News Briefs From Council Meeting

Chronicle (Levin), 3 February 1949, Page 3

News Briefs From Council Meeting

The usual fortnightly meeting of tlie Shannon Borough Council was heM on Tuesday evening, when the Mayor (Mr. D. A. Pitzgerald) presided over Crs. B. Clayton, R. S. Downes, C. M. Cronquest, L. G. Sayer, C. G. Wishart and H. Aitchison. Apologies for a,bsence were received from Crs. V. J. * Bateman and H. L. Norris. The town clerk (Mr. J. T. Bpyis) reparted that the District Valuer, Palmerston North, had telephoned in reply to the couneil's letter to the Valuer-General regarding the possibility of a valuation of the boro.ugh for rating purposes only. It was 'pointed out that the valua-. tion of Shannon was being made on a 1942 basis, but depreeiation on the number of years whieh oMer hoiises had been standing would be made. In reply .to a question as to why 1.942 was used as a basis^ the town clerk stated that this was the year that everything- in the building trade was stabiiised and the ;Land Saies. Act passed. Cr. Aitchison stated that un'der a 1942 basis the new valuation would even up the difference between old and new houses in the borough, although the Mayor was of the. .opinion that there would be little difference. Cr. Clayton said that there was only £300 of a difference ■between a house built 37 years ago' and one recently completed. He was also of the opinion that after the valuation was completed amore even value would be arrived at over the whole of the boro.ugh. In reporting the activitjes of the domain and cemetery eommittee, the chairman, cr. Clayton, stated that members of his eommittee had earried out an inspection of the trees which the Railway Department eonsidered would block the view oi the Grey Street crossing, and an opinion wa& form,ed that the trees would have to be removed. Cr. Clayton sai'd thg,t as the trees were - not suitable for replanting they were removed. He suggested that a letter be written to the department concerned, stating that this Work had b.een done and thinking it for drawing the couneil's attention to the matter. . Cr. Clayton also reported that weed killer had been used to keep wee'ds in check at the cemetery. He also made mention of the condition of the domain and the improvements which the local athletic and cycling club had earried out to the cycle track. On his motion, it was resolved to send a letter of congratulations to the athletic club on the efforts to improve the domain and for the work it was doing for the town. The chairman of the works eommittee, Cr. Sayer, reported on various works being earried out in the borough and said that he had instructed a borough employee to cut the grass on fo'otpaths that were being used. This work was now progressing very satisfactorily. The culvert under the road at the Venn and Stout Streets intersectlon required further work, and this was being attended to. Regarding the sealing of Stout Street, this matter was at present hel'd up pending a ,report from the engineer. The Mayor drew the attention of the works eommittee to the grass on Plimmer Terrace, and Cr. Sayer said that this, was on the list Qf work to be done. Sanftary replacements were left in the hands of Cr. Sayer, with power to carry them out. It was pointed out that when taps were running on a property near the cemetery,. water could not be obtained at the cemetery. It was agreed that a ball-tap would 'have to be fitted to a trough in the paddock where stock was grazing so that a plentiful supply of water could be obtained in the cemetery. The passing of accounts amount- , ing to £1083 8s 7d, which included £9.49 ls 9d to the Horowhenua County. Council and £52 16s 6d for wages, terminated the business of the meeting.