Borough Council Holds Fortnightly Meeting

Chronicle (Levin), 16 February 1949, Page 3

Borough Council Holds Fortnightly Meeting

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Shannon Borough Council was held . last night, when the Mayor, Mr. D. A. Fitzgerald, presided over Crs. B. Clayton, >V. J. -Bateman, ,R. S. Downes, G. M. Cronquest, L. G. Sayer, C. G. Wishart and H. Aitchison. Leave of absence for one month was granted Cr. H. L. Norris on account of ill health. On the motjon-of Cr. C. G. Wishart, it was resolved that the council write to Cr. Norris expressing regret and ■wishing- him a speedy recovery. Leave of absence for two meetings was granted Cr. C. M. Cronquest, who "is leaving On holiday. The Mayor .and councillors joined in wishing Cr. Cronquest a very pleasant vacatjon. • 1 ' The secretary of the Shannon Women's Institute wrote asking permission to conduct a street stall on Friday, February" 25. Permission was granted. The Plunket Society, who were to hold a street stall on March 11, altered the date to April 29 so as not to interfere with the forthcoming War Memorial carnival. Permission was granted the society to hold their stall on that date. A letter was received from an Otaru Road resident pointing out the inadequate water supply in. that area and asked if something could be done to improve the supply us practically no water was available between 8.30 a.m.; and 8.30 p.m. The town clerk, Mr. J. T. Bovis, pointed out that this resident lived outside the borough but was paying the necessary charges. It was resolved that the matter be left in.the hands of the chairman of the works committee to attend to. The town clerk drew the works committee's attention to a letter received from a Palmerston North timber dealing firm regarding a small supply of Australian hardwood which it had in stock. It was thought that this timber would be suitable for bridge repair work. Thd borough foreman's report was read and received. A new workers' award was read £,nd referred to the Municipal Association. The town clerk stated that the council had purchased a drum in 1918 and this had been in the possession of a local resident for some time and the council had received a request to collect it. Mr. Bovis stated that the drum was a relic of a band which was in operation in this town some yeafs ago. It was decided that it he collected and stored in the council chambers. Cr. B. Clayton, chairman of the cemetery and reserves committee, reported that the interior of the cemetery building had .been repaired. He also reported that the Fire Brigade were erecting "a drying rac-k for their hose in thq beautifying area next to the fire station. He pointed out that this in no way interfered with the trees and the bri'gddg'S a'ction was approved. Cr. Clayton reported that repairs were necessary to the domain horsedrawn mower.The chairman of the building committee, Cr. V. J. Bateman, stated that one building application was before the council, that being for the erection of a store-' room adjoining a workshop on the property of Mr. G. e. Booker. As everything was in order the counedl approved and the necessary permit was granted on the motion of Cr. Bateman. Cr. Bateman also reported that repairs were necessary on the pound building and that 'the

plumbing repairs to the council dweLing in Nathan Terrace wer6 being carried out. | On behalf of the Ven. Bede's ;Anglican Church, Cr. C. M. Cron- | quest asked permission to place a j storm water channel under ' the ; footpath from the newly re-erected ;• church in Stout Street. This was grant(ed.- Cr. Cronquest also asked if the council had any unusable water pipe which could be purchas- ! ed and used as fencirig material. , This was left in the hands' of the chairman of the works committee to investigate. Several matters pertaining to libr'ary matters were discussed and left in the hands of the library committee to attend to. | Cr. R. S. Downes was appointed acting qhairman of the library committee until the return of Cr. Norris. I Cr. L. G. Sayer, chairman of the I works committee, reported that work in preparatipn for top dressing the sealing of' Stout Street was in hand and it was expected that ! the top dressihg would commence shortly. In reply to a question as to whether the sealing would be extended beyond the present section, Cr. Sayer said that he doubted if this would be possible at the . moment, but the matter would be jlooked into at a later date. The \position of obtaining an extra man ( to assist in the sealing /work was [left in the hands of Cr. Sayer and the town clerk to attend to. Sanitary replacements were left in the hands of Cr. Sayer. It was reported that Mrs. I. F. Leng-Ward, on behalf of a local business firni, asked the approval of the council to a similar competition as last year being conducted with regards to beautifying road frontages of local ' dwellings. Councillors stated that they were pleased that such an in- ! terest was being taken and had i much pleasure in approving of the competition. - Cr. C. G. Wishart reported that Venn Street surfg,ce was beginning to craek. The attention of the works committee was drawn to this matter. The Mayor (Mr. Fitzgerald) reported on the recent poll of ratepayers in connection with rating arid advised that the result had been for a continuance of the present system. The Mayor movfed that the unimproved value of a property be included. on the rate demands. This was carried vby the meeting. . > *' The passing of accounts to the value of £80 11s, which included £57 ls 6d for wages, eoncluded the general business of the meeting.