COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kaikoura Star, Volume LIV, Issue 53, 9 July 1934, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING, The ordinary monthly meeting of the Kaikoura County Council took place on Friday. Present: Councillors F. J. Monk (chairman). E. Weavers, D. Boyd, G. E. Parsons, B. J. Mackie, T. Alexander, E. H. Eccles, J. Boyd, and P. 8. Humm CORRESPONDENCE. J. W. Anderson reported on the collection of County rates, A circular was received from the Main Highways Board in reference to taking metal from privately owned sources for highways and paying royalty to the land owners in preference to taking advantage of the local body’s statutory powers. The Board urged the invoking of compulsoiy powers where expedient.—Received. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. J. A. Young), advised that Arbor Day would be observed on the first Wednesday in August, and pointed out the national importance of tree-plant-ing.—lt was decided to fall in with the suggestions set out in the letter. C. W. Lee, Blue Duck, wrote asking permission to re-erect a fence on the lower side of the Blue Duck road, to avoid having spoil thrown on the fence. An 18ft fairway would be adhered to. —The Engineer was requested to investigate the matter. The Hospital Board submitted its statement showing estimate of receipts and expenditure for 1934-35, and statement of receipts and expenditure for 1933-34. The estimated maintenance expenditure in Kaikoura for 1934-35 is set down as £3150, as compared with £3107 for the previous year; Cheviot £460 as compared with £445 Capital expenditure includes £125 3/3 for batteries at the Kaikoura Hospital. The total levy for 1934-35 in set down at £1469 10/10 as against £l5ll 3/1 for the previous year. The rateable capital value is set down at £1,545,975, as against £1,586,880 last year. The total levy for Cheviot is £1367 10/10, as against £1612 16/2 for the previous year.

The Local Bodies Loan Board advised receipt of the Council’s letter in respect of water-supply loan. The matter is being investigated and the Council will bo communicated with in due course.—Received. The Unemployment Board, in reply to an application by the Kaikoura Golf Club for the assistance of relief labour under No. 5 scheme for layingout an area on its leasehold, advised that if the Golf Club is prepared to supplement the relief wages of labour supplied to bring them up to ordinary rates ruling for the class of work performed, or provide additional employment over and above the ration of relief, the Club is eligible under the scheme for laying-out of the course, forming greens, etc. It will be necessary for the local body to concur in any arrangements made. Messrs Newman Bros, advised that Government Inspector hed informthorn that fill pipes arc not allowed inside the garage, and asked permission to move them back to the footpath. They asked permission to fill the bowsers during the ordinary working hours of the day, instead of before 8 a.m., and after 5 p.m.—lt was agreed to accede to the requests. Cr. James Boyd gave notice to move: —“That the motion standing in the chairman’s name, that Mr Rutherford be allowed to pull up the fence between his property and the lighthouse serve, be rescinded.” —Cr Boyd consided it would be unwise to pull down a boundary fence. He contended that Mr Rutherford had been treated fairly. To remove the fence would bo a retrograde step. —Cr D. Boyd seconded the motion.—Cr Alexander said Mr Rutherford had only had the lease four years, and the property had been leased forsixty years. Why was the fence not maintained previously?—Cr Mackie desired to know from old councillors what the position was regarding the exchange of land.—Cr J, Boyd said s< ven seres had been taken.—Cr Eccles suggested councillors visiting the site.—The chairman said the position was that th< Council had no jurisdiction regarding the fence. There was a paper road bounding the property. He had heard that Cr. Boyd had remarked that the chairman was an interested parry. Cr. J. Boyd: You are a nephew. The chairman said he could not see that he was interested, and gave a few facts regarding past treatment of relatives during the late chairman’s term He was glad to know, however, that nobody took notice of such statements. The fence had never been maintained since it was erected 60 years ago. Cr. J. Boyd said he considered it to be a boundary fence, —The motion to rescind the resolution was lost on the voices. R. W. Barker, Mill road, wrote complaining of pigs being kept adjacent to his property. The matter had also been reported to the Health Officer, and asked that the nuisance be abated.— It was decided to refer the letter to the Health Officer. The Marine Department forwarded the following letter: —“Representations • have been received by this dejaitment from the fishermen using the loat slip at Kaikoura that when the slip was constructed about eight or ten years ago it was decided that a charge of 7/6 was to be made for the first four days and 5/ for every day aftema’-l* that '.he slip was occup’el, ki* until now the extra charge of 5/ per day lied never been adhered to ly the Cout.eil Recently the fisae nu n received de mands for monies owing by them lor extra time on the slip, an 1 some of them cannot pay, and have b**n reluscd the use of the slip until payment is made. The fishermen have been notified that according to the by-laws governing the use of the slip, the charges arc 10/ for any period up to three days, and not 7/6 for the first four as stated by them. The department will be glad to have any remarks the Council desires to submit in connection with the fishermen’s representations.” —The Engineer reported that it had been agreed to allow four days for 7/6, and 5/ per day thereafter. Some of the fishermen had paid the fees, while others had neglected to do so.— The Engineer was instructed to deal with the matter. The District Highways Council ad'is-

ed that the Main Highways Board had decided to fix the hire rate for the Council’s auto patrol grader at £4 6/ per day, this being exclusive of the driver’s wages, which, in tho meantime, arc to remain at 12/6 per day. The President of the Roya] Society of New Zealand forwarded a lengthy circular dealing with the risk of occurrence of destructive earthquakes in New Zealand. C. R. Wilcocks, Christchurch, wrote asking for information relative to wharf accommodation and possibilities of trade, as he was interested in a project to connect Kaikoura and Wellington by sea.—lnformation to be supplied by the Clerk. W. J. Harnett was granted a renewal of his slaughterhouse license. The Kaikoura Football Club were granted permission to conduct a stall at West End. ELECTRIC LIGHT REPORT. Mr T. O’Donnell, electrical engineer, reported for the month of Juno as follows:

