SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 31 July 1925, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Shannon Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present; Grs. Butt, Curran, Roberts, Downes, Spencer, Richardson, Hook and Thwaites. An apology lor absence, owing to illness, was received from his Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Murdoch). The Deputy Mayor (Cr. E. Butt) presided. CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr W. Turley, drawing ttie Council's attention to the drain m front of his property in Graham St. Tile letter pointed out that the drain as it now stands is across the writer’s frontage and across the road ami is trodden in by cattle and therefore there is. very little chance of the water getting away. As there is a culvert on the road where the two streets meet, he desired to know if the drain could be placed there.—Referred to the Road Committee.

An application for an extraordinary supply of water to his farm at Newtown was received from Mr A. J. Wildbore.—Agreed to. From Mr J. Cone hie, jun., offering to repair the- fence around the Recreation Ground.—'Left to the Reserves Committee with power to act. A letter was received from Mr A. W. Thomas, stationmaster, forwarding Hie following text of an urgent telegram received by him from the District Traffic Manager, N.Z. Railways, Wellington:—“At annual meeting of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce a resolution was passed that “Field’s Express” be speeded up to reach Shannon at 8.10 p.m.” He' presumed it was intended to mean train leaving Wellington about 4.17 p.m. and h desired to know if the Borough Council was in favour .of these times.—'Decided that so far as Council can see the present timetable is in the best interests of the residents. From Mr F. W., Connell, clerk of the Kairanga County Council, convening a conference of representatives o. local bodies, in No. 9 Highway Group to consider inter alia the apportionment of motor lorry license fees.—'Cr. Spencer and the Town Clerk (Mr Bovis) were appointed to represent the Borough Council at the conference. ROAD COMMITTEE.’S REPORT. The chairman of the Road Committee (Cr. Spencer) reported as follows; Have inspected Mr Newport's request asking for outlet for water lrom his property. Decided to clean about four chains of drain already dug and continue this drain for another four chains to the frontage of Mr Newport’s property. By this drain ail water from Messrs Newport and Holden’s properties will be taken to Stahsell’s drain. Would suggest that the Council call tenders for this work. The above drain to be two feet on the top and one toot in the bottom, with the batter on the road side of the/ drain, i Have selected what was considered the best site for the Borough shed. Inspected with the road foreman that portion of Graham and Julian streets that Have been treated with the grader. This work is perfectly satisfactory and will be a great saving in the future, of labour and metal. It is. intended to treat all roads throughout the Borough, as speedily as possible. Would ask the Council to procure one small set of 2-horse discs and one set of tine two-leaf harrows. These are necessary to treat and level all the gradings from the road edges, rather than leave them in unsightly heaps; by these methods we not onlv widen -Our roads, bin make for neat appearance by having all edges levelled off and gradings cut up and harrowed to give uniform appearance. 1 We ask that the portion of road side set apart for private car stand in Ballance street, have a sign board fixed and marked “Private Gar Stand,” and that all grass he removed and a few loads of metal be placed to allow of easy access to and from the kerbing in wet weather. In talking over various work with the foreman that has beeiP'passed by to Council, he considered that the weather conditions have prevented doing any work to the school entrance. i m culverts are ready and will be set m place in front of the Parish Hall. The foreman informs me that he is about cleaned out of ail suitable metal in the creek. Would ask that one gallon ol oil suitable lor the grader, one tin of axle grease, and two plough chains he purchased. Have inspected the building erected by the Shannon Dairy Co. and find it complies with the requirements of the by-laws. The opportunity presenting itself he had asked Mrs Nicol to show him over the living quarters of the present Council building and he felt sure that after a thorough examination by the Housing Committee, it would be possible to raise the back portion and build on to the front for a. distance of 30 feet, giving all the necessary room for new Council Chambers, reading and library room Cr Downes moved and Cr. Hook seconded that Cr.' Butt be authorised to attend to the cleaning and digging of a new drain to drain all .the water from the properties of Messrs Newport and Holden. in regard to the recommendation tn purchase a small set of discs ami one set of tine two-leaf harrows tor the purpose ol treating and letelling the gradings from the road edges Cr. Curran offered to lend discs and h*n'rows for.-a trial to see what effec t thev would have. Cr. Curran s of i w ..e accented with thanks. BeferSTo the recommendation to have a sign board erected showing the private cur stand m Ballance . >■ and Shat the grass be removed and a few toads of metal he allow of easy access to and lioi ■ kerbing in wei weather, Cr. Butt . bo■ at present cars were not back to kerbing owing to the dii'hGultyofbting out. He said the road had been metalled to. the kerbing an " , thought if the grass was removed - would be alright. It was decided on the motiioin of Cr. Thwaites that it left to the Road Committee to have tt , grass cleared * and the sign boat d with the living quarters of

the Librarian, Cr. Spencer said Unbuilding was perfectly sound and if it could be raised the timber would last for many years and he would like the members of the Housing Committee to inspect it before considering ‘any plans for new municipal buildings.—lt was decided to hold over consideration of the plans of a new building until a luirther meeting and in the meantime 'facilities be given to the Housing Committee to bring down a report on the present building. The rest , of the Committee’s report was then adopted. METAL Ql/ARRY. A telegram was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington, fixing the price of the proposed metal site at Mangaore at £3O for two/ acres. Cr. Butt said that before doing anything in the matter the Council should have the stone tested. Cr. Roberts also agreed that expert advice should be obtained. Cr. Thwaites suggested that instead of sending samples to the Government Geologist, that samples be sent to the City Engineers of Auckland and Wellington, who are experts in metal for road making. The samples liau to be considered more from a utility point than a geological. Cr. Hook considered the price asked top high. 1

Cr. Thwaites said the Commissioner realised he was not selling farm land but a quarry. Cr. Roberts said if the rock and quantity were alright, the price was alright, and it could be made a payable proposition. Cr. Richardson said it was no use buying the land, before they had got a crusher, for . which they would have to go to the ratepayers for the money. Cr. Spencer thought the Council should go on with the matter and get an option. Cr. Butt: In the past the Council have been able to procure all the metal they required and the time was coming when they would not need so much. Cr. Hook: There is not enough metal HOW. Cr. Thwaites said if the tests were satisfactory and the site can be secured he vvas satisfied it would not be necessary to make a call on 11 if ratepayers. . Cr. Roberts said it was a mistake to say the Council would not want so much metal in the future, as they would find with the main highway going through the Borough they w i require hundreds of tons more. Cr. Downes then moved end Cr. Spencer seconded that the Council secure an option over the land as soon as possible. This was carried. It was also resolved ori the motion of Cr. Thwaites, seconded by Cr. Downes: “That samples of rock for testing be forwarded to llie engineers of the Auckland and Wellington Cit\ Councils and to the Government Geologist.” GENERAL. It was agreed that the Road Committee procure what pipes are necessary. It was decided that the water bylaws be adopted and the Town Clerk be instructed to take the necessary steps to have them confirmed. Three tenders were received, for the erection of the Borough shed and that of A. Boyd £l3 18s was accepted.