WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14860, 6 September 1918, Page 2

WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

Tho monthly meeting of the Waimea. County Council was held yesterday. Present: Crs. P. Best (chairman), H. Everett, TV Hewetson, A. Drummond, G. Maemahon, A. P. Allport, and H. Tunuicliff. FINANCE. ' The bank pass book showed balances as follows:—

Accounts were passed as follows:— General account, £1154 16.* 8d; land fund thirds account, £29 17s.

ENGINEER'S REPORT,

xhe Engineer (Mr. G. S. White&ide), m his monthly report, stated, inter ana:—linanciai: Owing to the stressed position of the county fund it was found necessary to restrict work on roads as much as possible, otherwise it would not have been possible, to continue at tJie usual rate during the next few months. The concrete pipe works were temporarily closed down and a grader laid up. Labour was also shortened all round. After that day's payments were made the overdraft would be approximately £12,000, or about £3000 more than twelve months ago. This was chiefly accounted for by wages having risen 25 per cent, and material having advanced 50 to 100 per cent Under these conditions it must be patent that road maintenance must fall about 40 per cent., as it takes £1 now to do the work of 12s some wars a<*o Maitai ridirig • Work in the upper Maitai Valley to the extent of £32 had been "carried out, and the road was now m good rough passable order. On Bell'sf end of Beckman's Valley maintenance work at a cost of £5 had been carried out. He hoped shortly to start the work of renewing Marsden's bridge Stoke, in concrete, which was authorised some considerable time ago.— Wai-iti riding: It appeared possible to straighten the Pigeon Valley stream by White's and avoid two bad splashes at a cost of about £45. The timber for the Belgrove motor bridge was on tho site, and construction would be proceeded with without delay.—Motui>iko riding: Metal patching and general repairs had been carried out in various parts.—Wangapeka riding: After considerable negotiation he expected authority to be issued for the Council to carry out the work of constructing the Tadmor river bridge. Should this eventuate no time would be lost in getting to work on it.—Mota^ka riding: He thought it probable. that fhe Council would eventually get authority to proceed with the re-erection of tho eastern end of the Motuekn-Riwaka bridge. The department insisted on about 25 per cent, more steel than he had designed, which would bring the cost of the work up to £2890, and ho understood the Government would find half of the increased cost.—Moutero riding: The deputation appointed by . the Council" duly waited on tho Motueka- Harbour Board relative to tho charge for gravel on Kina beach. The deputation was courteously received, and the Board decided to reconsider the matter. -It/did not appear clear that, 'the Board could legally charge for shingle from the foreshore without the sanction of the Marine Department and a-, by-law dealing with the business. However that might be he found' the Board was charging the County Council for shingle taken above ordinary high-water mark, and for that the Board had no legal authority whatever. The Board's jurisdiction ceases at the line of ordinary high-water mark, which is a line taken between high neap tides and high spring tides. The beach, and therefore the shingle, above that line belonged to the adjacent landowner; or if the boundary of the land is fixed by a "Land Transfer" title, the beach may be "no man's land and neutral territory, but was certainly not the property of the Harbour Board. As the matter was so important to the, roads in tho Tasman district the County Council would be justified in allowing the matter to be settled by a ruling of tho court. At present the Council requir M xibfit.'JOO yards for TT^-bv's road. One circumstance eased the situation

