SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 19 June 1925, Page 4

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

VARIOUS MATTERS DISCUSSED

The Shannon Do-rough Council met -on Tuesday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Murdoch) and Crs. Butt, Curran, Roberts, Thwuites, Downes, Spencer, Richardson and Hook. THE SHANNON BRIDGE. From Manager, Whitanui, Ltd., regretting they have no wire rope available for footbridge over the broken span of bridge. Re the Foxton-Shannon bridge, Mr .1. Hcinnah, District Engineer, Public W-orks Department, stating that this matter will be fully dealt with at the , next district board meeting. He also wished advice as to what extent the Council is prepared to contribute toward the erection of a foot suspension bridge approximately 140 feet long at an estimated cost of £200.—-Decided to reply stating that the cost quoted is beyond what it will cost and that Shannon have supplied their share by providing the wire rope. GRANTS FOR MAIN HIGHWAYS. From J. Hannah, chairman No. i) District, Main Highways, in reply to Council’s letter re the altered conditions re grants to Boroughs, enclosing copy qf a circular issued by the Main Highways Board in which they decide that maintenance assistance will be given to Boroughs of 6000 population and under. With regard to construction or reconstruction, tills matter was considered by the Main Highways Board at its meeting op the 21st ultimo and the Board finally decided that it cannot deal with the matter of construction or recon- . struction of streets in boroughs, and that it has gone as far as it can at present in making grants towards the maintenance of continuations of main highways through boroughs of a population of Under 6006 inhabitants. In connection with this maintenance the Council can claim maintenance for

the length of highway through the borough at the same rate pea- mile as paid to the Gounty and date back to Ist April, 19*25. The letter advised that if the Council intend making a claim, they put same in early so that it can be included in the No. 9 District estimates. —On the motion of Cr. Roberts, seconded by Gr. Thwaites, it was decided, “That a letter be written to the Board pointing out that Section 23 mentioned in the circular deals with roads not declared a liighway.’’ CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr G. Hardie requesting the Housing Committee to make an inspecion of his house, so that he can point out, a number oi defects in its construction.—Referred to the Housing Committee to deal with and report at the next Council meeting. Two firms wrote offering to supply particulars and quotations of a stone crusher, which they understood the. ’Council were considering purchasing.—Referred to the Road Committee.

The Town Clerk, Wellington City Council, asking for details of the Council’s housing • scheme, particularly as, to costs, etc., of materials and construction. —The T-own Clerk stated lie had already forwarded the information asked for.

A quotation for the supply of dust bins of the regulation size as used in other towns was received 'from Mr ±. Watterston. MANAWATU BRIDGE.

Dealing with the indepemlent engineer's report on the Munawatu bridge (which was published in our last issue), the Mayor said estimates made by the Departmental engineers provided lor three dhierent proposals, the cost of any of them not being so low as this one, viz., £3300; .but the Department said the present site not a sate one,. “In any case,” he said, “we cannot he any worse of! than we are.” According to a letter received by the Horowhenua County Council at is meeting, from the Public Works Department, there was a doubt as to the Department’s attitude towards contributing to the cost oi (lie proposed now .bridge as the site was not a dedicated main highway. Cr. Thwaites said the way things were .going, it would become necessary" to set up a 'Commission of Enquiry to go into the whole question. The Mayor 'then moved and Cr. Thwaites seconded, “That a petition be drawn up setting forth all particulars re the bridge and have the petition signed and forwarded to. Parliament.”—Also that the report he forwarded to the Highway Board. .Carried. LIBRARY COMMITTEE’S DEPORT. The Library JCommfTtee reported that, with the assistance of the Librarian, they iiad gone carefully through the volumes in the Library and sorted iouit some I J2 'llarnaged. books. Six of these have been exchanged privately for books in good condition, some have been disposed of by the Librarian, and the eominit- - tee propose to dispose of the remainder by selling same on the street stall to be held by the ladies in aid of school funds, the proceeds of sale to be divided' by them and the Commttee on a fifty-fifty basis. In addition other books have been presented to the camp at Mangahao. The Committee have placed an order with a Wel--1 lington firm for 71 new. hooks, the same to cost £ls nett, and these should be available in the course cl a few davs.—Adopted. ROADMAN’S REPORT. The roadman (Mr F. Haley) reported as follows:—AVe have carted 66 yards of metal on to the followingstreets: —Ballance St, Nathan Terrace and Main North road. The patch of grass on Pliminer Terrace between Thompson’s and O’Regan’s has been cleared' and the branches from the trees that have been trimmed at the Recreation Ground and in the main streets have been carted away and ■ have also carted timber, etc., from the railway station. He hail also visited the "bead of the waterworks and inspected the pipe line and galleries'and he had found that the latter were not in a good working order. “There is a bank of metal that wants removing so that the water will run more freely into the galleries. As regards the pipe line he found with the exception of one or two places, the line is in good order. There are places where the pipes are tied with

