SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 25 May 1923, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

THE ESTIMATES FRAMED

A' special meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday evening to bring down the estimates and deal with business held over from the fortnightly meeting. Present: The Mayor (Mr Murdoch) and Crs. Curran, Gardner, Beara, Murray, Hyde, Carter, Gunning. , :

FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr Gunning) submitted the following report The Committee had gone thoroughly into the matter of receipts and expenditure in framing the estimates for the coming financial year with the result they are unanimously of the opinion that considerably more revenue may be obtained by enforcing the by-laws, especially in the case of heavy traffic which last year realised £l2 10s only. Considering the number of lorries engaged in hauling heavy loads to the detriment of our streets we recommend the bylaws as regards! heavy traffic be enforced and owners compelled to take out licenses. We estimate revenue from this source £3O. The provisions of the by-laws as regards the licenses should also be taken advantage of. We also .recommend that wages :be paid in full and the amounts due to the Council for rent, etc., be paid to the Council in the ordinary way by tenant; that, outstanding rates and accounts be collected at, earlest date; that the time has arrived when a proper system of bookkeeping should be installed, and costs and expenditure should be apportioned to relative accounts. This would facilitate the work of the Council and would in the;, end prove remunerative: The carrying out of the water scheme will involve more work and responsibility on the clerk. Financial reasons at the end of last year resulted in certain work being in arrear. While not wishing to encroach on the province of another Committee we would recommend that a contract be let for cleaning out any drains and water tables which may require attention. We think that this would result in a considerable saving of the finances and show the relative merits of contract and day work.

The report was formally adopted on tfie motion, of Cr. Murray, seconded by Cr. Hyde. . Cr. Murray said the Finance Committee went to considerable pains to bring down a report as they all recognised it was the key to the whole situation for the year’s working. It was moved that it. be a recommendation to the Road Committee that a portion of the road maintenance be let by contract. ESTIMATES. The following are the estimates brought down for tfre yfcar 1923-24: Receipts—Rates £1446 11s, rents £55, library subs £24 17s, sanitary fees £258, royalty on gravel £lO, licenses £274 10s; total £2068 18s. Expenditure.—Maintenance £6OO, engineer £52, horses (feed, shoeing and repairs) £l2O, insurance £l3, tools £2O, Ranger £52, tip £lO, Wilkinson’s bridge £3O, royalties £4O, clerk £l3O, Mayor £52, sanitation £265, sanitation supplies £25, librarian £lB, new books £l2, interest on loans £l4O 8s 5(1, hospital and charitable aid £B3, telephone, stamps and stationery £25, auditor and election expenses £34, cemetery £25, recreation grounds £3O, lighting £IOO, cleaning Council Chambers £ls, contingencies 'and bank interest £177 9s 7d; total £2068 18s. COLLECTION OF GARBAGE. The Mayor pointed out that the Health Department protested against the collection of garbage in the Borough by any means other than by the Council and he suggested that arrangements be made with the sanitary contractor to carry out the work and that an increase of 3d he made to the sanitary fee to cover cost of work. Cr. Carter opposed the increase of 3d over the whole Borough as half the persons would not he served. Cr. Curran also opposed the extra charge as he did not consider it fair as some people would not have anything in a, month. Cr. Gunning said the Medical Officer made it clear that it would be obligatory to have a covered receptacle.

Cr. Carter: Would the Council be prepared If the extra charge is made, to remove the garbage from every house in the Borough?

Cr. Murray moved, “That a system of rubbish collecting be inaugurated once a week and a charge be struck to meet same, subject to decision of area to be defined by Council, the Sanitary Committee to bring down report at next paeeting.—Carried. ROAD COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Cr. Gardner, chairman of the Roads Committee, reported that the roads are mostly in fair order, with the exception of Foxton road, which requires a fair amount of metal. It had been decided with the Council’s permission to call tenders f° r this work, but owing to the large amount of business on hand we found that the Council had' not time to deal with the matter, so I took i* on myself, as it

