SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 15 October 1926, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and Ore Gurran, Dowries, Spencer and Richairdson. THREE COUNCILLORS RESIGN. A telegram was received from C. G. Hook, resigning his seat on the Gouncil also, letters from Ore J. H. Roberts and G. Watkins doing likewise. The latter two menibejrs, Jin their letters expressed their appreciation to the Mayor, Councillors an,d Town Clerk for the kindness and courtesy shown to them during the time they had been members of the Council. They both wished the. Council every success in tfceiirj iundertakings and prosperity to the town. All three members have resigned their seats on account of residing away from the town.—The (resignations were accepted with regret. MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS SITE.

From the Under-.Secre.tary of the Department of Lands and Survey, forwarding copy of an Order-in-Coun-cil, changing the purpose of part of Section 232, town of Shannon, area 30.3 perches, from a reserve ; for a site for a public library and reading room to a reserve for a site for a public library, reading room and other municipal purposes. LETTER FROM ATHLETIC CLUB.

Erojm the Secretary of the Shannon Athletic Club stating that his Club was surprised and grieved to see the published statement of the Mayor, reference to the use of the Council's horses and drays in the Domain on Sunday, September 26th, when it was practcally understood that the Council would .assist the Athletic Club in any manner within its power. This', assistance was assured by the Mayor, when in conversation with Mr J. Gurran, one of the Club's executive officers'.

The Mayor stated the letter, needed little explanation on his part. He had certainly told Mr Cur ran •that the Council would be agreeaible to assist the Athletic Club with their work at the Domain.. The only thing he had objected to was the Club not asking for the use of the horses and dray. Gr Gurran: Is it not a fact that the horses and dray had been used on three previous ' ; occasionis. The Mayor and Cf Spencer said they were not aware they I'ad been used. The Mayor stated th;it when the track was hist 'being put down, they had been used, but he did not know they had been .used recently. However, he said, he thought it was only an act of courtesy for the Club to ask for the use of them. He certainly thought the whole jus iter had been a fnisunderstanding on the part of members of the Athletic Club. The letter was received. ENGINEER'S REPORT ON WATERWORKS.

The consulting engineer, Me R. Edwards, in reporting on the waterworks, forwarded to the O xuncil a ; rough sketch of the -Mangaoro stream at the site of the intake of the Shannon water supiply. He had made a very careful inspection of the headworks and the .reservoir. He found the plant all in good working order, the reservoir being full ar. d overflowing. As pointed out removal of. an old tree root had allowed the water to flow in the .right •direction on to the galleries, which- is now quite satisfactory. He will, however make a very careful inspection as soon as the stream .reaches ; .ts bummer level. He was of opinion that the eight-inch water (main f:'om the reservoir into the town should be well scoured at all the valves, commencing at the first one on 1 ie town side of the reservoir and s > on to the last one in town.—The flan was referred to the Waterworks Committee for their guidance, the 'oreman to be notified to scour out It e mains as instructed in the irepori. RUBBISH TIP. Referring to the. question; o' the rubbish tip ' the Mayor s«-j,id that they must not go on indefht ?;tely depositing rubbish in Gratia ;i -.< street. Along with Cr Cur-ran he hat's inspected the proposed site during the wet weather and he was quite ■satifified. it would be unsatisfactory as the flood water washed over it. The committee would have to get" onsy and secure another site. Cr Curran said that if th: eu chains of fencing was erected around the . old tip adjoining Mr Burli property on Foxton road, they csould carry on there. Mr Burling \v as agreeable if this were done. On Cr Downes' motion it was decided to have the fence eiv* ted im- , mediately the water recedes. A further motion was carried that the Roadman be informed :;hat all tins must be flattened, also That any person depositing tins without flattening them will be pTOSe-;-. >.ted. LOCAL ELOOiyWA'ET.r.. Cr Curran drew attentioi the fact that during heavy rain tlieu- was.no outlet for local water, wit a the result that it was blocked uv on Fox♦tonroad cohering the su'i* mrtding properties. He said there is a socdgate at the bottom of StansvLVs drain but it was always down wiwii there was a flood. The floodgate 550 n Mr Bryant's property and he -.xmtcirtied he should be made to ope\< it when there was a flood and thus a', low fcbe water to follow its natural watercourse. Cr Richardson held that tlv y cou\ a not compel Mr Bryant to open lhVe gate. He contended that th" wateor could not be diverted to its natural watercourse as the latter was down by O Curran's property. Cr Curran pointed otit -that when Stansell's dain was straightened, the course for the outlet of the water was through the drain in. Mr Bryant's piroperty to the lagoon. The trouble had only arisen since M* Bryant had taken over the. ty. As a result of the closing oi tne ~ floodgate there was five feet of water on the road line., A . _ , The Mayor eaid he felt satosfiea

that there had been an arrangement between the County Council and the owner of the property although after a search no record could be found.

Cr Curran said he could bring five witnesses to .prove there had been an agreement. If the Borough Council were not going to see justice done to the.ratepayers, the latter would have to make a move. He said he understood the Main Highways Board in tended to. raise the road four feet, therefore" would it not he better to ease this water when it reached a certain height and thus give relief. During' the week-end the water had been up to his hack door. In conclusion he said he could see the Council did not intend to take any step. Or .Spencer said 'Or Outran was wrong. He, the speaker, did uot know the position about the floodgate, hut he for one would see fair play to the ratepayers. Cr Curran: If it had been open the water would have dropped five feet. The closing' of the floodgate is throw- , ing the water on to flhe borough ' roads. If it was lifted and the water allowed to go down its course, there would be no water on the road and surrounding properties. Cr Richardson: If Mr Bryant lifts the floodgate he will flood his own property. He .is not going to do that. After a breezy interlude between ' Grs Curran and Richardson us to the right and the wrong of the position, > it was resolved: "That the matter of , Mr Bryant closing his floodgate, and thereby turning the water on to the road be submitted to the. Municipal Association solicitor for his opinion.' GENERAL. An application from the .Athletic Club for the use of the Domain on Labour Day, October 25th, was granted* " , , ! Cr Curran asked if any word nau been received from the Public Works Department in regard the Council's application for certain bridges over the Otaura stream to give access to the properties of Borough (ratepayers. The Town Clerk replying an the negative, Cr Curran'said it was' not fair to tire ratepayers concerned that they should have access to their properties blocked and on his motion it was resolved to again communicate with the Minister of Public Works point-, ing out the urgent necessity of the bridges. The bridges referrod to are I at the bottom of Sheehan s.reet. I lie Public Works Department had decided to erect a weir, ibut tb;? Council had written to them pom ling u that this would not be satisfactory and had asked for the.'bridges, but no reply had been received. Cr Richardson reported 'that une culvert in Thompson street had been lowered. The interested parties helped with the work which is now quite satisfactory. Cr Curran asked that all fences now erected across Sheehan street right down to die white I ridge be pulled down. Seeing this was a public road he did not know why people should be allowed to fence it off On his motion it was resolwd Tha notice be given Mr S. W. Carter that the fences erected across sneenaii street leading to the latter s property be removed at once." I 'Cr Spencer pointed out Ihe necessity of having-metal dumps, which would be the means of saving a deal Of time.—Left to the Roads Committee to attend to.