somewhat. That was, the Tasman Land! Syndicate would allow the Council to * take shingle free of cost where their. land abuts on the line of ordinary high- J ivater mark. This concession would 1 3nable the Council to cheaply obtain < gravel off the beach below the highest i< tide mark, and in time this metal re-: serve \\ ould be replenished from sea-'' ward by natural accretions. Ho had I ] laid off the bank work near Broug- \ ( ham's. Lower Aloutcre, and tenders' were in. He estimated the cost of a j traffic bridge over splash on'Kina road .it £120. * j ■ Arising out of the report, it was: stated that the lhiutf of the Council's' overdraft was £14,000. The clerk stat- j ed that the rates1 were now coming in ' and subsidies were becoming available, i Crs. Allport, Everett, and the chair-{ man urged the necessity of improving i the Rocks road track, and'it was re-1 solved that the Engineer have it made! passable forthwith, and that it-be! aSm as soon as conditions permit I Tho Engineer stated- that he had re-! cjeived authority to. proceed with the ladmor river bridge. Councillors ex-i pressed satisfaction at the prospect oi! the early completion of this much de- j layed work, and it was resolved that a' vote of thanks be accorded Mr. R. P \ Hudson, M.P., for the trouble he Kadi taken in the matter. : On the n^otion of Cr, Everett, second-! v "y,^r- \Hewetsonj it was resolved1 that the decking of the eastern end of the Motuek'a-Riwaka bridge be reinstated, strengthening piles put in, and the fence re-erected. v ■ : \ Four tenders were received for raising low pice© of road in the Moutere Qear Brougham's stables. Three were at £93 and the fourth at £95.—The Engineer's estimate was £50, and the amount voted by the Council £20.—1t was resolved on th© motion of Cr Hewetson, seconded by Cr. Drummond, that the tenders be declined. Cr. Hewetson moved, and Cr. Allport seconded, that a sub-committee, • consisting of Crs. Everett, the Engineer, and the mover, wtih power to act, inspect the Moutere road, near Brougham's stables, with a view to th© erection of a stop bank. Cr. Hewetson was of opinion that the work could be done for £20. Carried. The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Public Trust Office,"notifying that a loan of £150 had been granted, at 5£ per cent., with 1 per cent, finking fund, subject to sufficiency and legality of security.—This sum is it special loan for repairing the Maitai road. The necessary legal resolutions in connection with "the special rating area were passed. From the Department of Internal Affairs, advising- that in consequence of the large" number of direct appeals from organisations outside the Dominion to patriotic societies for assistance, no thing should be don© till the Minister. approval had been received; further at; vising that money to provide comfort, should be remitted to the officer, chaplain or nurse in charge, and not to*Ti particular individual. . Considerable difficulty had been caused through ;the transfer of such officers from one base to another. From the Public Works Department, stating that local authorities were making payments to contractors, workmen and owners of teams for carrying out works.under Government subsidies at rates much in excess of what the department was paying for similar work carried out under the supervision of itb own officers, and attaching a condition to all authorities.—The Engineer stated that the conditions would not affect tho Council. From the Murchison County Council, offering to contribute £13 10s for a motor ambulance, a motion to contribute £27, the full share on a valuation basis, being defeated. • ; From the organiser, Canterbury, Nelson, Marlßorough and West Coast Red Cross Centre, asking ; for contribution towards copper trail Canterbury- v. Otago.—-Resolved, on .the'"motion of Cr. .Allport1,. tliat application be made to the Minister of Internal Affairs for a transfer of the balance contributed by tho Council to the, Belgian Relief Fund to the Nelson Red Cross iunds. From E. E. Bell, Maitai Valley, asking what steps he should take in the event-of the gate across the road at Sharland's creek road being locked.— On Cr. Allport's motion, it was resolved that Mr. Bell be instructed; to open the> gate 'with, the least possible damage if ha finds it locked. - • From the. Richmond Borough Council, asking the County Council to carry out its promise to have the watercourse at Hope cleared out, also ditch from Ooloman's to Appleby corner.—Resolved, that notices be served on property liners in the locality to immediately jlean out ditches. '

From Tahuna Progressive Association I thanking the council for providing three' electric lights for Stoke-Tahnna main road.—Appreciation was expressed at the letter, it being stated that the council was seldom thanked for anything it i did. From Stoke Progressive Association, forwarding resolution that purchase ; money for Nelson wharves should be earmarked for extension ol railway.— ■ Received. From Mr D. E. Boon, Wakapuaka, ; asking for larger pipes for culvert near i his residence.—Referred to Engineer. I From Mr W. Cheyne. Spring Grove, Ire bad state of road.—Referred to EnI gineer. . . From, settlers re bad state of Teapot Gully i-oad, W.airoa Gorge.—Cr. TunniI cliff to report. j From Mr C. Higgins, Belgrove, ask[ing for culvert to be put in alongside I his property, Wai-iti Valley.—Left to' I Engineer, with power to act. j | From Mrs M. Mills, Neudorf, re fords! jat Herrick's and Miller's.—To be at-j I tended to. ! j From-Mr W. J. Moren, Bj:ton, re, i footbridge over' Baton River, near Me-i I Carthy'?:—-Overseer to report. I | From Mr J. Smith, Tapawera, asking! i for pipes for culvert. —To be suuplied at •

