TAKAKA COUNTY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 14 June 1939, Page 2

TAKAKA COUNTY

ABOLITION OF RIDING ACCOUNTS RATE STRUCK OVER WHOLE AREA REDUCTION OF l-Bth OF A PENNY ON THAT BASIS At yesterday's meeting of the Takaka County Council the estimates for the ensuing year were approved and Councillor Sparrow gave notice of motion to move at the next meeting that a general rate of 2£d in the £ be struck over the whole County. This represents a reduction of £d in the Anatoki Riding and an increase of in the Waitapu Riding. Councillor Sparrow remarked that this would be welcomed by the Anatoki Riding as there were a lot of sheepfarmers in that district. Councillor Langford moved that the hospital rate be 3-8 d in the £ on the capital value. Under the new system one general rale will be struck over the whole district in place of a rate for each riding. The rate was fixed at 2£d on the unimproved value, including interest and principal payments on loans. Councillor Langford said there were instances where they could not spend a grant because the Council could not find its share. Councillor Sparrow: A low rate is likely to run the Council into difficulties. The Clerk said he could hardly reduce his suggestion of a 2id rate. That was practically equivalent to the Waimea County rate though Waimea was on the capital value. The Clerk explained that had this system been in vogue last year, the amount of rate would have been 2 5-Bth, that was l-Bth of a penny more than this year, showing a reduction to that extent this year. YEAR’S OPERATIONS REVIEWED The County chairman, Councillor A. H. Rose, presented his annual report reviewing the operations of the County Council for the past twelve months. Councillor Rose said:— “The year under review has been a satisfactory one, both from a financial point of view and being free from any serious damage caused by storm, which has been our experience over the past four to five years previously. *‘Wc commenced the year with a cash credit over all the accounts of £1521, and ended the financial year with a cash credit over all accounts amounting to £1671. Riding balances at the 31st March last amounted to— Waitapu Riding credit £862, and Anatoki Riding debit £271. The total amount of rates struck amounted to £3331 and the total collected, including arrears, amounted to £3596. Ninety-two per cent, of the current year’s rates were collected at the close of the financial year, and 28 per cent, of the current rates were collected for hospital levy. PUBLIC WORKS GRANTS

r _ “It is pleasing to note that all Pubv lie Works grants on this year’s Public e Works Estimates have been completed rs or are nearing completion, namely, the v . construction of the Go-Ahead Creek j. Bridge, reinforced concrete bridge, 35 !» s foot span, total cost £945, subsidy £2 ry for £l. Waitui Road metalling £3 for rs £l. £275. Te Kakau Creek Bridge j. 20ft span reinforced concrete with apr- proach work £535, subsidy £2 for £1 is (including £SO contributed by settler). r . J. G. Page’s reinforced concrete culvert and approaches £3BO, subsidy £3 for £l. Wainui to Totaranui widening 36 corners £SOO free, Simpson’s Road metalling £67, subsidy £2 for £l, > Hidden Treasure road metalling ;o £IOO, subsidy £2 for £l, Rivet er Protection Works £96, £1 j. for £l, and Canaan Road improvers ments £250, £3 for £l, also following y, our representations to the Government d we were successful in obtaining £IOO d free grant for levelling the Pohara Dc2. main, the work being carried out by ?s the Council. d ROAD IMPROVEMENT * “Considerable improvement has been ’ carried out to several of our narrow c roads by work undertaken with men employed under Scheme No. 13, and the following are some of the works attended to and in hand: —Wainui to Totaranui widening, Manson’s to MacShane’s widening, Waikaremumu Road widening, metalling, new culverts and ■ improving creek crossings, Simpson’s < Road new formation 1 mile, metalling and ditching. Hidden Treasure Road i | new formation, 1J miles, metalling, cul < i verting, and ditching. Grant’s and I Ward’s Roads, Puramahoi, metalling ] j and widening. River Protection and i . groyne work at the Anatoki River, also new paths and general improvements ] ! tc the Rototai Cemetery. ( “At the close of the financial year < 18 men were employed under the J scheme, the men being engaged at full . award rates of pay, the Government granting 16s per day each man. Further work was undertaken by our * Council under the Ragwort Eradica- 1 ' tion Scheme on the unoccupied Crown 1 ’ Lands ragwort infested area at Pura- ( mahoi, the whole cost of the work be- I ing met by the Employment Depart- 1 ment and Agriculture Department. 1 l MAIN HIGHWAYS c • l -i All the Main Highways have been t s satisfactorily maintained and improve- t - ments including sea wall protection i were carried out along the Pohara

