SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 17 July 1925, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

Tlie Borough Council met in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present: His Worship the "Mayor (Mr W. Murdoch), and Crs. Butt, Curran, Roberts, Thwaites, Bownes, Spencer, Richardson and Hook. CORRESPONDENCE,

From F. W. Newport, Thompson St., bringing before the Council's notice that he was paying a rate levied on Stansell's drain and that he had no drainage at all. The, letter stated that the original creek had been filled in /or the road to pass =■ over, whicn means that the water has no. outlet whatever, only soakage through the land to the lower side. He asked that the Council give him a culvert across Thompson Street, connecting the oreek bed in his property to the creek bed on the property opposite whicih would release the stagnant water alongside of his house.—The I Road Committee to inspect. From H, Pettit,'Grey Street, asking, the Council to attend to the entrance to his home. He asked that, it be metalled as there wals no footpath.—Referred to Road Committee. From J. Linklater, M.P., replying to the Council's letter dealing with the' Highway scheme question in relation to boroughs, stating mat in a letter to the Council some time ago, he had unfortunately conveyed a wrong impression. He certainly thought that construction was included in the concessions given to boroughs and he still

thought that construction work should be included w/here the highway goes through the smaller boroughs in this Dominion. He assured the Council he would work in the direction of- having this granted by the Highways Board, because he thought it .only, reasonable that this should be done.

A telegram was received from Mr J. Linklater, M.P., to the effect that he had presented the petition with regard to the Shannon bridge and would advise several days prior to the dat«? it will be considered by the committee.—Mr Linklater to be thanked by the Council foe what he has done iu respect to the petition. From the Valuer-General, acknowledging receipt of the "Council's application for a re-valuation of the Borough of Shannon and advising that the application will be considered and a further communication will be sent at a later date. Three applications were received for permits to' erect buildings within the Borough.—Referred, to the Housing Committee to deal with. LIBARAY COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Library Committee reported that 16 new members have joined the Library since the beginning of this financial year.. Discarded volumes have been disposed of for the sum of 25s 3d, a quantity of books still remaining' to be sold. The. notice board requires repainting and the informar tion thereon correcting. This the Committee' propose to hawe done immedi- , ately. ' The Mayor congratulated the ocramittee on the increase in membership and for the reforms they had carried out.

ROADMAN'S REPORT. The Borough roadman (Mr Haley) reported as lollows:—We have carted 'J4£ yards ql' metal to the following streets:—Graham, Ballance, Stout, Plimmer Terrace and Levin road. Have cleaned about 40 chains of water tables, also put in posts on the stock route and have carted timber, pipes and fencing material from the railway station. Have inspected the water galleries at Mangaore and lound every tiring all' right. Re scouring- out of water mains, as there was a lot iQf riding hit connection with this work, would the Council pay cost 01 t repairs to his cycle.—Agreed to have roadman's cycle repaired. ROAD COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Road Comniittee submitted the following report:—We have viewed the complaint from Mr Hausmann m water running through his property and we have decided to cut drain along edge of road for about three chains. Mr Hausmann offered to do this work for 15s, which was accepted. With Mr Tippler, chairman of the School Committee, we inspected the entrance to the school. Mr Tippler pointed out what he considered necessary and it was decided on. The weather is now more suitable for this work and we would suggest it being done as soon as possible. Inspected the entrance to the nursing premises.

This, like a large number of entrances, is in a bad way where the water pipe trenches are filled in. The entrance to the Parishi Hall needs 24 feet iof culvert fixed and for this and needs would ask the Council to procure 300 feet of 6 x Stotara, 30 Cinch and 10 9-inch pipes to allow of promised work being done. Inspected whare occupied toy Mr H. Butt and would take about 500 feet of lining and fixing. The timber for the Borough shed has arrived and is m stack. We would ask that the site be selected and tenders called for erecting. Several councillors during the last fortnight have been interesting themselves in ; trying to solve the road metal problem and_Jor their pains often hear themselves called some strange names (for councillors). Have viewed and carefully inspected paint in Mr Hennessey's property, and this would undoubtedly prove satisfactory if arrangements could be made to purchase. Have also viewed a rock face in the Valley road, just above the Power House. This "is without doubt a splendid proposition and with the necessary machinery, would, we feel sure, prove a fine asset to the Borough. Interviewed Mr Clark about drums quoted at Is 9d. His reply was to the effect that he has an open market at Is 9d and Would expect to receive same elsewhere. I would here like to 'mention that these reports are brought down with the idea of assisting to spend the rates in as efficient a manner as possible so as to attain greater results and all credit is due to those councillors who give their time and labour in doing so, and would ask that in the future anyone connected with the Gouncil having any personal remarks to make to do so at the Council -table. Dealing with the matter of com-

plaints re the bad conditions of entrances to several premises in the /Borough, Cr. Spencer said the main difficulty at the entrance to the Naurs- '

ing Home was. where the water pipes had been laid, the filling-in had been badly put in. The Council could fill in the trench alright, ;but if they started putting metal down it was , hard to say where it would end. | Cr. Butt; It is our duty to repair the culvert. On the motion, of the Mayor it was decided to repair the damage done at the entrance to the Nursing Home and supply the necessary metal To put it right and that instruction be given to the Road Committee to carry out the work. It was. decided to have culvert nut in at the entrance to the Parish Hall at a cost of 2s 6d per foot and that the culvert be gravelled over.. It was agreed that the whare occupied by Mr H. Butt be lined. The question of a suitable site for the Borough shed was left to the Road Committee tq deal with. METAL PIT.

