SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 27 March 1925, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Shannon Borough council was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr W. Murdoch), and Crs. Gurmaxg, Curran, Murray, Butt, Hyde and Beard. correspondence. Mrs N'icol, librarian, wrote to the Council asking permission to close the library during the Easter holidays from Thursday evening until Tuesday morning, Thursday to take the place of Saturday for issuing books; as she wished to go away during the holidays.—The request was granted. From Park and Adams, solicitors, forwarding amended agreement with the Horowhenua Power Board lor execution 'by the Council.— Agreed that agreement be executed and Council seal attached. A GROUND FOR LEAGUE.

An application was received from the Shannon Rugby League Football Club for the use of the Recreation grounds during the coming season. It was pointed out that the’Club was of opinion that the League code was entitled to a share in the use of the ground and accordingly the Club wished to go fifty-fifty with the Rugby Union. Cr. Murray said that when be moved the resolution that the use of the ground be granted to the Rugby union he was not aware there was a likelihood of any other Club requiring it. Now that the League players would be wanting the ground some arrangement will have to be come to with the ■ Rugby players. He would suggest a meeting of representatives of the two' clubs for them to come" to some arrangement. ' Cr. Curran; It is not fair that the Rugby players should have a monopoly of the ground, as the grounds belong to the public and the League players have an equal right toi use them.

Cr. Butt; It was not wise oai the part of the Council to grant the use of the grounds to any Club for the whole season. A fortnight at a time is quite long enough. The Town Clerk /suggested that the Reserves Committee meet .the representatives of the Rugby and League Clubs to endeavour to bring about an amicable settlement for tbe use of the grounds and report at the next Council meeting. This course was adjoptbd ou the resolution of Cr. Hyde, seconded by Cr. Murray. From A. E. Burling, manager lor Mr F. Bryant, making application to the Council for them to lay pipes to the house occupied by Mr Pentecost. He pointed out that he was budding another house and would then bq able to connect tbe fqur houses.—Mr Burling to be informed that the Coun--1 oil will use all speed possible in laying- the pipes to bis boundary. From Controller and 'Auditor-Gen-eral re matter oi; water supply, stating that the audit knows of no statutory impediment to the Council employing any portion of water supplj revenue (not being a special rate) for tbe completion of the waterworks referred to, or to complete them per medium of an advance from tbe g ea ' era! account:—Resolved that all -money received for pipes, material, mams to- boundaries and also for supply of water to -inhabitants outside Qf borough be paid to Water Loan Supplj Account and to. be used in completing tbe scheme. From the H-orowhenua County Council advising that the request of the Borough Council toi lay pipes lor a water supply over the County roads to Mr' Liggin’s .property had J?, eer ) ceded to subject to. the bung done to the satisfaction of the cournj letter was received from the livcarton Borough Council stating the were communicating with all ut.ies and boroughs throughout the Dominion with a view, to obtaining their support of the following resolut on: “lhat this Council protests against the injustice the .policy adopted y the Main Highways Board m reins ng - u assort cmes ana borough,which have main highways running thiough their districts and requests to Pail a merit to. have the Main Highway Act amended so as to compel the board to mve consideration to applicat ons from cities and boroughs. -Ihe Mayor said there was no doubt a giost, injustice was being perpetrated m that County Councils were subsidised while cßies and boroughs weie compelled to carry on without assistance and he moved: “That tins Council is jn full accord with the Riccarton Boiuugh Council re the highways and that the member for the district be written to, as .asked by them, pomtinrr out that cities and boroughs should be subsidised the same as any other portion of a main highway.--Carried. WATERWORKS. In reply to Cr., Murray as to how ~ the waterworks were progressing the Mayor stated that all the open drains on the town side of the railway have been filled in and completed and alt persons who wish can now connect up. He said the men are now working on the northern end of Nathan Terrace. Cr. Murray said lie understood no new aground, was to be opened until the matter was referred to the Council. ' 4 Attention was drawn to the fact that a property owner intended putting in three pipe leads to connect six houses. . - Cr. Gunning: This raises a point, A waterworks committee was set up to draft bv-laws but these have never been brought before the Council and the Council, are now working without by-laws. . , ~ The Mayor maintained the council had by-laws, but they had not. corne before the Council. v Cr. Hyde said the time lias now arrived that they should know what they are doing. Cr. Murray: We must know our position. If a man has put in three leads to make six connections who has given him permission to do so. The Mayor; He has not. been told by me he can do this and he is not. allowed to. Cr. Murray: It is not fair for the Council to presume he is doing so. The owner should be interviewed as

to whether he intends connecting the six bouses from the three This course \yas adopted and the owner is to be interviewed om the matter.

In respect to completing the remainder of the work the Mayor said the question of ways and means would have to be considered by tbe Council. .

Cr. Murray; WJuit w,e have to do now is not a very serious proposition. It is. a question of what material we will require. The May.otr said that 8000 feet of 1incii piping was required, also joints, taps, etc., and lie .was of opinion that £250 should cover tlie whole lot, He mentioned that the Public Works Department had a lot of piping to dispose of and it was possible a deal oould be made with the engineer, Mr , Jlmston.

.Cr. Curran said, if they could get the pipes the work should he gone on with without delay. In tins the Council fully agreed. The Mayor and Cr. Murray were authorised to interview Mr Johnston re purchasing pipes, with power to act.

Cr. Murray said if it was only going to cost £250 to do the remainder oi tbe work, that would mean between £4OO and £SOO tq do what tlie Engineer estimated would cost £750. Cr. Gunning moved that T’s be put in irrespective of whether people, apply for water or not, as then it would save pulling tlie work about later. Cr, Murray expressed file opinion that tlie people should be consulted as to what they required when connections are being made. Councillors spoke in eulogistic terms of the excellent work that has been carried out by the men engaged m completing the waterworks BLACKBERRY. It was resolved to write' to the inspector of Noxious Weeds asking ■ him to hand to the Council the names of property owners in the Borough who have failed to remove blackberry and other noxious weeds from and near their properties. WANDERING STOCK. Mr A. Richards waited on the Council complaining of the severity ql the fines imposed on him by the Magistrate for allowing Ids. stock to wander. He said four summonses had been served on him covering offences within seven days and he had been fined between £6 and £7. He said he had been unable to get to Levin to defend the cases. His defence was that his stock was not wandering as they were in charge of a responsible person on each occasion and therefore he held he had not committed an offence. . It was pointed out to him. that it was an offence fp graze stock on the borough roads although' i hey were m charge of someone. Stock can only be taken on the roads by moving them to a destination. Mr Richards said he also protested as a ratepayer against the Ranger having full, power to issue summonses and contended all prosecutions should be dealt with by the Council. The Mayor said the latter had been tried but, had proved a failure. Mr Richards also had a complaint against the sanitary contractor, stat- ! jng the cans should be properly tarred and disinfected. He admitted there had. been an improvement lately The Mayor said from observation lie ihad made there was a great improvement and he assured Mr Richards that in future the tins would be properly tarred.