SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Shannon News, 20 April 1928, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL

f6rtniohtly meeting.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and ' Crs. T. C. Thwaites, A. E. Hyde, R. Downes, E. J. S. Spencor, Jas. Eichardson, Jas. Curran, jun., and Jas. Curradj senji CORRESPONDENCE. The secretary of the Horowhenua Rugby District Council wrote stating that his Council had agreed to the Borough Council's terms—viz., £lO rental for the football season, 1928, for the Shannon Domain. Messrs A. H. Morgan and W. Gardner wrote offering to renew their leases of borough sections for a further term of twelve months, on the same conditions as previously.—Granted. The section in Nathan Terrace, lately occupied by Mr L. Richardson, to be offer-1 ed for lease. * i_ ■ LIGHT AT THE FIREBELL. In reference to the light at the firebell, the secretary of the Power Board wrote stating that he had asked the Engineer to again look into the matter when next in Shannon. He stated that it seemed to him if a light was wanted ' another street-lamp would fill the bill 1 as well as anything. He did not think the Council would get anything else much cheaper, and the Board would have to instal and'maintain same. There would be no> cost to the Borough under this head.- ■ • , The Town Clerk reported that a pilot light'would cost in the vicinity of £2 10a per year -and the Council would have to instal and maintain same. The*re would also have to be some person to turn it off and on, as it would be workt ed off a switch. The cost of a street light WPuld be £3 17s 6d per year, which was the cheaper of .the two. On the motion of Cr, Hyde, •seconded by Cr. Richardson it was decided to instal I 'a street light. - ■ n DIVERTING MAIN ROAD TRAFFIC The acting-engineer (Mr A. Callander) of the Horowhenua County Council wrote stating'that hi 3 Council had recently accepted a tender for'the con- . struction of a new bridge across the Kara stream in place of the existing ' structure on the Main road. The .letter stated that it would be necessary ,to divert through Main road traffic -*. during the time of construction of the bridge," along the western side of the railway. It is proposed to divert northbound traffic across the railway at the Albion Hotel corner, thence across the recently completed bridge over the Mangaore stream, alonjg the Otauru road and back to the main road, at the railway crossing, just north of the Kara stream; and he wrote to enquire if the Council would agree to this proposal. .His 'Council is willing to erect the necessary drection boards at the Albion Hotel crossing, both, easi and west of the railway, 1 and at the Kara stream crossing; the reason foi the request is to-avoid diverting the main road traffic, which is considerable over the bad railway' crossing at the Mangaore stream. —Granted. ROADMAN'S REPORT. ]

The roadman (F. Haley) reported or. the 'month's work as follows:—Have carted out 45 yard's of metal and 31 yards of clay on to the Main' South Road and the footpath from -Club Hotel to Vance Street. The worst of tin pot-holes in the footpath in Plimniei Terrace have been filled with mixed asphalt. The new path by the Clul Hotel is nbw ready for tar-sealing The rubbish has been collected anci carted to the dump. Have inspectec. the pipe line, and galleries and scour ed the water mains.—Adopted. RANGER'S REPORT. ,

The ranger (J. reported having found three cows wandering during the past fortnight. These hat been returned to their owners. WORK AT CEMETERY. . Cr. Richardson reported 'that tin Cemetery Committee had procured ten yards of metal and a ton of cement foi fixing the paths between the graves. The work has been commenced and it should be completed in about fotii days. The grass had also been cut and removed. .The Committee recommend-' ed that/they should finish concreting the path up to the- Presbyterian plots connecting up with the main path, and also coiicretq inside the mortuary chapel if they have sufficient cement. He stated that he had asked the stonemasons that in future, when erecting headstones', they endeavour to keep them in a more'uniform line. At pres'entT tfiey were very irregular. He also drew attention to water being allowed to rtin to waste at the cemetery through persons not turning off thi taps after using them.—The "recommendations were left to the Cemetery Committee to carry out as they think best; the general public to be asked that when using water they turn the taps off.

MAIN HIGHWAY THROUGH BOROUGH.

