SHANNON, BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 10 December 1926, Page 3

SHANNON, BOROUGH COUNCIL.

, _* FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. . The above meeting was held in th'tr Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and Crs. Thwaites, Downes, Bichards, Spencer, Eichardspn, Hyde. CORRESPONDENCE. Prom the Kairanga County Council, forwarding the Magistrate's decision in respect to the apportioning of heavy traffic fees; .which was to the effect that after ench local body deducts the. 5 per cert, it is entitled to for preliminary expenses and-the overhead charges on collections are paid, the balance to br. apportionments, twoi-thirds to 'the Counties and one-third to the Boroughs, and shall in each case be apportioned between the, various local bodies on the mean between the capital value ■ and the mileage of metalled roads. The Town Clerk stated that last year special concessions were granted to the Shannon and Foxton Boroughs, whereby they uaid on a 50 per cent, 'basis. lie could" not say at present if they would be as well off by paying onethird.—The letter was received. The Engineer of the Hbrowhenuia j County Council wrote stating that he had been unsuccessful in collecting the heavy traffic Hceuse fee from a local contractor.— -It was resolved that the ■ contractor be given fourteen days.' not-, ice in which to pay. , *" . An application for a permit to erect* a* lean-to on' a washhouse was granted. Messrs Jickoll and Gilmoiir, consulting engineers, Palmerston North, wrote offering their services to the Council if they decided to carry out a sewerage scheme. —The i Mayor said the letter . could be referred to when, the Committee set up to deal with the question make their report.—This course was adopted and the letter, was received. Walter. Mason wroto drawing the Council's'attention,to the drain on the Foxton road which was blocked up and causing ,the water to back up en to the .property.—Left, to Cr. Richardson to attend to with power to act. "In regard to the request for a bridge over the stream in Sheehan Street, Mr J. .Linklater, M.P., wrote apologising for delay in replying owing to,not being able to get a satisfactory interview with those in authority till,last week. He. regretted that he had not been sue-! cessful in getting'the\Department* tp agree carry out this work. He said he would like to see the position first hand and would be pleased if the Town , Clerk could spar,e the time to drive with him to the crossing next time he visited Shannon.—Received. Mr Linklater to be shown the crossing when he next visits Shannon. SEWERAGE FOR SHANNON.

-The Committee set up to enquire into a sewerage scheme, reported that they

had resolved that it be a Tecommenda-

tion to the Council that a sum be placed on the estimates next year for the purpose of getting a report and estimat ,• for a sewerage! scheme. '., Cr. Thwaites said that in conversation with Mr Gilmour, the latter had promised to let him know what the cost of a report would be. " He hal since spoken to him over the .phone, when he had been informed that the cost would be £SO, but, should the scheme be carried out by bis firm the fee would become part of the commission. He did not have this in writing. He believed another engineer had I offered to bring down a report free of j charge. He went on to say that before i the committee '& report was adopted he j would like councillors to bear in mind j that within a year, or so Shannon would be compelled to bring down a j town 'planning scheme and sewerage | should be embodied in it. ; —The report was then adopted. RUBBISH TIP. '/ Cr. Richardbon, referring to the rub- j bish tip, said there was a good inlet and gates, yet someone had been ioo > lazy to go inside and dump their load. They had pulled up alongside .the fence , and had unloaded, some of the rubbish was thrown .over the fence while the remainder was on the roadside. Users of the dump, ho said,-should ' help the Council all they could by the proper use of it. He recommended that , a notice be erected prohibiting dumping as referred to. ■ The Town Clerk said that the culprit had come abng to him and apologised - and had since removed the rubbish to its proper place. He had explained that there was a notice erected at the site to the effect that "Trespassers will be prosecuted" and he had got rid of his load as quickly as possible and had taken a hurried departure. Asked by the Mayor if such a notice was there, Cr. Richardson smilingly admitted such was the case. "He said it had been on the gate for many years: but it had never dawned on anyone to remove it. : The Council decided to have the notice removed at once. CAMPING PLACE FOR MOTORISTS.. The question of fixing a camping site for motor tourists was suggested by the Town 1 Clerk He said that during the holidays, no doubt many tourists from a distance will be visiting Mangahao, who may desire to stay in town overnight Camping sites were now becoming general throughout, the Dominion. He suggested that the Domain be used for that purpose. Cr. Hyde said the idea was a good ' one and at the Domain theie was every facility for campers. It would be a , little asset to the town and business men generally will benefit. Cr. Spencer approved of the idea, hut he did hot it proper to use a pul.lic ground like*the Domain for the purpose. In the past the local police had had great difficulty in clearing it of undesirables, ivho frequented there at night, aud if it is made a public camping ground, in time the old trouble will return. He recommended that another site be procured, to hieh the : j Council agreed. REPORT ON MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS. ' Cr. Spencer, chairman of the Buildings Committee, in reply - to the. Mayor, as to how the work in connection with the Municipal Buildings is progressing, * stated that he had not much to report, , but apart from the opinion of critics

