SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 14 August 1925, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The above meeting was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present:. Cr. E. Butt (Deputy Mayor), in the chair, and Crs. Curran, Thwaites, Downes, Spencer, Richardson and Hook. CORRESPONDENCE, From Howard Andrew, Ltd., pointing out that they intend to carry out improvements to their drapery establishment on the Stout Street side and possibly making another entrance, and they asked that an asphalt path be formed from the corner of Plimmer Terrace as far. as their back entrance, a distance of about a chain. Decided to accede to the request, provided half the cost is contributed. The estimated cost will be £ll ?0s per chain. A, copy of the minutes of the conference of local bodies representatives to consider the apportionment of the heavy traffic license fees was received. The letter accompanying stated that unfortunately no representative of the Shannon Borough Council was present, but the conference hoped, however, that as all the other representatives were unanimous in respect to the apportionment, that the Council will also agree, and if so, that it will pass a resolution a,t its next meeting agreeing to be bound by the decision i arrived at at the conference. It was resolved “That the matter be left, to the Town Clerk to arrange, but in the event of a conference Crs. Butt, Spencer and Town Clerk be authorised to attend.

A copy of the motor regulations respecting construction, equipment,, etc., of motor omnibuses and motor ’coaches was received from! the Minister of . Internal Affairs.—Left to the By-laws Committee. Application was received from J. Gurran for permit to erect a residence in Sheehan Street. —To be at tended to' by the Housing Committee. From P. G. Morgan, Director Geological Survey, forwarding the following reply re the two pieces of metal received by him from the Council for testing v as to suitability for roadmaking:—“The stone is a, greywacke of medium grain, iron-stained on the joints. It is. hard, compact and tough. From its general appearance he judged that it weathers very slowly. Stone of quality similar to the specimens would be excellent for road-making.’’. The letter stated if the Council should require any further report on the stone, a visit to the locality Where it occurs would be necessary, but he had no authority to make such a visit on 'his own re-sponsibility.—-After discussion it was decided on the suggestion of the Town Clerk that samples of the stone be forwarded to Dr. Marshall of the Public Works Department for his opinion. ROADMAN S REPORT.

The following report on the month’s work was received from the Borough roadman (Mr Haley):—We have carted 90 yards of metal altogether, 4£ yards to the Parish Hall and the remainder to Pliimner Terrace, Stout, Thompson and Minnie Streets and the Main North Road. Sixty chains of water tables have been cleaned, also had grader over Graham and July an streets and roads at Newtown. Have put in 24 foot culvert at Parish Hail and metalled same, levelled approach to school ready for metalling, cleaned grass on private car stand ami metalled same, have been, over pipe line and galleries and scoured out water mains and found them alright. —Received. ROAD COMMITTEE. REPORT. Tlie chairman of the Road Committee, Cr;. Spencer, reported as follows: We have completed the forming of a' new entrance to. the school and after allowing time for this to settle will give it a coat of metal. Gar stand in Ballance street has been, completed mill the Council request that all cars be properly parked by backing to kerb. A notice board \yill be fixed at an early dato. Decided to fix entrance to creek in Grand Street and this work is being proceeded with, for which we require one gate, as promised. Inspected complaint received from Mr Turley and have decided to clear io|ut present drains on road edges. The place mentioned is in a damp corner and in wet weather, draining sections on higher ground. The Council will be pleased to give all the assistance in their power m this and similar, cases, and would ask residents so situated to help as much a possible. The work of digging drain in Thompson Street is nearing completion and it is pleasing to note that both Messrs Newport and Holden have promised to assist in keeping this drain clear. Our. roadmen have lately been engaged in dealing with small jobs on hand and have been unable to give much attention to road maintenance. Would suggest the purchase of -a few barrels of tar as footways will require dressing in the near future. HOUSING COMMITTEE’S REP OR I. Cr. Spencer, chairman of the above 1 committee, reported as follows:—The Housing Committee held a. meeting to discuss the Municipal Buildings. R was suggested and agreed to go into the question of raising the present

building and adding to the front. Cr. Spencer w.as asked to bring down plans and approximate estimate ol this work. Plans have now been submitted to the Council and are as follows:—Raising the present building to the necessary height required. At the rear of present building erect new washhouse, and verandah and porch on to the front, new reading room 15 x 11, main entrance hall 15 x 7, -Town Clerk’s Office 15 x 8, office to rent 15 x 8, with private entrance to same 15 x 5, Council Chambers to remain and be renovated, adding a strong room in reinforced concrete Bft 6in x sft, present library to be included in dwelling portion of building and the new library to be the present reading room. The existing building to be renovated inside and out to give better facilities for deal- , mg with the Borough business. Com- . mittee report favourably on the progress of the Borough shed, this work being at present well in hand. Would ask the Codncil to consider the erectting of a washhouse, fixing tubs and bath at roadman’s, cottage. A.t present the washing, etc., is done * out- i side. 1A ! Dealing with the plans for alterations to the present Gouncil Cham-j bers Cr. Spencer said the work may [ cost’ £6OO to £650, and he asked if ; the Council thought it a fair thing j to- go on. If so-, they would have to ; get the foreman to put in a trench underneath the building, so that it would ’be possible to &ive an estimate of the cost of the under construction. So far what he had seen appeared t 0 Be alright. Cr. Curran asked, if the idea ol erecting a municipal hall or theatre had been dropped. . The Deputy-Mayor (Cr. Butt) said the present scheme was being brought forward in consideration for the ratepayers, the question of the municipal hall had been held over in the meantime; it had not been turned down. Cr. Downes; “I take it we will have to go to the ratepayers for the money. Why not put in the hall as an alternative.” ■ _ In reply to a question the Town Clerk said, if the building is not a new one, he understood it was possible to raise the money without going to the ratepayers. ’ . It was decided to accede to Cr. Spencer’s request that the foreman dig a trench under the rear of the present building to enable an inspection to be made to form an estimate of what would be required. GENERAL.

Crs. Spencer and Curran were ap--1 pointed to make an inspection of the drain in Bryce street adjoining Mr Gardner’s property, with power to put a man on to clean it out it they think it is necessary. Cr. Richardson reported that since last meeting he had inspected the pipes in the ground in Thompson - Street and he found they were in a depth of 4ft 6in under the roadway. He questioned whether it would pay the Council to remove them.—As they are earthenware pipes and would not be of much value it was decided to leave them. I,t was decided to procure a new tap for the tank'at the cemetery. It was reported that the erection of the new fence around the Domain was unsatisfactory.—Cr. Richardson was appointed to interview the contractor and have the fence erected to his satisfaction.