! Beach. A contract has been let for the construction of a new reinforced conj crete bridge of 35ft span together with 17 chains of approach work to take the place of the old dangerous concrete splash at Scotts* Creek, Lindsays-Clif-ton Road Highway, this is a further step in providing an all weather road to Takaka. At the time of the Main Highways Board's visit to Takaka an opportunity was taken to place several requests before them, principally the matter of extending the tar sealing southwards towards Nelson, improving the State Highwaj' from Takaka to Upper Takaka and providing an all weather road. I may add that our requests received favourable consideration and the matter of tar sealing has been promised to receive first consideration on this year’s Main Highways Estimates, also the Board have already in hand the re-alignment of the State Highway where excellent work has already been carried out from the Takaka Bridge over Bird’s Hill to the aerodrome at Rangihaeta, Puramahoi. The whole of the roading throughout the County has been satisfactorily maintained during the year and the roads have been kept up to a good standard, again excellent work having been carried out with the power grader. ABOLITION OF RIDING ACCOUNTS “An important change in County administration will be carried out from the commencement of this financial year by the abolishing of riding accounts, in future all expenditure will be charged to General Account, and one general rate levied over the whole County. This, in my opinion, is a change in the right direction as with the modern means of transport improved access to any portion of the County concerns the finances of the district as a whole. The Estimates are submitted for your consideration and as you will notice that on account of the change in the methods of accounts the General rate proposed to be levied represents a reduction of &d in the £ in the Anatoki Riding and an increase of Jd in the £ in the Waitapu Riding. Interest and principal payments on our loans amounting to £4Bl will in future be 1 paid out of the General rates instead of as previously collecting two Special rates of £d in the £ each. In conclusion I extend my sincere thanks to members and the staff for your loyalty and support during my term of office. 1 Councillor Rose was heartily thanked for his comprehensive report. EAST TAKAKA ROAD When the business of the monthly meeting was resumed, the Engineer, Mr j G. E. Boyes, reported that the contractor had that day made a start on the construction of the bridge over Iron Gate Creek ( Scott’s Creek) on the East; Takaka road. The Engineer is to endeavour to obtain some No. 13 Scheme men for improvement to the Rameka Creek road. POHARA DOMAIN BOARD Councillor Langford brought up the matter of Pohara Domain Board. Without assistance it could hardly function. Councillor Sparrow said Councillor Langford would have to do what he (the speaker) suggested at last meeting—hold a gala each year. Councillor Manson was of opinion that it was unfortunate that the Domain Board had been formed. The peo- j

pie moving for a Domain Board gave him the impression that the Board would be able to carry on without assistance. Councillor Langford: “That was the Beach Improvement Society.” Councillor Manson reminded them that there had been a couple of grants. Councillor Langford said until something was done they could hardly make a charge for use of the Domain and in that way secure revenue. Councillor Walker: “I won’t sanction a rate. I would rather see the Council make a donation. No action was taken. “OUT GOES THE COW” Councillor Manson said he had been worrying about the menace of stock on the roads at night. Some way out of the difficulty should be found. The other evening it was a wonder his car did not collide with wandering stock. Councillor Sparrow added he had nearly got into serious trouble on the road in that way. Councillor Manson went on to say that fully fifty or sixty cattle were on the road. They certainly looked “Jerseyfied” cows. Some better method of controlling stock was very desirable. The Clerk: “When they see the ranger out one week, they know they are safe the next—“so out goes the cow.” He had suggested that the Ranger vary the times when he went out. The Ranger s best plan was to lay an information against the owners of straying stock. The chairman said Riwaka was about the worst place in New Zealand for straying stock. Councillor Manson: “We have been lucky in this district in not meeting with serious accidents.” Councillor Manson said he was near--1; “turned over end for end” and he | did not think he was the fastest driver in the district. USE OF MACHINERY Councillor Manson urged that tiie Council acquire a bulldozer. The East road extension was a necessary work and with a bulldozer they could carry out the work much more cheaply. River protection work and other works ahead also justified use of a bulldozer. He thought application should be made to the Minister to allow the money granted to be spent on day labour with the ‘ use of a machine. It would help to cut! down the rates. There was no doubt the grader had helped to reduce the[ rates. The Chairman (Councillor Rose): WeJ

c WiWiV.VAW.V.W.Vi'.V.V. d :- could not have maintained* the roads without the grader. e Councillor Walker said it all depended on the extent of work they had to n do. On the other hand if there was not s. much work, the machinery would be >- expensive. e The Clerk said similar equipment n could be obtained for the grader. Councillor Page: Would we get su’on sidised if we used a bulldozer? il The Clerk: “If we get a couple of grants we could do the work with our own machine.” Councillor Manson: “That is what I want.” | Councillor Walker said there were £ | only one or two jobs, and then what j would they do with the bulldozer? e 1 The Clerk urged the advisableness j of acquiring a lorry with an elevator, i . j Councillor Page: “Yes. before we | start talking about bulldozers let us i consider a lorry of our own. The Clerk said they would have been. better off if they had had their own lorry. Councillor Manson moved that the Clerk go into the question of purchasing a bulldozer and other machinery, and report to the next meeting of the Council. EMPLOYEES’ UNION -1 The New Zealand Federation of Lo- - cal Bodies Employees, Builders, Con--11 tractors and General Workers cited' county. t WAITAPU HARBOUR BOARD i The Council sitting as the Waitapu > Harbour Board passed accounts for £4B 11s 7d. The Clerk’s action in placing on fixed deposit the sum of £SOO for a further term of two years was approved.