SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 15 June 1923, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tjiiß lortnightly meeting of .lit; Boiougiti Council was held mi iueiuay evening, present: The May, v urniviuiuociij and Crs. Beard, Hyue, Gunning, Curran, carter, Butt, Gartner, anu Muiiay. CORRESPONDENCE From Mr E. spencer, senr., making application to have tne continuance or Ciapnaur street at trie nack ot ms properly opened, giving as iib reason mat me’ uraiir tnat cameo tire water is on me road 'and; the amount 01 stock tiia, is constaintly in tms paddocK is liiiing t'lie drain up. By me road being open he would have a chance to keep straying stock ciear, and wouid eliminate me labour that is always necessary to keep drain clean.—Lett to road committee to investigate and report, The secretary, shannon Ratepayers’ Association, .wrote asking for copy of health Department's full report oil the proposed Shannon water scheme.— i own Clerk to reply that no report has yet been received.

Mr J. Linklater, M.P., acknowledged receipt of letters from Council in regard to the question: of Highways legislation and the matter of reserves in Shannon. He stated he had placed the Council’s representations in regard to Highway legislation before the Minister of Public Works, who had replied that the Highways Board can, if it desires so to do, contribute a sum ol money for the purpose of assisting to maintain a roa,d' which runs through a Borough. Hie first duty, of the Highways Board will be to create the highway districts who elect .a highways council and. the council recommend the roads and the Board approve or alter as they think fit and lay down a standard which they consider ishfficient. and assist in the construction and maintenance from funds which are at. their disposal.—lt .was resolved that Mr Linklater be thanked for his promptitude in the .matter.

Health Department forwarded regulations for the registration of eating houses by local authorities.—By-laws to be confirmed. ... -

Letter from, custodian Council Chambers pointing out the bad condition of spouting on wall of adjoining building and leaky nature of the Council Chambers.—The Shannon Cash Trading Society be. notified and. requested to abate nuisance. J. W. Fisher and Co., submitted sketch of an obelisk in polished grey granite erected on concrete steps and basis, which their .firm were prepared to erect for the sum of £155 complete. —Received'. BUILDING BY-LAWS.

Cr. Curran wanted to know it the Borough had a brick area, it so, was the building being erected for Messrs Wilkinson and Hyde in Ballance street being carried out in' compliance with the by-laws. The Engineer said it was quite in order as the owners had the right to use a party Avail and they had complied with the building by-laws in all respects. Cr. Curran said he was quite satisfled with -.the explanation. SANITATION COMMITTEE'S REPORT

The above' committee reported that the matter of area for removal of garbage.had been defined as follows; From Plimmer Terrace, hotel to hotel, Ballance street from Plimmer Terrace to Venn street, Stout street, Post Office side, Plimmer Terrace to Venn street, and recommended that a. charge be mlade of three pence for dwelling, shop, and other buildings per week.— The report wa & adopted. LIBRARY COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

A meeting' .of the'Library Committee was held recently and' discussed matters concerning Same at length. The number of subscribers is 33, which is considered very small and was accounted for by the laick of publicity given to the; library and-the want of new books. Suitable books chosen by the Librarian and committee to the value of £lO Were ordered, and, a .notice board with cost of subscription arid number of books, about 1600, has been, displayed outside building. Permission was granted to the Librarian to let casual subscribers have loan of books at 3d per copy, providing a, deposit of 5s for two books be left with the Librarian until books :a.re returned. Since the meeting was held there , has already been an increase in membership. Cr. Butt- suggested that if possible the subscriptions, be lowered and that might be ah inducement for new members. The chairman replied that this matter would be kept, in view, but at present the library was hardly paying its way. ROADMAN’S.. REPORT. 'Hie roadman reported that during the past month he had carted out metal for patching 'up the Foxton road and Stafford street from Plimmer Terrace to. Grand sreet comer. The other half of Stafford, street, is in very bad ' order, also Clapham street, which in both cases are caused 1 by heavy traffic. All the other roads are in fair order. Several drains and water tables, had been cleaned out. Acting under instructions from the. Roads Committee the protection work of Otauru stream has been completed.

