BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 26 February 1926, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The above meeting was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present; His Worship the Mayor (Mr Murdoch) and Crs. Butt, Curran, Roberts, ' Thwaites, Dovvnes, Hook Spencer, and Richardson. CORRESPONDENCE. The secretary of the Shannon Chamber' of Commerce wrote stating

ithat it had been suggested that arrangements be made through our aneuiher, Mr Linklater, M.P., for a military camp to be held in Shannon and it was desired to know before proceeding with the idea whether the Council would grant the use of the Recreation Ground for drilling, etc. Already the use of the Druids' Hall has been promised free for a fortnight for the purpose of lectures, etc. —The Mayor's motion that the Council give every assistance possible to further the Chamber's suggestion was carried. The Health Officer reported having inspected the rear of 'business premises in the Borough and had found an accumulation of rubibi&h, which he considered made an excellent harbourage for rats, which menace in that locality was very bad just now. These accumulations the report stated, can only be regarded seriously. Notice had been given to; the owners ictfthe premises affected to have all the, accumulated rubbish removed by Fefbruary 27th, otherwise legal proceedings would be taken. Application for the use of the Recreation ' Grounds on Saturday, February 27th, for the purpose of holding a picnic, was granted the Methodist Sunday School. ■Mr J V Burns. Wrote stating he had teft with the Town'Qerk, a few views of the early .days of Mangahao If the Council couild see their wiajy clear to have slam© suiitalbly framed and hung in the Council Chambers, he was prepared to present them to the town. , Hie also requested that if accepted by the Council that the donor's name be placed on' the bottom of the pictures presented.—lt was resolved that the donation be accepted and a letter of appreciation he sent to Mr Burns.., Permission was asked by the secretary of the Shannon Amateur Athletic and Cycling Cluib for the use of the Recreation Grounds to hold a sports meeting on Saturday, March 27th.—Granted. From F. H. Hudson, County Clerk, ■acknowledging letter from the Council drawing attention to there being no' boat attached to the punt on the

Manawatu river, stating that on investigation it is reported that there is a boat at the punt. OVERSEER'S REPORT. 'Hie Overseer, (F. Haley) reported as follows:—We have carted 95j•• yards of metal, 24,t0 the school and the remainder to Claphanii, Stout, Grand, Vo«el, Rallance .and Margaret streets Had grader over Grey Street and East road and have tar sealed foot- ' paths at corner of Stout Street and

iPlimmer Terrace. We have not been able to finish tarring sides of road, but now that the tar has come to hand we will carry Have collected and carted rubbish to dump on Foxton road. Have Jaeea over pipe-line and galleries and And that the temporary dam at the intake nas been scoured out, this should he ■attended to before the wet weather sets in. \ ~ .■ Referring to the latter jportion o the' report, Cr. Spencer stated _ that He along with Cr. Downes, had inspected the pipe line and and were of opinion there was nothiTi ff to cause alarm. The suggestion to construct an improvised dam would do no good at all. The y _ suggested that a track or race be tatam down for albout half a cham to the galleries to scour the metal alongside the galleries. This workcould ibe done by two men in a day, ana Avould permanently increase the watei supply by one* half, save putting in a groin. /The tendency of the creek is to work away and this would prevent it.-me Council for the small expense decided to carry out the! suggested work. THE FINANCES. The Town Clerk (Mr I. T. Bovis) reported on the finances as follows:The Workers' Dwelling working account was in' co-edit £257 2s 8d the Workers' Housing Loan Account £O6 7« M Later Loan Account credit/ £4O 9s One hundred and thirty Jive connections for water had been made to date five farms connected outside the Borough and two extraordinary supplies. He had every reason to believe the water rate would be decreased next year. The statement of the district fund account was also submitted, showing an estimated expenditure to March 31st, the position , toeing very satisfactory. Several rates are still outstanding; and immediate action will be taken to recover same.GENERAL. Cr Guirran moved that the drains be cleaned out in Sheehan, Ttaraijpson and Bryce Streets, and that the Hbrowhenua County Council be written to requesting them to clean out •the drains in Bryce SitreeJ adjoining the borough boundary, thus enabling the water to get away. Tins Was carried. ' On Cr. Butt's motion it was resolved to have the drains cleaned out by contract. : . •■*.+- Cr. Richardson complained that mails were only being delivered once a day to his place and he asked if rthis was so in other parts .of the borough. He said it seemed t<3 him. they were drifting back to customs of years ago; Under the present arrangement a letter posted in Shan> jion to him in the morning dM not

reach Mm until the next morning. The Mayor, replying, sajid as lar as he knew there was a delivery twice a day in the town and advised Cr. Richardson to see the Postmaster.

CLEANING AND TARRING.

Cr. Thwaiies drew attention to the question.-of waste that has gone on j in connection wiltih. thd cutting of grass on the streets around the monument, reserves and parking places for cars. Tar should have been put down when the grass was cut off. The work had cost £B, while for £ll tar could have been put down and the work done for praleticajly all time. The Council should make the •first expemse the last one. He thought it a good proposition if the money was in and to do it for once and all. He went on to say that cars were being allowed to stand outside business premises for hours together with the 1 result that carriers complained that they could not draw in to the kerbing, and often had' to carry goods much further than they should. If car owners were compelled to use the parking places it would keep .the kerbings clear. Referring to the tarring, he said he would test the feeling of the Council by moving that tar be procured and that the parking places for cars in Plimmer Terrace and at the Theatre and the space around the monument be cleared of grass and tarred. Cr. Spencer seconded the motion pro forma. . Or. Curran said the mover should add that Hue same be done opposite I the Bank of New Zealand and further up the road. Or. spencer said the places mentioned in the motion were only two out of about twenty, which required attention. He agreed that when the work Was being done it should be done thoroughly, otherwise it was only money wasted; also that all should be treated in a similar manner.

Cr. Roberts contended that before any such work was undertaken that the Road Committee submit a report stating the different places that are cleaned and those that require cleaning, the amount of tar required and the .estimated cost of the work, as there were others who required consideration. He moved in this direction as an amendment, Cr. Curran seconded it. Cr. Thwaites explained that he had mentioned the particular places in the motion because there was not sufficient funds to do them all, and he did not want to see the. whole lot. allowed to slide. If the Council were going to wait until there was-suffi-cient money the worlt would not be done. Cr. Hook jpoinited out that' it was quite impossible to do the tarring with the present material. Cr. Roberts said it was not so miudh ■tihe question of! tarring, but that fair play should be given all round. People living in the centre of the Borough were equaaiy entitled to consideration and the roads to the front made easier for them. On a vote being taken the amendment was carried/ Cr. Thwaites alone supporting his motion.