fencing wire to steel bars, which are driven into the rock. He did not think the wire was strong enough to hold the pipes.—The latter portion of the report was referred to the Waterworks Committee. WATERWORKS FOREMAN’S REPORT.

! The waterworks, foreman (Mr •I udej submitted the following report: I in regard to work of an immediate nature requiring to be done, there are the galleries to be attended to, the one-incli main to he carried on to Mr Carter’s, property at the bottom end of Sheehan Street, a distance of 24’ chains, the toby boxes for the valves on die one-incli main and the plates, etc., showing the position of die fire-plugs. When die above is done, there will only he connections lu put in as required. ,In regard to toe toby boxes they would have been in, hut die wrong ones were sent, so tie had stopped consignments. All the covers are on the valve pits and the beams lrqm die reservoir had been wrought, into the depot. HOADS COMMIT TEE REPORT.

Lr. spencer, chairman of the Roads Committee reported as follows: At a meeting of die Roads Committee it was proposed to- have a fo-rt-nightiy house-to-house collection of ruubisn, and if found necessary die Council to enforce die by-law dealing with same. All those desiring cans are to apply to the Council and tube supplied with arums with handles and lids at a charge of 2s 6d per drum. We/consider this is a necessary sqrvicje and would ask the residents to do all in tiieir power to assist. Have inspected anu decided on new rubbish dump if procurable in me old metal pit owned by die MoruWixexiua Comity Council. W.e v would suggest getting in touch with that body, asuiiig permission aim make oner as already existing with present up. Dealing Avkh letter from Mr Swindlehurst re road conditions, u win ne necessary to fix about eigin q-ineii pipes to- take the water away, mspeeteu and decided to do the necessary work to get access to gravel at the end qf Grand street, the Council to’ ask Mr E. Richards for permission to cross the corner of fiis property and inform him that the Council would fix a gate for his use •in nun portion of die tence removed, the road fence already existing to be erected about three-quarters of a chain irorn the creek. Before deciding tne request of Mr Hyde’s re footway, we nad thought pernups a road through die council’s property in a direct tine with the -present road going up the hill would be die better plan and meet die requirements needed. However, this is a matter for the Council to decide. The footway asked tor is in order and will cost approximately £25. The signboards showing stock routes are now ready, but we require to know the exact position of nxing. As requested, in company with Crs. Roberts and Hook, lie had inspected die shed bought from the P.W.D. to .note its. condition and construction. The shed at present has no piles or foundation plates, being supported by resting die uprights on the ground. It will be necessary for the Council to find piles and plates and 300 or 400 feet of boaiumg to complete. The timber at present in the shed is unsuitable for a borough stied and we would advise for a little extra cost to. procure suitable timbers and iron and erect a new shed at an estimated cost of £65., We consider the shed at present would cost at least £SO to remove and re-erect. We would ask the Council to consider at once the advisability of erecting a ladies’ rest room. Also if any provision is made to supply water direct from the intake in the event of trouble with the reservoir.