was an urgent matter, to put the Borough carts on to do the work anu good progress has been made. Stanseii s drain had been inspected and we think the sides should be trimmed ! to a uniform width and all slips cleaned out and the bottom shovelled out. We would like a report from the En gineer on this drain. The drain from water trough to the outlet at Stansell’s drain .wants cleaning out, and all ihe water tables want attending to at once. The drain on the east side of Vogel street owing to it being close to the metalled road, we consider dangerous and advise the Council, funds permitting, to put 15-inch pipes in the drain and fill up same. We estimate the cost at about £3B. The drain, down the Levin road from Ballance street to the creek, more water goes down this drain than the water tables through the cutting will carry, and is scouring out to a depth which is dangerous and we consider it would be, advisable at no distant idate to cut >a drain down the fence and fill the present drain up, as it is also a deep drain close to the road and we consider dangerous. We also inspected the culvert in the hollow in front, of the auction room and we think it wouid' be better to extend the culvert to the railway fence and all spare soil could be tipped there and a nasty and unsightly hole filled uip. We think the piece of ground on the west side of Plimmer Terrace next railway fence should be levelled and ploughed and sown in suitable grass. Ibis would greatly improve the appearance of that part of the town. Owing to the members of my committee being absent from town we 'have not been able to give a full report, there being various other works such a..v extending footpaths, etc., that could be gone on with to advantage. We will report on these matters at an early date. STREET LIGHTING. Cr. Garter said he would like an opinion from the Council on the question of lighting. He said Mr Grumwald had submitted an offer to put in 20 carbide lamps at 17/6 each. He had given a demonstration which had been satisfactory. He had also undertaken to light and look after them at a charge of 5s per night. Cr. Gunning said the expenditure would be 20 lamps at 17/6 >mh £l7 10s, repairs to present lamps £l2. allowing §lb carbide or JOlbs a night at 4d per lb £i .» 3 *d week's wages 35s • total cost pdr week £2 J 8« 4d He said the matter had been brought up at the Power Board moling that day and he h.aa a'ked i f th f rc was any possibility of reticulating the town at an early date. It was stated it was hoped to have wln:s up by next win-’ ter. Mr Seifert said if arrangements could be made for the wiring he would be pleased lo supply power from his engine until proper light was available.

Cr. Carter estimated lamps could be fixed for £5 or £6.

Cr. Murray said the estimate was based on the year's working. We would not require that amount. Cr. carter moved and Cr. Gunning seconded, that Mr Grumyvald’s tender of 20 lamps at 17/6 each be accepted, also to engage him at 5/- per day to attend to the lighting. The Mayor: We must keep within the estimates, we have to be all square at the end of the year Cr. Carter: We must have something better than in the past. Cr. Hyde submitted cost of fitting poles and wires lor forty 50-eandie power light including engine £207, maintenance 35s per week. The engine would .do 16 hours to a tin. He admitted that the weak point was that some months ivould elapse before it could be installed.

Cr. Curran asked, if anybody wished to buy and erect a lamp in any place in the Borough, would the Council attend to ijtP 1 This course was not favoured. Cr. Beard: Would 20 lamps give sufficient light in the back streets. Cr. Carter: No. They will be put where necessary. If Councli see more are required they will probably purchase more. 'The motion to accept Mr Grumwaid's tender was then carried. CEMETERY AND RESERVES COMMITTEE. Cr. Beard brought forward a recommendation from the above committee that the path at the cemetery leading from the main gate to the 'building and the two paths around the #des be cleaned and put in repair at once ; also that the cottage occupied by the roadman be painted. It was decided on the motion of Cr Carter a letter be forwarded to the Horowbenua: County Council asking for grant for repairs at cemetery. GENERAL. Cr Gardner asked if anything had been received from' Horowhenua C.C. for metal carted over the Borough roads. He stated they had agreed to pay 3d pier yard.—The Town Clerk reported he had written them, and il was decided to leave the matter in his hands to deal with. Cr. Hyde moved that the Engineei

draw up specifications fur bridge over SUmsell street drain, cost not lo exceed £3O and tenders be called and work gone on with immediately .-Carried.

It was decided a letter be written to Mr J. Linklater. M7P., asking him to do all in his power to push forward the Highways .Bill. Cr. Gunning moved that the Mayor write Mr Linklater, M.P., asking him to get the -local Reserves vested in the Council.—Carried. Owing to the increase of clerical duties brought about by the water supply and housing ,schemes, it was decided to incr&qpe the Town Clerk’s salary. , It was decided the Engineer (Mr Edwards) be appointed Inspector of Vehicles in the Borough. The question of the erosion in the creek by Mrs Curran’s property was again brought up. It was agreed that a time be appointed and ail the councillors make an inspection and the matter be gone into at a future meeting. 1 Accounts totalling £505 13s lid were passed for payment.