Ihe Mayor stated that along with Crs. Spencer, Thwaites and Downes he had inspected the metal pit on Mr Hennessey's property but he was not satisfied they Jiad any proof that it would be satisfactory and it would be necessary to put down a shaft before they came to any decision. Cr. Thwaites said Mr Hennessey was willing to open up the face. Samples of rock taken from a rock face on Mr C. Johnson's property at | Mangaore, also from Ohau were submitted; the Council being favourably impressed with the former. Cn-. Spencer said the rock. obtained from Mr Johnson's property was taken from the roadside and the ridge about five chains above the Power House. It was there in abundance and was easy to get at and he thought the Council wise if they could secure two acres there. Mr Johnson had informed them that he would be willing to sell to them on a royalty basis, but if they desired to purchase the land, the permission of the Government would have to be obtained, as it was Grown land .

Crs. Roberts and Downes, who had inspected the ,site with Cr. Spencer, endorsed what he had said. Cr. Curran said they would need to find out what the cost per yard would be, delivered in the Borough, before they did anything. He admitted' the sample would meet the Borough's requirements, i The Mayor said it could be delivered as cheap as from the Gorge and he was in favour of the Council securing two iQr three acres, which would become a valuable asset. Cr. Spencer said he considered it -i good business, proposition and lie would like those councillors who had not seen it to, inspect it. Cr. Roberts moved and Cr. Thwaites seconded: "That the Borough Council seek to get an option of the piece of land with metal on Mr' Johnson's property and that it be left to the Mayor to attend to.—Carried.

PERSONAL REMARKS. Touching on that portion of the Road Committee's report dealing with personal remarks !by some councillors in respect to the efforts of councillors, the chairman of the committee (Cr. Spencer) said it had come to his knowledge that they had 4>eeri called strange names and he wished to say if any councillor had anything to say they should come to the Council table and say it.

The Mayor: As a public man you have to put up with that sort of tiling. Cr. Spencer said they were working together as a public body and they should be straightforward towards each other and he strongly resented this sort of behaviour. The Mayor then called for the next business and the matter dropped.

PURCHASE OF A HORSE. A lot of discussion ensued in respect to the purchase of a horse suitable for the sanitary contractor's work. It was pointed out that two different horses had been tried and each had proved unsuitable and at the present time a man was being paid £1 per night just to drive around with the contractor and hold the horse because it would not stand. The Mayor strongly objected to this waste ofmoney, and contended that if both wheels were chained this would not. be necessary. Some of the councillors were of opinion that it would <be unfair to ask the contractor to do this, as. it would considerably delay him in carrying, out his Work ■ and that he should be provided with a suitable horse. Finally, Cr. Curran was uppointed to select a horse not over 7 years of age. The Mayor, in moving that the Sanitary Contractor be supplied with a Clapham holder and that lie be informed that he must do his rounds by himself, said that the Sanitary and Roads Comniittee must take a firm stand with the employees, as the Borough had no money to fool away. While they had people clamouring for footpaths every penny must be put to, its proper use. The Mayor's motion was carried. DEPUTATIONS.

Mr Burling, on behalf of Mr Bryant, waited on the Council, in respect to the water supply to two of his houses, which were supplied through a. half inch pipe, which he had understood was quite legal. He contended it was unjust that lie should have to pay the extra £2 10s as they were already paying a large amount in rates on land that would never be residential sections.

The Mayor said it was against the Borough regulations and that it was not so much a question of the £2 10s, but if they let Mr Bryant supply two houses from the one connection the same privilege would be wanted by other ratepayers. He also made a request for a. light on the Foxton road near his houses. The Mayor said the lighting of the Borough would be reviewed later or. and that his request would receive consideration.

Speaking of the drain rrom Mr Bryant's woolshed to Thompson Street, Mr Burling said he understood the Horowhenua County Council took over the drain some years ago and had agreed to maintain it. The Mayor in reply said there was no agreement to be found whereby the County had

agreed to maintain it and that when the Borough took over there was no 'mention of it in the agreement with the Horowhenua Comity Council to carry out the work. He pointed out. that there* was no legal burden on the Council when the drain left their streets.—'Mr Burling then thanked the Council. WANDERING STOCK. Mr A. Richards waited on the Council complaining that he had received two summonses for wandering stock, while about 30 or 40 cows and a mob of sheep had been allowed to wander on the borough streets for a whole week. He wanted to know if the owners had also been prosecuted. He said the owner of the cows was neither a resident or a ratepayer. It was pointed out that the cows belonged to a resident of Makerua, whose property was under water during the recent flood. Cr. Richardson said he had also had some cattle on the road owing to the flood.

The Mayor said in cases like these the Council had never been unduly hard.

Cr. Downes: If the Council are going to give privileges, why should prefer once be given to a. man with 4uo or 500 sheep. If any privilege is to be given it should be to the man who owns one cow and is scratching to keep a family. The Mayor said privileges were not being given and he was satisfied the Banger was fnir, which statement the Councillors agreed with. Mr Richards then went on to make complaints about the Sanitary Contractor, but the Mayor pulled film up and said it was not fair coming and making complaints verbally as it did not give the officers concerned a chance to defend themselves. He would have to put his complaints m writing and they would then be considered.

Accounts were then passed for payment and the meeting terminated.