Cr. Hyde, said they should consider J the question of placing a sum of ap-! proximately £BO on the estimates to. enable them to get an engineer's estimate of the cost of constructing the Main Highway through the Borough. This was an essential work and the money would be well spent. Presuming the coßt, he said, to be £SOOO for the 1J miles from boundary to boundary, allowing 8 per cent, for interest and sinking fund, it worked out at S4OO per year. Of this amount v the Council's share would be £2OO, the Main Highway Board finding the remainder. He contended it was safe to say £6O per year would be saved in maintenance to the borough yearly if the road was put through," as they would Ibe able to carry on with the foreman and a casual employee. The road was* going to make town and if they did not get it' they would have a gap. The main road now was costing them_ a lot for maintenance, and with a bitumen "\ road there would be ft saving in maintenance at no extra cost to the borough.

The Mayor said the fee for a survey was £95, not £BO. Cr. Hyde: It that is so> make the amount £95.

Cr. Curran, sen., was of opinion that it would pay the Council to wait and see what the cost was for the adjoining lengths, before doing anything. Cr. Curran, jun., was of the same opinion. "■ Cr. Hyde said his - contention was that they should have everything in hand for: when the work was ready for starting. The Mayor: "How do you propose getting the estimates down to procure the money." Cr. Hvde: "By cutting down certain items; for instance, the Ranger could be put off for a time and there could be a general cheese-paring." Cr. Richardson: "What, surely you do not suggest cutting down the estimate of £25 for the cemetery and reserves."

Cr. Downes said it was a bad year to think of 1 cutting down estimates, as there was so much to do, particularly as regards the roads. He expressed the opinion that it would be a long time before a start to do the road would be necessary. Cr. Hyde then moved that the sum of £95 be placed on the estimates for the purpose of obtaining an engineer's estimate of the cost of constructing the main highway through the borough. The matter then lapsed, Cr. Hyde's motion failing to find a-seconder. GRANT FOR FIRE BRIGADE.

Cr. Curran, jun., stated that, at a meeting of the Fire Brigade, it had been decided to ask the Council for some small assistance in the way of a grant towards the cost of the erection of a building to house the Brigade's reel and plant. The Brigade had purchased a building at Mangaore for removal, at a cost of £7 10s; in addition there would be the cost of removal into Shannon, estimated at £lO, and timber would be needed for finishing off the front of the building when reerecting; also nails and paint. In pointing out that the building when erected would be vested in the Council, he stated that it was proposed to erect it on Plimmer Terrace at the back of the stationmaster's house. Cr. Spencer submitted a plan of the proposed building. '*Cr. Hyde said he knew the building the Brigade had purchased, and he did not consider it a presentable one to place in the -main street. It would be no asset to the town. Personally, he said, he would sooner see a grant of £2O made towards a new building. Cr. Spencer said he would move that permission be granted to the Brigade to erect the building .as per plan on the site in Plimmer Terrace. This was seconded by Cr.^Downes. Cr. Hyde said he was in favour of making a grant of all they could spare towards a hew building, but did not favour granting money towards fixing up an old building like the one under discussion. He added, "I would think Cr. Spencer a magician if he can make anything of it."."lt woufd have been cheaper to have purchased the bricks lying on Mr Hook's section and have built a brick rough-cast shed. Cr. Curran, sen.: "There was no objection to fixing up this 5 .01 d building," referring to the Municipal Building. Cr. Hyde: "No." Cr. Curran, jun.: "Well, why do you object to this. It will be a new building." The motion was carried. In reference to the grant Cr. Spencer suggested that it be £2O. The Mayor: "It cannot ,be done." Cr. Curran, jun., pointed out that the work of erecting would be done by vdluntary labour, but they had to find money for paint, nails, etc. The Mayor moved that a grant of £lO be made. 'He added that the Council had already, ( that evening, *iven £3 17s 6d a year for lighting. * Cr. Curran, jun., smilingly: The Council are bound by law to give the latter, it being a recommendation from the police officer." Cr. Curran, sen., said to get the £lO he would move that \ the Ranger be put jff until further notice. Cr; Richardson: "Why not put him off altogether?" Cr. Curran, sen.: "I will agree to .•hat." Cr. Downes said it would be a mistake to put the Ranger off now the •vet /Weather is approaching. If jtock were allowed on the roads in .vet weather the drains would be sampled in and footpaths damaged tnd no end of damage done. If they .vanted to put the Ranger off, they ihould do it in the summer montlis. He suggested'that Cr Curran's motion be lield over until the end of October. Cr. Ourran being agreeable, this course was decided upon. The accounts were then passed for payment and the meeting terminated.