cost price. ' . j from Mr E. B. Dayies, Dovedale, ro' storm water.—To be informed that the matter is in hand. From Korere-Motupiko -branch of Farmers' Union re culvert opposite Kohatu' Hotel.—To be informed that the matter! is being undertaken. j i From Mr H. T. Pring re bad state of . road between Tpphouse and Wairau River.—To be attended to out of avail- "■■ able thirds. > From settlers re bad state of Old House road, Moutere. —Repairs to be effected. j THE WAKAPUAKA ROAD. ! Messrs J. Corder, R. C. Withers, ana J. T. Barnes waited -upon the council! in connection Avith the upkeep of the! Suburban North road, complaining of j the bad state of the road between i . Happy Valley and the city boundary? ! and asked that the dayman be re-; appointed. j Or. Allporfc moved, and Cr. Macma-i hon seconded, that the Engineer be in-'. ; structed to reappoint Mr Stagg as per-1 jmanent dayman. . j | The Engineer took exception to the; imotion, as the appointment of men must: ,rest with him. ' ; Cr. Lverett pointed out that thoie i was already a resolution that, tno. ;ip- • pomtment of. men be left in the l-::r.ds! of the Engineer. * I The chairman ruled that it would lie f necessary to rescind the resoi.ition li«-j fore he could take the "lotion. j The chairman suggested a mciicn j.that a dray should bo put on the ro.'id. i ! The Engineer said he would accept such an instruction, but he wonld not undertake to put Stagg on, as ho had mado other arrangements He said the nam road in Wakapuaka was in as good condition as any main road in the councy. No resolution was adopted. GENERAL. 11 was resolved (the chairman opposing) that the action of the' Engineer in chargim* Mr Jessop 6d a yard; for gravel taken from the Waimea river "bed near ths Appleby bridge be approved. The Engineer was instructed to do some more patching on the NelsonRichmond road. It was resolved that a groin be erected m tho Pigeon Valley stream opposite W. Martin's property, to prevent thr. stream ever flowing on to the public road, provided the Engineer approves of tho work and the owners of tho land below indemnify the.council for any damage that might ■be done to their property by such work. It was resolved on the motion of Cr. Hewetson, seconded bj- Cr. Everett, that the council purchase from Mi- Marshall for a sum not exceeding £100 an area of a little over three acres at Ruby Bay, for the purposesof a cemetery, NOTICE OF MOTION. ■ Cr.-Allport gave notice to move at tho next meeting: "That the accounts of the council be separated into two funds. No. 1 account to be a- constructional account and one-eighth of th<^ general rate- to "be allocated to this fund. aiH this to be used for building new .bridges and rebuilding existing bridges arid constructing and gravelling new roads; No 2 account to be;'a, maintenance account, ad all the remaining rates to be allocated to this fund and to be used for maintenance of roads throughout the county; also to niaka this fund adequate for the maintenance: of comity roads; all motors in the district be licensed annually, and all foes to be paid into the maintenance account, rate of fees ■to be as follows: — Tr.ictiou and motor lorry, £5; motor plying for hire., £4.; ordinary car, £3; motor cycles, £1.

-It was resolved, on .the motion of Cr. Airport, seconded by 'Cr. Everett, that in the meantime the opinion of Mr Martin, solicitor to the Counties Association, be obtained as to tho power of the council to separate motor cars from ordinary vehicles.

Dr. <:-.-■ ■-■■■ £ 8. d. Waimea County fund ac. 10.811 10 6 Cr. Contractors' depo&it ac. 0 7.0 Interest accounts—. No. 1, Blocks road 3 7 7 No. 2, Ngatimoti bridge, 25 13 2 No. 3, Baton bridge 5 12 11 No. 4, Sherry bridge 7 8 8 • No. 5, Beninsuja bridge 71 6 10 No. 6, Stoke waterworks reserve G3 ll 10 No. 7, Moutere Inlet 31 4 b Land fund thirds ae. 161 16 10