SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 23 September 1927, Page 2

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

The meeting of the Shannon Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr. E. Butt) and Crs. W. Gunning, T. C. Thwaites, A. E. Hyde, R. Downes, J. Richardson, J. Curran, jun., J. Curran, sen. An apology for absence was received from Cr. Spencer. MAIL ARRANGEMENTS.

In further reference to the request from the Borough Council for an improved mail arrangement for Shannon, the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has written to the Council pointing out that in April, 1925, the Secretary of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce, writing under instruction from his executive stated that as a condition to the extension of the hours of attendance at the telephone exchange the Chamber agreed to the sorting on the following morning of the mail from Wellington that was then sorted at 9 o’clock on the evening of arrival. It was on this condition that the extension of telephone hours was granted. Owing to the limited clerical staff at Shannon, the sorting of mail matter at night could not be arranged without bringing an officer specially on duty and incurring payment of overtime; and any proposal to re-open the Shannon office for the sorting of a few letters would mean the imposing on the staff of a hardship which would be but poorly repaid by the small amount of overtime that would be earned. The mail from Wellington, which formerly arrived in the evening, now arrives at about 7.45 a.m. next day in ample time, it is considered, to enable lyusiness people to obtain their eorrespondenee at a reasonably early hour. In the circumstances, the Department regrets that it is not prepared' to depart from the decision conveyed to the Council in his letter of the 19th ultimo.

Cr. Thwaites stated that the Chamber had pointed out at the time that the right for an extension of the telephone hours was governed by the number of telephone subscribers and that Shannon’s number 6f subscribers entitled them to this privilege. . He contended that this should have no bearing upon the postal arrangements, which at present were very unsatisfactory. He quoted an instance whereby if a parcel rvas not posted in Wellington before 2 p.m. it did not come up until the following night’s train. It was decided to write to Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., pointing out how the town is being treated by the Postal Department, and. asking him to draw attention to the unsatisfactory service. CORRESPONDENCE. A. Birchall wrote drawing attention to the urgent need of improving the road in front of his property in Stansell Street. He stated that this road was formed many years ago, but no metal had ever been put on it. A new house lias been erected opposite his place and the carting of material for same had cut up the road during the wet weather. —Referred to Road Committee .

On behalf of Gardner’s estate, 11. Murdoch wrote stating that he had cleaned out the drain running through Gardner’s estate. Also that about this time last year he had cleaned out the drain running along the Foxton road belonging to the Council, free of charge. The drain in question is in a very bad state at present and he would like the Council to have it cleaned, take the timber out and take a foot out of the bottom. The drain is far too shallow to give an, outlet from the drain in Gardner’s property. It was resolved that the drain be cleaned, but not deepened. The foreman also to be instructed to have the drain cleaned out from the mouth of the culvert to the fence. Advice was received from the Horowhenua County Council that they have granted the sum of £lO towards the Cemetery. Only one tender at 10s per yard was received .for the supply of 200 yards of metal for the new Cemetery road. — The Mayor stated that Mr Gagliardi had informed him that the metal from the creek was going further than anticipated, and that probably only about 50 yards would be required. Under these circumstances he had advised the Council not to accept any tender. This was agreed to, Cr. Curran, sen., being authorised to make arrangements to procure 50 yards of metal. The Ilorowhenua County Council wrote agreeing to their Engineer giving an estimate of the cost of con-' struction of the Main Highway through the Borough and asking when the Council would like a report.—lt was decided to get a report as soon as it was convenient for the Engineer. The Ranger (J. Swindlehurst) reported that during the past fortnight he had impounded one mare and foal.

WATER RATE OUTSIDE BOROUGH

A notice of motion by Cr. Downes to rescind the resolution that the charge be 2s fid per acre for the borough water supply to farms outside the Borough was carried. He then moved a motion that the charge be Is fid per acre, with a minimum charge of £5. This to be subject to the usual conditions.

Cr. Hyde said he did not agree with this, pointing out that the owner of a private house just over the Borough boundary who wished to connect up would have to pay £5 per year, whereas the Council were only charging the Railway Department £2 10s in the Borough. In his opinion this would be unfair.

Cr. Curran, jun., said that if Cr. Downes would withdraw his motion he would move “That the minimum for water connection outside the Borough be £2 10s for domestic use, and £2 10s for stock.” Cr. Downes being agreeable, this motion was put and carried. An application was received from Mr Taylor, of Stout Street, to have a portion' of his farm, viz., 45 acres connected up with the -water sjipply. —It was resolved to inform the applicant that

the rate is Is fid per acre over the whole area of the farm occupied by him, with a minimum rate of £5.