SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 14 May 1926, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The above meeting was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. Butt), and Grs. Gurran, Roberts, Thwaites, Walking, Richardson, Hook, and Spencer. An apology for absence was .received from Gr. Downes, who is in the South. CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr W. Christian, making application for a renewal of lease of section No. 233, Nathan Terrace; also one from Mr W. S. Gardner for renewal of his lease, ; also on Nathan Terrace.—Granted. Secretary of Shannon- Football Club asking permission for the use of the electric light on Domain to enable Club members to train during the evenings. Messrs Kohika and Gray waited on the Council supporting the request.—After a discussion as to the charge to be made, it was decided that the charge be 3s 6d per hour and that the' Club deposit £1 in advance, .to be renewed when each £l' is workfed out. From Mr A. E. Burling, manager of | Bryant's Estate, requesting the Council to find another rubbish tip, owing to several of his cows being made lame .through being cut toy-glass and tins which have been allowed to be blown about—The Town Clerk reported Mr Haley had interviewed Mr Burling and arrangements had been made "for the Council to carry on with the present dump until the Coun--cil could find another. Mr Burling had since offered another site further along the Foxton road.—lt was decided that the Mayor and Gr. Curran interview Mr Burling with a -view to accepting the latter's offer.

A statement was received showing the Hospital levies on the local bodies in this district for the year 1926-27. Also a detailed statement showing the actual receipts and payments for 192526, and the estimated receipts for 11)2627. The statement showed that the levy against Shannon for 1926-27 is £IOB 14s 9d as compared with £B6; 15s 6d in 192&-26. A request was received from Mr F. Buckman for two loads of gravel to be spread in Ada Street, where the motor cars turn.—Granted. The conmrittee of the Methodist Church wrote asking how much the water rate will be if the water is installed at the Church.— The Town Clerk stated the rate would be £1 8s Bd. A permit was granted for the erection of a dwelling in Grey Street. ROADMAN'S REPORT. The roadman (Mr F. Haley) reported as follows:—We have carted 85 yards of metal on to Bryce and Ballance Streets, Plimmer Terrace and Main North Road. About 80 chains of water tables and ten chains of drains have been cleaned. Have also scoured the water mains and inspected the pipe line from the reservoir to the intake. The creek has changed its course at the top galleries and thrown a bank of metal up at the side of the intake box. Have collected rubbish during the month and carted same to the dump. Have seen Mr Burling r.e cleaning of dump and have arranged with him to carry on until the Council can secure another dump. There is a good place for a dump on the property further along the Foxton road, which the Council might be able to secure.—Received. '** REDUCTION OF WATER CHARGE ASKED FOR. Messrs'J. Xiggins and W; Moynihan waited on the Council with a request that a reduction in the charge for water used on ' their dairy farms, be made. Mr Liggins stated as they had had a bad year and there was every indication prices would be considerably less; and the fact that they were paying a rate on a/ lot of land that was- not watered; they asked for a reduction. Thev had been- glad to get the water,, but at the same time in helping themselves they had helped the Borough. He had to pay £25 5s pr annum for'watering 50 acres, the remainder of his farm being served by a permanent stream. He contended the charge was too high for what he got and he objected to paying over the°whole area. He was supported by Mr W. Moynihan, who/ held that the rate of as 6d per acre which is being charged for water to those outside the Borough was excessive, seeing that it had cost the Council nothing for installing. He said his farm was similarly situated to Mr Liggins m that 100 acres was receiving borough water out of 207 acres, and he was rated over the whole lot. On the deputation withdrawing the Council discussed the matter. Crs. Spencer and Curran held that it was unreasonable that settlers should have to pay over the whole area of a farm, when only a portion is being served. The Mayor contended that if the stock from the unwatered paddock are kept overnight in the watered pad dock, they would then be using the Borough water. Gr. Thwaites said it did not seem equitable to him to make a (reduction to farmers and not to the ratepayers.

After further discussion, on the mention of Or. Roberts, seconded by Cr. Thwaites, it was decided: "That no reduction in the water rate be made this year to those outside the Borough, but the position be reviewed next year." FEE FOR; USE OF DOMAIN. Mr .7. Casev, secretary of the Horowbenua Rugby Districi Committee, wrote offering the Council £7 10s for use of the Domain for the football season, or as an alternative 15 per centum of the gate receipts, plus 15 per cent, of season tickets sold in the Shannon area. Mr W. Movnihan, a member- of the

