SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 12 August 1927, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening Present: The Mayor (Mr. E. Butt) and Crs-B. Downes, E.J.S. Spencer, J. Richardson, J. Curran, jun., J. Curran, sen., T. C. Thwaites, W. H. Gunning and A. E. Hyde. UNEMPLOYMENT. A circular letter was received fromthe Department of Labour, asking for information as to the number of men placed by the Council since the Ist March last specially for the relief of the unemployed. Also asking-if it was proposed to commence any further special works for the. relief of unemployment. The letter gave particulars of what the Government are prepared to do towards subsidising moneys raised by local authorities for the relief of unemployment. —Received. The Se-.-retary of the Horowhenua County Patriotic Association forwarded a circular letter from the National War Funds Council, asking if the Town Clerk will be good enough to" ascertain if there are any unemployed returned men in the district, and if any, to torward their regimental number, Christian and surname and address, also whether married or single, and what dependants they have. The circular states that the Council have decided to allocate the sum of £SOOO for the relief of soldiers in necessitous circumstances, due to unemployment, to be disbursed through" Patriotic Societies. _ To en : able' an early decision to be given, applications should be made at once to enable them to be considered at a meeting of the National War Fund Council ' to be held in Wellington on the 16th August. The Town Clerk stated that on receiving the letter he had immediately advertised accordingly. His action was confirmed. „ ■■.' a

SWIMMING BATHS

Mr. Eonayne, District Engineer, replying to the Council's request asking him to assist the Council in procuring a proper plan of the swimming baths, asked that the Council's plan be sent to his office so that the necessary amendments mav be made. Mr. Eonayne stated that he presumed the Council wished to adhere to the length and width of the bath, as shown on plan, but as already pointed out it will be necessary to supply a greater depth of water at the deep end. The question of "fencing, dressing shed accomodation., etc., also the piping to and from the baths would not be touched by his Department. He presumed that the bath itself will be so situated that the Avatei may be easily drained off, and also that the excavation for the baths will be taken out of solid ground. Mr. Eonayne is to be advised that the excavation for the baths will be taken out of solid ground and the matter of depth be left to him also the length, pointing out that if 2oyds by 10yds. as shown on the plan is not tno standard length, the Council make it

ROADMAN'S REPORT. The roadman (F. Haley) reported on the month's work as follows:—Have carted 74 vards of metal, 18 yards of which was* for footpaths, the remainder being placed on Plimmer Terrace, Nathan Terrace, Foxtou road and Stafford Street. The grader has been ovei the main road from the borough boundary to Ballance Street and from Venn Street to Margaret Street, the sides oi Julian Street and the street crossing the top of Newtown. A new water table has been cut from Howard Andrew's comer to the outlet from Pederson's property in Stout Street. - Have ploughed and formed a watertable at the side of the road and filled in the old water table. Eighteen of the fire plugs have been cleaned, but cannot make a good job of them unless the bricks that they are set in are cut back. 'Have inspected the pipe line and galleries and scoured water mams. Also collected rubbish. Mr. Christian has completed his contract for supplying 200 yards of metal.—Eeceived. RANGER'S EEPOET. The Ranger reported having impound ed two head of stock during the past fortnight. —Eeceived. FIRE BEIGADE MATTEES. It was resolved to purchase a water gauge, which will have a six-inch dial and register up to a pressure of 3001bs. at a cost of 30s. The guage is to be connected off the water mam in Plimmer Terrace and installed inside the Council office. . As a result of enquiries made in Wellington by Master J. Curran, son of Cr. Curran jun., for a suitable fire bell. one has been procured at a cost ot t». A letter of thanks is to be forwarded I to Master Curran. The postmaster (Mr. Jones) has replied stating that arrangements will be made to have any fireman, who is a telephone subscriber, plugged in during such time that the telephone exchange is closed. • The Town Clerk stated that he had received no further advice as to when the balance of the fire fighting equipment would come to hand. WORK IN STOUT STKEM. Cr. Richardson said, as the Road Committee were having the watertable in Stout Street removed, it would mean removing the culverts. Did they intend replacing them with new ones; if so, was it to be at the expence of the Council or the property owners. Cr. Spencer replied that the idea was to replace the old culverts on the new watertable. As regards who should pay for' them, their by-laws said that the people should bear the cost of extra culverts, in this case he thought the Council should do it. Cr. Gunning said tlTat where culverts were already in existence as in this case, the Council should bear tincost. . Cr. Richardson contended it was most unfair to property owners that the Council should form the drain on the road higher than the present outlets inside the properties, thereby causing floodwater to back up on these properties.

Cr. Spencer said they had put. up •with the danger of trouble from the deep drain long enough. lho difficulty suggested by Or. Richardson could easily be overcome by property owners raising their outlet pipes.

Instead of a deep drain they would have a shallow watertable. Cr. Richardson: The whole thing puts me in mind of a man grooming a noise and at the same time starving it. The money would be better spent on the roads. Cr Thwaites replied that the money was being spent on the roads and the Road Committee were to be commended in widening Stout Street, as a person meeting a vehicle on this road was forced on to the side of the street into the drain. It had been a dangerous stretch of road for a pedestrian. Cr Curran sen: Not so dangerous as Grey Street, where considerably more women and children pass along. Cr. Richardson complained that no money had been spent for years on the northern extension of Nathan Terrace. Cr. Gunning said the portion of the street referred to by Cr. Richardson was practically a blind street, and was high and dry. There was a lot of traffic in Stout Street and there had always been a danger owing to the narrowness of the road and the deep drain alongside. Cr. Curran, jun., asked the Road Committee to give consideration to Grey Street, when the work in Stout Street was completed. Cr. Downes said it was bad policy to commence criticising the job when it was only half through. ■ He thought ihat when the work was completed the people would find they had been well compensated. The Mayor said he had no doubt that when the work was completed the job would be satisfactory, but a little criticism, he said, often did good. The matter was then allowed to drop FOREMAN'S COTTAGE.

The chairman of' the Building Committee reported that the committee had 'nspected the foreman's cottage and recommended additions estimated to cost £165, which, with painting and Irainage, would probably cost another £25. The additions and alterations would, consist of two rooms each 12 x 12, passage porch Bxo, scullery and bathroom each 6x6 and raising the .■oof to get better results. Considering the age of the building its condition was found to be fair. The recommendation was held over pending a reply from the Municipal Association's Solicitor, as to raising money for the work. METAL FROM STANSELL'S DRAIN.

Cr. Downes reported that he and Cr. Curran, sen., had inspected the metal ,ii Stansell's drain. They were of opinion that as far as getting it out cov use it would be too costly; but as a means of cleaning the drain it might lie made a payable proposition. Cr. Curran, jun., suggested putting >n two or three men for a day or two ind try it out. He was supported by Jrs Gunning and Downes, the latter moving a resolution to that effect, which .vas carried. The work it to be under he supervision "of the Mayor and Cr. Jurrau, sen. STREET LIGHTS. Cr. Downes said he had noticed that he street lights were out at 5.30 in he morning. He pointed out this was he time they were required as a lot »f men were proceeding to work at that lours. The "Mayor stated the lights .vere supposed to' be kept burning from mnset to sunrise.—lt was decided that ittention be' drawn to the Council'.* irrangement with the Power Board.