SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 15 July 1927, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the: Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday ev e inl 2§ 9 ' F d sent- The Mayor (Mr. E- Butt) an Crs. Gunning. T. C. Thwavtcs B. Downes, E. J. S. Spencer, J. Richa n l f a son, J. Curran jun., J. Curran sen. and A ' E ' Correspondence. From A Simes, Sheehan Street, offeiing to cart fine metal from his two pits and the Sheehan Street pit and place in dumps in Sheehan Street at 3s. pe yard.—Mr Simes is to be thanked toi his offer and to be informed that the Council are not requiring metal at preS<2 A letter was received from the Shannon School Committee thaipking the Council for putting in a culvert an metalling the approach to the school grounds; also for their promptness m the matter.—Received. . A request was received from the boiough roadman (Mr. F. Haley) asking if the Council could see their way to build one or two additional rooms to the borough house occupied'by him.— Referred to the Building Committee to fp'Tiort The Engineer-in-cluirgo of the Pub-' lie Works Department at Shannon replying to a request from the Council for a grant towards the repair of certain roads; excessive damage being caused through the heavy and continuing loads being conveyed through the borough to the Mangaliao Hydro Works; asked for the Council’s. estimate of the amount spent in maintenance, of the Borough section of the ShamionMangahao road for the year 1920-27. The letter stated that : the Department has approved of a grant of £l2o towards the cost of maintaining this road, and payment of same will be made to the Council on receipt of their estim-ate—-The estimate to.be forwarded as requested. ADM AN’S REPORT. The roadman (Mr. F. Haley) reported as follows—We have carted 177 yards of metal on to Margaret, Ballance and Clapham Streets and to Plimmer Terrace. The grass on the sides of Stout Street from Plimmer Terrace to Clapham Street has been graded-oil and have filled in the sides with metal from Grand Street to Whittaker Street. -Have repaired culvert in the right of way at the rear of Mr. Hook’s premises During the month we ! have had grader over part of Thompson, and Margaret Streets, Main North road and Plimmer Terrace. Have shifted culvert and metalled approach to school. The pipe line and galleries have been inspected and the water mains scoured. —Received. RANGER’S REPORT.

The ranger reported having inpounded three horses during the past fortnight.—Received.

ROAD COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Road Committee recommended that the spoil skimmed from the footpath iu Plimmer Terrace should be spread out to the water channel instead of being removed. The widening of Stout Street has been commenced and slight difficulties may be met owing to drains leading from properties being too deep. The work of filling in the drain at the road side to a given level is necessary to get desired effect. An inspection has been made of the drain through W. Gardner's property and it is suggested that Mr. Gardner be notified to clean out drain. A contract for the supply of 200 yards of ’ metal at 6s. per yard delii ered on the Borough Streets has been let. The work has been commenced, the metal being of a good grade and size. The portion of the roads treated, if kept graded, should give good surface. The chairman {Cr. Spencer) referring to the difficulir.es i.hflt may be met in the widening of Stout Street owing to | the drains leading from .-private, proper - ies being tot) deep, recommended that the present channel on the left-hand side of the road be filled in, and a shallow watertable up to the edge of the footpath be put in, otherwise if the drain is filled in to the level the water will be thrown back on to the properties. It was decided to leave tins matter, to the Roads Committee with power to act - , It was resolved that Mr W. Gardnei be given notice to clean out the drain through his property, which leads from Thompson Street to Foxton road. Tho committee’s report was adopted.

BEAUTIFYING COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Beautifying Committee reported that employment has been found for one married man for four days, the work consisting of cleaning up the pathway along plot in Plimmer Terrace from Railway Gates to Browne's crossing. One or two loads of clay filling is required for end near Railway Gates, and a few yards of fine metal for path. We suggest that Mr. Butt be put on to complete the finishing touches to the work as soon as the street sci ceiling is finished, as he is conversant with what is required. We also suggest that the tar recently purchased be tried out on this work. The Committee realise that they are exceeding the grant allotted to them, viz., £5, but it is the intention to commence a campaign to raise funds for beautifying the town and as funds come in the account will balance itself. It was.hoped to commence the campaign last month, but owing to the Athletic Carnival operating it was not advisable to conmenee. Cr. Downes objected to tar being put on the new footpath referred to, which he contended would never be used, while there were untarred footpaths that were being much used. Cr. Thwaites pointed out that trie grass had been taken off and a path was being formed. The idea was-to asphalt it, and thus avoid the expense ot continually cleaning it, besides giving that side of the street a presentable appearance. . . . Cr. Downes > was of opinion that it the path was not used the asphalt would soon crack up. ... Cr. Curran, sen., Not if it is put on properly. Cr. Gunning agreed that if the path was tarred it would do away with , the continual expense of cleaning. He said it behoved the residents of every town to make their streets look as though

someone lived there. Iu this he was supported by Cr. Curran, jun. Cr. Hyde pointed out to Cv. Downesthat the Beautifying Committee were using their own money to do the work and surely the Council was not going to begrudge them trying to beautify the town.

The discussion was brought to an end by the report being adopted on the motion of Cr. Gunning. ROAD TO CEMETERY.

The question of! financing the work of constructing the road to the cemetery was raised by Cr. Hyde asking how it was proposed to procure the money that will be required apart, from the Government subsidy for labour. The Mayor suggested obtaining an overdraft and striking a rate to pay it off. Cr. Spencer was of opinion that an attempt should be made to raise the money from private sources for a term, of sav, live years at 6 per cent, which is the limit of rate of interest allowed by the Act. ' Cr. Hyde doubted if they would get the riioney from private sources at the rate of interest mentioned.

The Town Clerk said the matter of getting a loan was one of urgency. If they go through all the necessary formalities to get a loan it would be months before the work could be started. He expressed the opinion that if the Minister was approached, no doubt he could suggest some * way of financing the scheme, which would enable a start being made immediately. .On Cr. Gunnings suggestion it was deeided that the money be raised , locally, failing which, representatives of the Council interview the Minister of Public Works. The matter was left to the Finance Committee with power to act. The accounts were then passed for payment.