GENERAL. The Engineer .reported that the engineers concerned representing the local bodies will meet- in about a. week’s time in regard to the Shannon bridge. Idle engineer to the Oioua Drainage Board is making a survey of the river banks. Referring to the scheme of banking the Mangore stream he asked if the Council wanted a bridge over stream by Mr Curran’s property.—lt wa.s resolved that, the Engineer point this matter out, at the conference and be guided by circumstances. Some discussion took place on the payment of heavy traffic fees and on the motion of the Mayor it was resolved that payment be requested within one month. If not paid action to be taken. ■ • Cr. Gunning moved . that action be taken against heavy -traffic coming from outside the Borough with, loads in excess of the Borough, by-laws. Cr. Murray said this was a matter for the Council to approach other local bodtes to co-operate and approach the Government with a view to reducing freight on benzine, etc., and so bring the railway into line with, the motor

traffic charges, and this would relieve the Council of a large percentage of their worrier in this respect. Cr. Carter said ihe did not. agree with the previous speaker. The taxpayers have to meet, any deficiency that might occur with the Railway Department, and he considered the burden should be'on those who used the roads. They should be made to- pay. Cr. Gunning’s motion was carried. Cr Murray said he intended to bring his suggestion forward as a remit to the next Municipal Conference. SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL. In reference to the Soldiers’ Memorial Cr. Hyde moved that a committee consisting of Mrs Spencer, the Mayor, and Crs. Carter aind Hyde go'into the question of a memorial, whether to have one or to let the matter drop, a report to he brought down as early as possible, when the matter will be finally settled, as regards the Council. The Engineer’s offer to furnish a design was accepted 1 with thanks. The question arose as to the matter being dealt with by the Council, i 1 being the opinion that it was for ihe subscribers to'say what should be done with the money. It was finally decided that a meeting of subscribers be called.

CONCRETE SLABS. Cr. Gardner said lie would like the Council to experiment in makinsr cmcrete slabs. A few moulds could lie uurcliased and if the slabs turned out satisfactory, could be used for giving a dry entrance to residences where footpaths are not formed and later could be used for footpaths.—The Mayor moved 1 that the Road Committee be empowered .to purchase twelve mioulds. DRAINS AND WATER TABLES. Cr. Murray said he had a matter to put before the Road Committee. He stated they had so much money put on the estimates for cleaning drains, watertables, etc., and he thought, it would be a good thing if some programme of work was drawn up to go by and he suggested the Engineer make an inspection of the Borough and draw up a; list of thie most urgent work and that tenders be called for same. It would relieve the Bond Committee of a lot of running about. Cr. Gunning supported Cr. Murray. He said it would be remembered the Finance Committee had recommended calling tenders for cleaning waiter tables. At present some of the drams and watertables were in, a bad state. It was an urgent matter and should be attended to g,t once. He referred to the bad rdaite of the drain near his residence which he considered was responsible for a lot of the flooding m that portion, of the town. He suggested that tenders be called for cleaning out this drain. Cr. Gardner: What has been allowed on the estimates for this class of work.

Cr. Gunning: £6OO. Cr. Carter said calling tenders tor cleaning water tables was necessary, as it was work that bad to be done before the rainy season. He thought > f would be advisable to let the work m three or four small contracts. H D wished to explain he was not complaining about the Road Committee 01 roadman. The point, wais that the work had to he done at the right tunc. The Mayor- councillors must remember the Council have not ie money to let contracts and still employ. the two roadmen. Cr. Gunning moved, that it be a iecomimendation. to the R° a( l Commit! .... that the Engineer select the more in gent work as regards cleaning f r <i End watertables and that tenders 1 called.—Carried. GENERAL. , Cr Hyde mloved that the Counci <>';• estimates of kerbihg and if withi ' means, the work t,o be gone on with.--CE Accounts totalling £546 6s 3d were pafesed for payment.