proposals, Taramakau bridge to Kumara Junction, for which £250 was asked. —Received and agreed to. From Main Highways Board, circular letter notifying, owing to the introduction of the State arterial system, it was not possible to approve additional highways this year.—Received. From same, notifying visit of Highways Board to Hokitika on 24th iust at 2.30 o'clock, to receive representations.

The County Clerk was instructed to draw up a schedule of representations to he submitted to the Board, ‘to By that* time, ' the chairman said, the Council might have something definite regarding the Arahura flood positionIt was decided that the full Council meet the Board.

From J. O’Brien M.P., several communications regarding flood' damage. From same, replying the PostmasterGeneral had been, interviewed regarding a second mail per week to the far south.—Received.

From same, stating Lake Mathieson track, Weheka, was provided for on the Estimates. —Received.

From same, enclosing Ministerial reply deferring Lake Kanieri-Styx-Koka-talii track—Received.

‘ From, satne, communicating Ministerial answer : that: Jacobs river bridge was being arranged lor.—Received.

From same,’ ■: regarding' Manamii-Ma-hinapita rpad legalisation.—lt was decided; to ]*rbcceid ;with the'survey.

From Postpaastep confirming arrangement in fespeet to telephone line under Tucker Flat; road.

From same, renewing telephone connection on the party line at Harihari to the County cottage.

From same, in respect to purchase of health stamps in connection with the campaign to raise funds for ~,; l jhe jyari*g.s»*3st wasjdectded to purchase £5 wort-H of stamps.; ■ From N.Z. Counties’ Association in respect to industrial matters still under consideration, and forwarding Ministerial replies,/.on various matters. From Health Inspector ' •notifying visits to food premises 1 in' County, when, instructions; were given, not to permit dogs on premises.

From Ross Borough Council ing v position -regarding.' repairs to Mt. Greenland track to Biei worth'"Beefs. From Bienvirth’s Gold Reef Ltd., notifying track work performed and inviting inspection.- —Received. In reply to Cr. Murdoch, the County Clerk said* applicant’s rates were still unpaid. Cr Murdoch said at Jo tie time the Corincil considered the company would be a source of revenue, but it appeared it was a source of liability. The Council decided to make ,application to the Government for a grant of £IOO.

Fr«m A. Cedennan renewing application for; awess to property right hand branch, Kanieri, for which he had taken the levels and cleared the bush off the proposed line.—Engineer to inspect and report. From Alan E. Wogan, Bruce Bay, enquiring in respect to a road reserve site for a store at the Bay.—The Council decided to take no action.'.-. '

From J. S, Thompson, Bruce Bay, enquiring as to the position regarding building sites on the Bruce Bay road reserve.—Received. 1 I Fi'om Okuru Advisory Committee, notifying letter of thanks sent to Minister of Public Works in connectior .with South Westland loading, and forwarding Minister’s reply and hoping it would he possible to visit the district during the recess. —Received. From Highways Board advising provisions of amending act, and classification of State highways which would relieve the Council of its contributions to the Teremakau-Weheka road (via Flowery Creek deviation) and the Kii-mara-Arthurs Pass section. Contributions from the Council will be required for the Stafford Loop main highway. —Received. »

From District Engineer, Otago, reporting commencement of Haast Pass road from Makarora, and start of the Hollyford road work.—Mr Evans said the work was proceeding satisfactorily. From J. O’Brien, M.P., replying h various matters referred for attention by Minister of Public Works, including Hood damage. —Received.

From same, supplying Minister’s letter approving £lO5, £ for £ for Arahura Valley damage, stating £3 for £1 would be favourably eort'-j sideredj for Kokatahi bridge protection, and that the Camel back erosion was to be looked into lufther. From Mining Registrar reporting sea beach claim washed away, and asking if Council would recommend remission of rent.—Agreed to.

From A. E. Wogan, Bruce Bay; explaining hi s application for building site was in respect to the foreshore,

The Harihan branch of the Farmers’ Union thanked the Council for

stationing a County lorry in the district.