the work was progressing satisfactorily. He had a duty to perform for the Council and he was not "going to allow the work to be carried out in an ."iglypigly" manner and permit of the ratepayers' money being thrown away. He had heard that Mrs Nicol, the caretaker, had been caused unnecessary discomfiture by delay in certain matters. If such was the case, it had never been referred to him. By certain people he had been severely criticised in connection with the work, some of whom had gone so far as to state that he was running the show. No councillors had given more of their time to the Count cil's duties than he had; yet all he was getting was abuse. He then went on to say that the building was aow practically in the hands of the painters and paperhanger 3, as the Library would be ready for in a couple of days, and the carpentering work jvould be completed in a fortnight. GENERAL.

It was resolved that the Eoad Committee be authorised to put in outlets to properties where necessary, when constructing the footpaths in Stout Street. • ' . ■ . Objection was taken by the Council to unauthorised persons sticking advertising posters on the Domain gates. It was resolved that the offenders be_ notified to remove,same and that if it occurs again a prosecution will follow. Cr. Thwaites said complaints had reached him in respect to the present site for; the disposal of nightsoil, being unsuitable. -He pointed out that it was being deposited; on the terrace, frou-. which there #as,a natural drainage to the most populated part of the borough, also that it more or less pollutes the stream. If, it is possible provision should be made to deposit the nightsoil on the lower side of the Borough. —lt was decided to 33e if a more suitable site can be found.

Accounts totalling £351 2s 3d were passed for, payment. ■ , ■ ■■ •'• REPORT Otf WATERWORKS.

The Consulting Engineer (Mr R. Ed : wards) reported that on the 23rd inst. he had visited the waterworks. He did not take the foreman as the Town Clerk jhad told him! that the men had.onlyre--'eently been up to the waterworks. The whole system is operating quite correctly. At 11.30 the water in the reservoir was 18 inches below the maximum surface level. He found the influent in good order as also were the galleries. He found that the men had attended to his instructions and that a good flow bf water/was flowing over she As the stream lower* its level during the dry weather a little attention will be necessary to cause it (the gallery) to function as it should do. On making an inspection of the valve in the water gallery he found that some of the planks of the top of the valve pit were loose. These niust be immediately secured with 4f inch brass screws. It is obvious that if a flood occurred the planks would be earriedi away and .the valve pit would be filled with silt, which would most certainly result in great damage to the valve.', This kind of valve has delicate adjustment and must be kept covered and protected from damage df any kind whatever. , He would like to have, the large boulders opposite the influent chamber broken up jas they are pushing the, stream over' on to the chamber, which is not desirable. In noting the level of the water in the reservoir and the time of day, and also the amount of water going into the intake he had come to the that a very large' volume of water is being used ,by some of the consumers. There is, however, plenty of it and the free use of it makes no difference whatever. Cr Spencer asked why the roadman had not reported those matters that required attention. The Mayor said the roadman would not know. ■■*■.,

Cr Thwaites said the Council liad al--, ready stipulated that the foreman sho-t uld accompany the Engineer on each of his visits to the waterworks.

Itj was decided to write again to the Engineer stressing this point. The report was referred to the Waterworks Committee who ai'e to make an inspection of the works.