The Council agreed with the proposal to have a fortnightly house-to-nouse collection of rubbish and it was decided that IUU rubbish tins be procured immediately. it was decided to procure the pipes to take away the water from the road by Mr Swindlehurst’s and that the matter be left to tlie Road Committee tu attend to.

In reference to Mr Hyde’s request for a footbath off Julian Street it was decided to hold the matter over until the summer months, when it will be reconsidered. . Decided to ask Mr Richards for permission to. cross his property to get access to gravel at the end of Grand street, also to erect a gate was sanctioned by the Council. Dealing witli that portion oi the report in reference to the shed purchased from the Public Works Department at Mangaore by the old Council for removal for re-erection on the Borough’s section, the Mayor questioned the committee’s recommendation to erect a new shed instead of using the one purchased. He contended that tlie shed would be suitable and the cost of removal would not be so high as (lie committee stated.

> Cr. Spencer gave details of what extra timber would be required to put the shed in order to re-erect it, and the cost of same. He also expressed tlie opinion tiiat the timber in the present shed was unsuitable for a permanent Borough shed, as they were only 3-incli boards. The shed had only been erected as a temporary structure and it had answered the the purpose for which it was built and would probably do service lor the next two or three years in its present position. The Mayor asked what the iron on the roof was worth. Cr. Roberts: About £lB new. But when iron has .been used its value is a lot less. Crs. Roberts and Hook, who had both inspected the shed, agreed with what Cr. Spencer had stated. The Mayor again said he was not satisfied and would inspect the shed himself. Cr. Spencer said he would bo pleased if he did and also any councillors who were in doubt about it. Cr. Hook asked the Mayor if lie was going to place his opinion of the building and the cost of removal against that of men like Crs. Spencer and Roberts, who got their livelihood from that class of work. The Mayor (heatedly) said be would. Cr. Thwaites pointed out that Cr. Spence” who was regularly purchas-

frig timber and ircin, should have the best knowledge of what the cost would be.

er. Roberts said it looked to him as if the Mayor was trying to make a “one man show” of the Council. At this, the Mayor said he was nut. The shed bad been bought by tin* old Council for £2O and lie did not think it would cost another £3O to remove and re-erect it. The committee’s estimate was too high, and he considered the building would be suitable for the Council's requirements. Cr. Richardson said he would not favour tlie Council erecting the shed with 3-inch hoards. The discussion now became very heated, during which the question was raised as to what the Council would do with the present shed it they decided to erect a new one, but this difficulty was got over by Cr. Curran offering tot take over the shed from tire 'Public Works Department.

Finally Cr. Hook moved and Cr. Butt- seconded, “That the Council erect a new shed 40 x 20 in the Borough section as recommended in the report of. the Road Committee, providing Cr Curran will take over the present shed.” The motion was carried, Cr. Curran agreeing to take over the shed at Mangaore. Cr. Spencer suggested that the material for the new Borough shed he purchased by the Council and tenders called for the labour. The Mayor: “I will not agree to that.” We could easily land ourselves with a liability of £BO. Cr. Roberts said a man would have to be a fool to laud himself with a liability like that. We incur no liability by asking for a quotation. The Mayor Rien moved that specifications be drawn up.

Cr. Tliwaites interjected and asked if the Housing Committee would draw them up. The Mayor: Yes, and he would amend his proposal to that effect. The Mayor still persisted that he was in the right and thus ended a rather breezy discussion. GENERAL. It was decided, on the application of the sanitary Contractor, increase his wages from £5 5s to £5 10s per week. Two applications to erect buildings within the Borough were received Granted, subject to plans and specifications being lodged with the Housing Committee. It was decided that the necessary pipes be ordered to complete the water connections to the properties of Messrs Carter and Richardson.

The caretaker on the Little Barrier sanctuary reports that bird life is increasing there. “There is hope that the white kiwi is still alive,” he adds. “While travelling in one of the gullies about two miles from the west landing place I saw a young kiwi. I got time to notice that its legs were light yellow. The feathers on the head were white and the back and breast brown like the North' Island species. The hind part above and below was white. It would appear that tlie white kiwi has mated with one of the North Island species.”