Units generated 5030, sold 3764, hours run 373, coal consumption 120 bags. Expenditure: Oil and waste £1 15/, standing charge £8 0/6, good.- bought £lO 5/, coal £34 10/6, wage* £55 13/; total £llO 4/. Income £164 13/8. Credit balance for month £54 8/8. The report was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr P. Burgoyne, County EngineerClerk, reported for the mon Hi of June as follows: MAIN HIGHWAYS. Christchurch-Blenheim via Parnassus— Clarence River to South Pay: Further patch-metalling has been carried out in the vicinity of Aniseed and Ohau, a total of 90 cubic yards being placed. Repairs have been effected to a washout, on Garret’s cutr.ing. All the water-tables between Ohau and Mangamaunu have been cleaned out. The section of road opposite Sharp tin’s has had additional filling carted on to the low side to reshape the road, ,and remetalling of this section is proceeding. Maintenance grading has been carried out by the motor grader on 15 days during the month and generally the road is in good order. Waipara-Kaikoura via Culverdert— Conway River to Kaikoura: The water-table on the Conway cutting, which was badly scoured recently, has been repaired. the motor g-ader has made a start on the cutting-off of the outside margins and the banking of the bends on the Greenhill’s cuffing. Main tenance grading has been canied out on eight days during the month. SECONDARY HIGHWAYS

Beach Road: The portion of this road against the limestone bluff has been widened by 10 feet, and a start has been made with remetalling this section. Puhi Puhi Road: More slips came down on this road during the early part of the month, and have since been cleared off. Robb’s Road: The motor grader spent half a day on this section aud at present it is in good order. Suburban Riding— Smith’s Road: The motor grader worked for half a day re-shaping this road, and the metalling authorised at last meeting has been carried out. Bay Paddock Road: Repairs have been carried out to tho ford at Harnett’s creek. Waimangarara River: A longitudinal protective wire-netting fence has been installed at the break above Borland’s section, and willow planting at the break is in progress. Clarence Riding— Waipapa Road: The slip on tb* George spur has moved again and the road is now blocked to all vehicular traffic. Puhi Puhi Road: The cleaning of the water-tables between the Clinton and Turner’s Mistake is under way. Peninsula Riding— Town Streets: Patch-metalling has been carried out, where required, on Torquay, Killarney streets, etc No. 5. SCHEME. During the month 36 men have been employed, the men being divided between the following jobs: Waimangarara river-bed, tree planting, drain cleaning, Puhi Puhi road, Smith’s road, Hapuku ford, Domain, etc. The report was adopted. RATES.

The chairman moved to strike the following rates: —General £d; sanitation £1 per pan per year, and special rates of such amounts as are necessary to meet principal, interest and sinking fund charges on Puhi Puhi East road and Peninsula Riding loans.

Cr Humm contended that details of riding expenditure last year should be placed before the meeting as a guide. Cr D. Boyd thought the rates should be reduced. The Chairman said he could not see how it was to be done. Things must be kept going—roads and bridges had slipped back in the past years, and a three-farthings rate was necessary. The Engineer read a statement showing estimated receipts and expenditure for the year, leaving £l6OO for general expenditure.

The Chairman said he would like to see a reduction of rates, but sound finance must be aimed at. The motion was carried. GENERAL.

Cr D.- Boyd said complaints were made regarding cutting timbci on Waimangarara.

Cr Parsons asked that a plank be placed over the Hapuku ford. It was decided Jo attend to the matter, Cr Humm asked if anything could be done at the top ford at Kowhai.—The Chairman pointed out that spending money on these fords in flood periods was useless expenditure. During fine weather is was quite a good thing to have the fords attended to, but where there was a main highway it should be used in bad weather.

The reduction of electric light current to 101 d is available only to those who are not in arrears or those who are reducing arrears by 5 per cent. Cr. Humm considered the County contribution should be reduced by 124 per cent. He moved to that effect. —Cr. D. Boyd seconded. The chairman said as q result of the reduced price it was hoped to secure further consumption.—The motion was lost, Crs. Humm, J. Boyd, D. Boyd, and E. H, Eccles being the supporters of the motion on a division being cnPed.

Cr. Weavers suggested that poisoned grain be procured during the cold weather.—Agreed to. Cr. D. Boyd asked that ? return bo submitted showing profit and loss on the new grader.—lt was agreed to have a return each quarter. PAY-SHEET. The pay-sheet—general account £1275 10/11 and electric light account £5B 16/3 —was passed for pavment DOMAIN BOARD. B. Powell’s tender was accepted for the Monkey Face reserve at £4 per year. Permission was granted to the Football Club to use Takahanga Domain on July 7 and 14. TENDER’S. Two tenders were received for metalling on Waiau road and the North road. Inland road: J. A. Johnston, Lynton cutting, 3/3 yard; Reserve cutting, 2/9; Kahautara cutting. 2/6; Greenburn cutting, 3/3. W. D. Jclfs 2/10. North roads: J. A. Johnston, 3/3 and 4/3; W. D. Jclfs, 3/-. It was decided to accept Johnston’s tender for the Inland road and Jelfs’ for the North road.