Committee, who was present, in reply to a question, stated that the Committee were paying £l7 for the season for the use) of the ground, at Otaki and £2O for the Levin ground. He pointed out that in both these places) there was a stand, from which revenue was got on a wet day. In Shannon's case then© was no stand.. Gr, Curran moved and Gr. Roberts seconded, that the charge for use of Domain be £8 for the season.—Carried. Mr Moynihan stated that the Committee would accept these terms. KERBSTONE PUMPS. An application from W. H. Gunning and Co., Ltd., for permission to erect a kerbstone petrol pump in front of their premises, also' one from Mr C. C. .Franks, was received, for which plans and specifications were submitted. .Messrs Gunning and Franks were t both present. Mr Gunning said the j wells were safe for storing petrol and not a danger from a fire point of view. They were quite safe and were a, public utility. The well would be underground and the pump on the edge of the kerbing, the latter taking up very little more room than a lamp post, and they were not unsightly. It was also to be remembered that it would save tins and cases, and as they would thus .be able! to buyvcheaper, petrol would become cheaper for, the consumer. In fixing the fee, he painted out to the Council tfhat with, anything over a nominal payment'for irental, the scheme would not be worth considering. The Council, in considering the applications, were agreed the pumps would be an asset, and the system of storage safer than .at present. After a short discussion re the fee to be charged it was decided on the ino;tion of Gr. Roberts, seconded by Gr. Spencer, that both applications be granted, the fee to be £3 per annum. MUNICIPAL. BUILDINGS. Gr. Spencer submitted a plan, of new municipal buildings, Which at a pre vious meeting it had been decided to put before the ratepayers as an alter native to renovating the present'building. ' The plan provides for a two storey building. The top floor contains a social hall 34ft x 20ft deep, to seat- -120 persons, and a theatre 34ft x 61ft with a 9ft stage, to seat 350 persons. On the ground floor are two shops 20ft x lift 6in. each, two ticket offices, lavatories, library room 13 x 20, reading room 13ft 6in x lift, Goiun- | cil office, offices for Mayor and Town Clerk, and at the rear of the building five living rooms and washhouse. | Cr. Spencer said the question of the i building had 'been gone into carefully, but of course was subject to: many alterations. The estimated cost was £9OOO. He said he would like the Council to come to some finality and suggested that the Housing Committee go fully into the details of the j plan and bring down a written report to the Council. As it was quite impossible for the Council, to go into details that night Gr. Roberts moved and, Gr. Thwaltes seconded that the plan be referred back to the Housing Committee to bring down a •written report at next Council meeting.—Carried.

CR. THWMTES ENTERS A PROTEST When the accounts were being passed for payment. Cr. Thwaities entered a protest against an item of £6 odd for the purchase of a barrel of "Vialet" used far lexiperimental purposes at the Post Office corner. A motion in the minute book, he said, showed that the Council did not favour purchasing the barrel for a trial, and an amendment had been carried that the contractor's offer be accepted to make a free trial at the .Post Office corner. Since then, he said, someone had authorised the purchase. He understood ainj arrangement had been made with the contractor to the effect that the latter provided the labour and the Council found the material. He objected to the underlying principle; contending it was useless for the Council to sit and pass resolutions if they were not going to carry them out", and he would take strong exception to this sort of thing. It was reverting hack to old methods. The Mayor explained that the matter had been one of urgency as the contractor vvae going away.

ESTIMATES FOR YEAR 1926-37. The .following are the estimates for the year 1966-27 as approved of by the Council:Receipts: Balance in hand £200,-gen-eral rate £ll9l, sanitary charge £3l|2, Government subsidy £142, licenses: hotels £BO, building permits £lO, taxi £7, motor drivers £2O, dangerous goods £B, (heavy traffic £45, billiard room' £l2, halls' £7, sundries £2, dog registration £2O, total £211: sales :»f gravel and sundries £lO, rents £sl, Domain £4, fees and fines £ls, cemetery £ls, library £25, Main Highways £45, sundries £55; grand total £2276. Expenditure: Salary (clerk) £135, Health officer £29, Mayor £52, valuation Department £lO. audit fees £22, 1 censing expenses £9, Municipal Association £4, Bank charge and interest £2O, travelling expenses £lO, dogregistration £9, office expenses and advertising £75, insurance, accident and fire £l9, rubbish tip £lO. street lighting £l7O, interest on loans £147. freights £2O, 'horsefeed, shoeing and repairs £IOO, royalty on gravel £SO. ranger and pound £65, dangerous goods £2, sanitation, wages and supplies £321. wages £470, Domain £SO. Library grant £9O, cemetery grant £45. unauthorised expenditure £lO. legal costs £lO, tar boiler, timber and culvert pining £l5O. hospital lew (balance) £25, footpaths ffrom Stout St, to Parish Hall, from Stout Street to I Rallanep Street, via Venn Street, and | from Maoriland Theatre to Police Station £IOO, tools and repairs £25. sundries £2,2,' total £2276.