Mr W. D. Nolan wrote protesting against the leasing ol the cattle-rest-ing reserve at Okuru, which was essential for the successful crossing of livestock. On the motion of Crs Jeffries and Donovan the Council decided to forward the objection to the Land Board. Two tenders were received lor the purchase of dray and harness lor use at Harihari, that of J. J. McKay £ls being accepted. Seven tenders were received lor the supply of petrol, that,of L. Gooch, of Hokitika being accepted. The finance committee recommended that arrangements be made to increase the rates of wages as at the 1931 scale in accordance with the terms' of the section of the Finance Amendment Act, 1936. Mr R. Harvey, a settler, of Upper Arahura, asked for assistance in Completing road access , td his property. He had previously been given a grant to put in the track, but when tenders were called for gravelling, the matter was held up at the request of the Member for the district pending inquiry regarding the cost of the road. H e bad been badly hit by the big flood last year, but he would assist if the Council would help him. He had that day given an option-over bis timber, to a milling company which would grant £75 toward the cost, while applicant was prepared tq otter. £l6O. • !

Mr Evans said it bad been estimated the work would cost £1760 for extra formation and ,metalling. ;

Members spoke in favour \of the work, but- suggested the millersi should be levied on the- timber taken; out, as had been done in South ; Westland. This road would assist another; milling company as well as ? other, ; settlers, besides opening up ( (i large area of country.

Mr O’Brien, who was present,, sard he had tried for three years to get money for the Arahura-Milltown road, but it was not granted. , The Council was already committed for £125, but it would bring this amount up, tp £225-, which with Mr Harvey’s and the Coy’s offer made a total of £4OO. The Council suggested the Government should find the sum of £IOOO. Mr, O’ Brien agreed to make application for this amount.

DISTRICT ROADS. The County Engineer reported on the works carried out during the past, month, together with recommendations of work to. be put in hand for tlm month of November, follows:—■ NORTHERN RipINC.

The damage caused =by the two recent floods at Arahura has been considerable. County staff and relief men lp,ve tjeen engaged continuously in this locality repairing roadsv and protection work, removing large trees and debris from the piers of Malfroy’s Bridge. Owing to the danger of further erosion to the northern v approach of Malfroy’s -Bridge, a start was made immediately to construct a.r short groyne below the seat of erosion, repairs were carried to the understructure of Malfroy’s Bridge. Surface repairs are being carried out along German road to give settlers access during flobds. Two-culverts were repaired on Passmore’s Road at Kumara. Handrails and running 1 planks were repaired on the Awatuna bridge. Two county trucks were engaged in repairing sections of the Old Christchurch Road, Callaghans, and Sandy’s Hill roads.

Assisted with truck hire and material from the Council, a stone crate 130 ft. long was constructed by the settlers and local labour, to prevent; erosion of road reserve and property fronting Neame’s at Wainihinihi. Watertablcs and surface repairs have been attended to with local labour on Blue Spur road.

CENTRAL RIDING.

A county truck was engaged 'for 2 days patch-metalling Municipal, McArthur and Station;roads...Drains along both sides of Whites Road are being cleaned out by local labour. The recent clearing and deepening of the drains along Taylor’s road at Lower Kokatahi have proved very beneficial during tne recent heavy rain. The surface of this load will be pateli-metalled as soon as Hie trucks are available.

Necessary repairs and maintenance were carried out along Dorothy Falls road.

Owing to the continuous wet weather the contract lor metalling the 12 chains of new formation on the McArthur road extension at Koiterangi has been held up, but will be proceeded with as soon as the weather permits. A further survey of the Hokitika Gorge track has been made, and as soon as convenient, will be submitted lb . the Public Works Department for approval. The survey of the Toaroha track is being held up owing to the continuous wet weather.

