BOROUGH ADMINISTRATION

Chronicle (Levin), 11 December 1947, Page 3

BOROUGH ADMINISTRATION

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING OF COUNCIL The fortnightly meeting of the Shannon Borough Council was held on Tuesday, with the Mayor (Mr. D. A. Fitzgerald) presiding over Crs. B. Clayton, V. J. Bateman, H. L. Norris, R. S. Downes, C. M. Cronquest, L. G. Sayer, C. G. Wishart and H. Aitchison. The distriet supervisor of the State Housing Department, replying to the council's correspondence in connection with the septic tank arrangements for the State house units on the intersection of Margaret and Ballance Streets, stated that an inspection of a soakage pit on the property of Mr. R. S. Downes ha'd been made by departmental officials, when a pit had been dug to a depth of 12 feet. The letter went on to state that the department has encountered better soakage material in pits sunk in Shannon, but the results after about 12 months use had proved a failure-. The last soakage pit put; down by the department was sunk to a depth of 18 feet, and although the gravel encountered was much freer and more promising than i that on Mr. Downes' property, the: pit was now filled with water to within one • f oot of the top, this being the result after only six months of service. This letter brought forth a I considerable amount of discussioni and Cr. Sayer, chairman of the works committee, stated that the department had never reached , gravel in the pit held up by them as an example. It had only touched the metal and then ceased to go further. Moreover, the whole of the storm water from all the

houses in the block went into the one pit, with the result that the pit was filled with water before the houses were let. Cr. Cronquest was of the opinion that if the department was to •go down far enough it would get all the soakage required. To put all the storm water from the roofs - of five houses into one soak pit, was not efficient engineering. * Cr. Sayer mentioned that he had 1 thrown a four gallon bucket of water into the pit on Mr, Downes' property and it had soaked away within a matter of seconds. I Cr. Downes quoted an example of a soak pit on the property next to his, which been down for over I 20 years and was still working , most efficiently. This pit was only sunk to -the same depth .as the one i on his property. ✓ ' Cr. Cronquest said that the council . should stand fast • and make the department carry out ! further- investigatabns. ' ! It. was decided'" that the town i clerk- inform the Housing Department that the council was still of! the opinion that if the department: went deep enough it would get all! the soakage required. Qualified men had inspected' the pits in ! Grand Street an'd at Mr. Downes' property, and were definitely of the opinion that there was adequate soakage in the pit at Mr. Downes' property.

The town clerk, Mr. J. T. Bovis, stated that he had been in contact with a firm of steel goods manufacturers in connection with the supplying of rubbish containers, but they had referred him to another firm. Following a diseussion it was agreed that the council obtain ' a quote from local manufacturers for making the necessary containers. This matter was left in the hands of Cr. Sayer. A circular letter was received from the Municipal Association with regard to the general rate maximum. On the motion of Cr. Cronquest this was received. A letter was read from the secretary of the Shannon Ratepayers' Association, suggesting that a deputation from the council wait on the Valuation Department in an endeavour to speed up the revaluation of the borough. This was agreed to, the matter being left in the hands of the Mayor. At the suggestion of Cr. Clayton it was agreed that the Railways Department should be approached at the same time for the piirpose of drawing attention to the necessity of ins&alling automatic warning devices at the Vance and Grey Street level crossings. Reference to this matter was made by Cr. Cronquest at a previous meeting of the council. Regarding the rental of a property at the cemetery which was let to Mr. F. A. Denton, it was agreed on the motion of Cr. Clayton that 'Mr. Denton be given the right to continue on a yearly rental basis, but with no fixed term. The question of renting the other portion of land was left over to a later meeting. A sketch plan of a sub-division for transfer in Margaret Street was approved and the seal of the council affixed to the transfer. A Vance Street resident requested that attention be given to a footpath on the south side of the street. Following a . discussion it was agreed that a man be engaged to follow the mower, which is at present engag'ed in mowing the streets, to scythe the grass off the footpaths and sides of the streets in the places where it is impossible to use the mower. The engagement of a suitable man was left in, the hands of Cr. Aitchison. The cleaning of 25 chains of drain on the Old Foxton Road was left in the hands of the works committee, with power to act. Cr„ Bateman renorted, that aii

inspection of the borough dwelling ,in Stout Street revealed that a hot I water system was required to be installed, as it was essential to the borough employee in connection with his duties. Cr. Bateman stated that if the system wa's installed the tenant would be prepared to meet an increase in rent accordingly. On the motion Of Cr. Cronquest, it was resolved to makfe the installation, this being left in the hands of the building committee. The passing of accounts amounting to £106 3s 8d ' terminated the business of the meeting.