SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 28 January 1927, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING: The above meeting was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening 1 . Present: The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and Crs. Tlnvaites. Downes, Spencer, Hyde and Richards. HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES. ■ From the clerk of the Kairanga County Council, regretting that he had been unable at present.to allocate theheavy traffic fees collected for the quarter ending 30th September last, owing to the fact that up to the present the Manavvatu County Council, the Pohangina County Council, the Palmerston North and Feilriing Borough v Councils,, had not remitted to him the amounts they have collected to that date. It .was decided to reply entering a protest against the unfairness of the local bodies in not paying up the heavy traffic fees on request, so that the necessary allocation can be made. The county clerk is to be asked to forward the letter to the local bodies concerned. MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. A letter was received staling that as .the Auckland delegates to attend the Municipal -Associations' Conference would be unable to attend if held on 16th February, owing to the near approach of the visit to Auckland of th" Duke and Duchess of York, the conference will now open on 9th February at the Town Hall, ' Palmerston North. The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and the Town, Clerk (Mr J. T. Bovis) were appointed to represent the Council at the conference. RIVER COMMISSION REPORT. The Department of Internal Affairs forwarded a copy of the reports of the three Commissions' which recenly sat for the. purpose of considering nuffcters relating to the Manawatu Oroua'Rive: Board's operations. A letter was also received from the Sluggish River Drainage Board suggesting that a conscience be held to protest against th contribution assessed. The Council resolved to take no action at present. ' REPORT ON WATERWORKS.

The consulting engineer, Mr R. El I wards, reported on the water works as follows: —In company with the Mayor and Cr. R. Downes, chairman of the Waterworks Committee, he had made an inspection of the head works of the water supply. They had found the reservoir full and. overflowing and in good working order. They next inspected the water galleries and influent chamber and found them functioning correctly. At the site of the galleries in the stream a large tree lies lodged in the rock with the result that a considerable amount of metal has been deposited on the area reserved for percolation; the log and this metal should be immediately removed. At the influent chamber he pointed out the boulders referred to in his previous report, and as suggested in his report- of November 25th, 1926, should be removed. He further recommends that three points of rock that are jutting out into the stream should also be removed. The result of these obstructions in the chai.nel is to contract the width of t'ie waterway too much, and force the water over into the opposite side of the stream, where the valve pit and influent chamber is situated. He pointed out that the bed of the stream has degraded considerably, which is obviously undesirable. The degrading will stop when the above work has been carried out. The main cause of the degrading of the bed of *the Mangaore is due largely to increased velocity of the water induced by the extra water put into the channel. At the Power House this is, cf course, a law of hydrodynamics, and to counteract this we must clear ail obstructions opposite our works. When the work referred to has been carried out, he felt confident that the bed of the stream would regain its former level.. If the Council decided to increase the capacity of the galleries by extension referred to in his report of August 28th, 1926, the plan of extension he would suggest is to put a wooden race, placed about the level of the present galleries and extended to about o 0 feet up stream; and he would supply a detail plan of same when required.. It was resolved that. Mr G. Jude be engaged to remove rocks in the stream at the water supply headworks and rebind and protect water pipes where necessary. Also to clean out round galleries Hivd- repack and put in a wooden race at the galleries as suggested by the Borough's consulting engineer.

With reference to Mr Edwards' suggestion that a detailed plan of a wooden race would be supplied if required, the Council directed the Town Clerk to ascertain if there will be a charge for the plan. Should the plan be supplied free, then the Council will be pleased to receive same, but if a charge is to be made then the Council will not bother about same,, but will instruct Mr Jude to proceed' with the work. ROADMAN'S REPORT.

The'-'roadman (Mr F. Haley) reported as follows:—We'have carted altogether 98 yards of metal, 19$ yards to the dump in Sheehan street and the remainder to. Bryce, Margaret, Stout and Balance Streets, Main North Bead, Pliiumer Terrace, the Post Office and Cemetery, Have made four visits during the month to the head of the waterworks for the purpose of diverting the water Into the galleries. Have also cut the grass on the cricket pitch in the Domain' and carted eight loads of hay frpm the Domain to the Borough shed. The paddling pool has been cPaned ou/t, Rubbish lias been collected and carted to the dump.—Received. CONCRETING AROUND MONUMENT Cr, Thwaites drew attention to the fact that the filling had been put in around the monument but the grass was coming through. He asked if it was intended to tar it.

The' Mayor stated that arrangements have been • made .to have it cemented. Mir Blandfoid was going to do the ce-

menting and Mr 11. Butt the labouring work. INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC. As a precaution against an outbreak of influenza, Cr. Thwaites asked if the Council intended to have a special clean up in the Borough. He contended that such a procedure was desirable and he asked the Mayor if he Avould give public notice to this effect. The Mayor said he would and recommended that the Council supply disinfectant to those desiring to obtain i,ame. This was carried also. ' OUTLET FOR STORM WATER. An application was received from Mr A. E. Hyde for an outlet for storm water across the footpath into the gutter from his building on the corner of Ballance Street and Plimmer Terrace. —Agreed to. TAR BOILER. 'Cr. Hyde, in stating that the footpaths in the main streets required putting in order, asked if the Council intended to purchase a tar boiler. He said if the footpaths were going to be done, they wanted the tar boiler now. Or was the Council going to leave the matter over until the end of the financial year? j The Mayor said the question of pur- j chasing a tar boiler, was one of finance, i The borough's financial position will be submitted by the Town Clerk before next Council meeting,' and then they will know if any money is available to purchase a tar boiler. If not, they will have to patch the footpaths. To expedite this matter it was resolved to hold the next meeting on Friday, 4th February, when a statement of the finances will be presented. I NOXIOUS WEEDS. It was resolved to draw the atten- { tion of the Noxious Weeds Inspector to; the growth of-blackberry within the Borough. CAMPING GROUNDS FOR TOURISTS. The matter of allotting a site in Shannon as a camping ground for tourists, desirous of visiting the Mangahao Hydro works, which was discussed at a previous meeting of the Council, was again revived by Cr. Hyde, who stated that he thought the Council had made a- mistake in not going on with it. He had come to this conclusion after having made a motor trip around the Island, during which he had visited camping grounds in towns, which did not have such fine attractions at their back door '.is Shannon had. He was of opinion that it would be in the interests of the town if a camping ground for tourists was allotted and notice boards erected asking people to vis,it Mangahao. "We do not boost this scenic trip as we should," he stated. "We have a great asset at oui back door and we should do our best to induce people to come here." In conclusion, he said camping by motor car parties had taken on wonderfully everywhere. He moved that a suitable notice be erected near the Domain and that the latin* place be allowed to be used as a camping ground for tourists. Cr. Richards seconded the motion.

Cr. Spencer said he quite agreed the idea was a good one, ■ but he did not approve of the Domain being used fo/ that purpose. In the past, people living in that neighbourhood had suffered a lot of annoyance through persons using riie Domain as a camping ground. He was afraid that undesirables might frequent the Domain As an amendment he moved "That some other site more suitable than the Domain be procured. " Cr. Downes seconded pro forma.

On a vote being taken Crs. Hyde, Richards and Thwaites voted for the motion and th? Mayor and Cr. Spen cer against. Cr. Downes did not vote either way, giving as his reason, that in the interests of the town he would ntt permit, his- personal feelings to interfere in' the matter. He said he live d right opposite the Domain gates. On Cr. Downes' suggestion it was resolved that the Reserves Committe;

make the necessary arrangements.