SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 24 February 1922, Page 2

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

REGULAR MEETING

The Council met on Tuesday evening. The Mayor presided, and the members present were: Crs. Murray, nyde, Richardson* Fargher, Gardner, Butt, Spencer and* .Hook. MANAWATU BRIDGE PROTECTION. Mr A. K. Drew, clerk of the Manawatu County Council drew attention to the encroachment of the* Manawatuj River at the Shannon bridge, and said his Council had passed a resolution suggesting a conference between the Horowhenua and' Manawatu counties and the Foxton borough to see what steps should be taken for the protection of the bridge. The Mayor said he had attended the conference at the bridge on Monday. The engineers of the Horowhenua and Manawatu counties, together with i ie Government engineer, made an inspection and were submitting a report, and it was. impossible to do anything until the report was received. The Mayor stated that although the borough of Shannon was not legally responsible for a share of the upkeep of the bridge, it was a good thing from a business point of view, to do what it could. It would be a bad thing if the route to Foxton were interrupted. It was decided to await the report of the engineers. LIABILITY FOR STREET WORK. Mr G. Murphy, manager of the Shannon of the Bank of New Zealand, wrote with reference to the account of £7 10/ for half cost of asphalting and kerbing footpath m front of the bank, premises. He would be glad to know on wliat authority this charge, was made. If under a local by-law, would the ■ Council furnish extract of same. On Cr. Spencer’s motion, seconded by Cr. Fargher, it Avas resolved that Mr Murphy be supplied wtili a copy of the by-law. THE HOUSING SCHEME.

Cr. Hyde reported that the Housing Committee, • comprising; .Crs. Spencer, Fargher and himseli, had met. the other evening, and alter going thoroughly into the matter, considered that a four-roomed house complete, together with section, could be erected lor £683. The house Avould have bathroom, washhouse, etc. ,all under one root. A question was raised as to what would be the Council's position if a house ‘were destroyed by fire seeing that it, could he insured only for 75 per cent of its value. The Mayor: We, Avould have the section and the purchaser’s deposit in addition to the insurance. Cr, Hyde staged that it was proposed to get plans drawn up of the dwelling under consideration/ and also get an option over a suitable block of land. Cr. Gardner: How much land have you allowed pe/r house?

Cr. Hyde: One-sixth acre, at £6O oer section.

Councillors thought that property might he got cheaper than that, thus reducing the cost per house. On Cr. Murray’s motion, Cr. Spencer was authorised to bring down a plan and specification ol a dwelling at next meeting. Cr. Fargher said the only thing the Committee had not been able to provide lor was contingencies, such as legal expenses, etc., and where were they to come iroin. Another point was trading in houses. II a man was able to sell at a profit, could be do so? The Mayor said lie thought so, out the purchaser would have to be approved by the borough.

A Councillor: Who would be the

mortgagees? The Mayor: The .State Advances Department. Cr. Fargher pointed out that .the borough would be, as the Department

was secured by a rate on the borough. The Mayor, in reply to a question, said it would be necessary to keep a housing account and repayment would be spread over a period, so that in time the whole advance was wiped out. Cr. Murray considered that it would

be necessary to get a 25 per cent deposit, as insurance would only cover 75 per cent of the value ol' the house. Otherwise the Council would be at. a loss in case of fire. Cr. Hyde, in reply to a question, said a purchaser would have the option of repaying the whole amount at any time. The risk to the borough, if there was any risk, would be over the first few years only. The borough’s j position would improve from year to 5 '.year. I The matter was held over lor further discussion at next meeting, when plans and specifications were submitted.

COST OF TABUING. Cr. Murray stated that it had been mentioned to him by the proprietor that the hall cost of the tarring, etc., on the two frontages of the Albion Hotel was £36, which was considered very high. Cr. Murray added that if the lull cost ol the work was £72, it seemed very heavy. The Mayor stated that the Town

Clerk had all the figures in connection with the work, and they were handed to Cr. Murray tor inspection. Cr.,Spencer said that the figures as supplied were correct, and the cost stated had been what it had cost the Council. It had to be remembered that the water channel and kerbing had been done at the same time aim were included in the cost. It was different to laying a garden path. The Mayor said the cost ol' the work was £l7 per chain or 6/ per foot. The owner of the Albioii Hotel was qfTfte welcome to inspect the Council’s figures. There was no doubt all the properties concerned were of much more value now than they were previous to the work being done., OTHER MATTERS.

Messrs. Gilmour and Clark, New Plymouth, wrote that they were arranging to have their property, about which a complaint had been received, attended to at once.—Received. Cr. Hook drew attentflon to the want of an extra culvert in Stout Street opposite the Methodist Church. This would allow motor cars to lie moved off the road during the services. It was decided to supply a culvert. Cr. Hyde stated that Mr Forbes should be engaged for a lew extra days to properly clean the cemetery. It would be money well spent to have the work done.

Councillors agreed that the work was necessary, and it was decided to employ Mr Forbes a, few extra days. Cr. Richardson asked if the P.W.D. lorries were; keeping to the street set aside for them. He had been informed they were not. Cr. .Hook said he had seen the lorries passing and they had not always kept to Grey Street, which was specially gravelled for their use. The street was in very, bad-condition 'at the top end. The matter was . relented to the Roads Committee for report. The Roads Committee reported that they had, inspected Curran’s drain, and Mr Curran was authorised to have the work of cleaning same carried out. The rubbish tip had been attended to.-—Report, adopted.