. In company with the district and assistant*engineers of the Public Murks Department, an inspection was made of the increasing erosion taking place along the Hokitika overflow channel. The position was regarded as very serious, and proposals were considered to construct a wall of stone crates acioss the 7 Chains of overflow channel, and continue with stop banks, four feet above’ the existing channel hanks, for a distance of 20 chains. The total cost of the work would be £ISOO. Additional formation and metalling of three passing places and a large turn out at the end of Manamii road contract. has been completed satisfactorily. The amount of gravel delivered was 230 yards. This constitutes the balance of

mil nut r; —-—M'— the Government grant for this road. The posts have been delivered lor the, fence to be erected along Manama road between the golf links and road reserve, and a start will be made to erect same immediately.

SOUTHERN RIDING.

The power grader lias been operating in this riding as follows:—Wataroa Flat 7 days, Scallys, Smiths, Gunns, Percival, Cemetery and Richardsons roads, 1 day each. Okarito roda 6 d.i.vs. The grader is at present working along Waitaha Settlement road and will operate on Redman’s, Kakapot hi and Woolliouse roads before returning to the Central Riding. Cotinty trucks were engaged lor 4 days • metal ling Wataroa Flat road to the extent of 82 yards.

General maintenance and flood damage >repairs have been carried out by the roadman on the following roads in the Harihari district: La Fontaine, Haddocks, Poerua, Wanganui Flat, Petersens, and Osmer’s roads, including 2 days with horse and dray on

Cron’s road. One day’s gravelling is required on the Waitaha south hank road, also 8 inch concrete pipes are required to replace a decayed box culvert.

A recent flood scoured out the protection work and 25 feet of the approach to Kakapotahi bridge. Nine men have been employed for several days, timbering the abutment, consrtlifting whig walls, and filling in the approach with spoil from the ballast, pit conveyed by dump trucks and locomotive from Perry’s Mill.

•Plans are being prepared, for 31 miles for 6ft. track from Waitaha 'Valiev over the Percival range into Happy Valley. ;

Tenders have been invited, and clo&o at noon cm Tuesday, November 10, for the reformation and metalling of 71 chains of Rotokino road. This distance comprises 2-3 of Timperley’s access, the balance of which will he completed with the next year’s estimates. The plans for the second section of the road have been completed and ready for approval. A survey is being made of the approach road and proposed bridge site across the Waitangi river about mile below Wallace’s mill. „ The contractors have made a staff, with the (>ft. track deviation at the Five Mile below Okarito. Specifications are being prepared for expending the balance of Government grant on a 90ft. stock bridge across a section of the Five Mile lagoon. • j Trees have been .felled and removed from the road line, for a total, distance of 152 (jiains along La Fontaine road extension. The formation has-been completed.for 125 chains, and the. metaling for 62jj chains. The work of widening and strengthening the bridge over Black Greek is almost completed. A recent inspection was made along the 8 miles of Mount Greenland track: Although £4O has. been spent on the track during the past 8 months, the continuous rain and floods have e used considerable damage, and repairs to the extent of £IOO are necessary to restore the track to reasonable’ repair.

As requested at last meeting, an inspection was made of the RuatapulU)ss track, to report on the cost of a footbridge over the 'lotara lagoon. Two footbridges are required, one 5 chains in length, and the other 50 feet in length. The cost to erect these bridges high enough to be above hood level would cost (.1) £175, (’2) £45.

Oil DM It PA PlUl. The chairman moved: “that the accounts for the. month of October, 1H;K). as revised and recommended for payment by the .Finance Committee, amounting to £‘2302, be passed for payment.” The chairman moved: “That the Council express its appreciation of the , State policy in regard to the control of the arterial highways, and convey thanks to the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works for the consideration extended to the .district. —Carried.. The chairman moved: “That the Council convey to the Member for Wokthind, thanks for the attention given by Mr O’Brien to the many requests sent forward, and for the , prompt action in respect to the several matters requiring special at- j tention.” —Carried. Cr. .Jamieson moved: “That in. view of tli e relief. afforded under the | State highway system, the Highways | .Board be asked to approve the sealing proposals lor the Kokatahi highway, and authorise the work being undertaken.”—Carried.