SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 10 May 1929, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The first meeting of the hew Shannon Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and Crs. A. E. Hyde, R. Downes, T. C. Thwaites, R. Hook, Jas. Curran, jun., S. Anderson, D. Lautvig, and Jas. OurrEj' gqßj. COMMITTEES APPOINTED. . Finance Committee —The Mayoi (chairman), Crs. Hyde, T. C. Thwaites. J. Curran, jun. Library.—Crs. T. C. Thwaites (ehair--man), B. Hook, D. Lauivig, S. Anderson. 1 ; GRoad and Sanitary— Cr. Dc wne. (chairman), J. Curran sen., B. Hook, b. -Andersion. „ Cemetery and Reserves. Crs. v--Laurvig, A. E. Hyde, J. Curran jun. fchairman), add S. Anderson. ' Building and Housing—Crs. Linrvig (chairman), J. Curran sen., A. E. Hyde, T. C. Thwaites. . Water. —Crs. Downes, B. Hook (chairman), J. Curran jun., and S. Anderson-By-laws. —Crs. Curran jun., 1. Thwaites, Curran sen. (chairman), and S. Anderson. Beautifying.—Crs. Curran jun. (chair- ■ man), Hyde, Thwaites, Laurvig. . The Mayor ex officio on all committG6S ♦ s \ PARKING. OF CABS. . The secretary of Lodge Mangahao wrote stating that the Lodge had received a. letter from the Borough Traffic Inspector regarding the parking of motor cars in Stout Street in the vicinity- :of the Masonic Hall. He stated there was very little room on the road to park cars; the nearest parking places being Plimmer Terrace and Ballance Street. It was asked if the Lodge provided culverts, would the Council have same put in and covered thus enabling cars to bo parked clear of tkj metal road. _ The Inspector (Mr J. T. Boris) stated that what he had complained about was that cars were left on the roa-l unlighted. This .was often a very congested area owing to the close t-.roxi- ' mity cf the Bowling green and Parish Hall.—lt was decided that the Road Committee inspect the site and bring down a report for next meeting. BANGER’S .REPORT.

The ranger (J. Swindlehurst) reported having impounded eight head of stock since hi 3 last report.—Received.

RENTAL OF DOMAIN 1 .

From the Secretary of the .Horowhenua Rugby " District Council) stating that he had been mistaken as to the amount of rental paid last season for the use of the Shannon Domain and that his Council accepted the Borough Council’s terms, viz., £lO for the season. —Received. HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES.

In reference, to heavy traffic license

fees, Mr J. • Linklater, M.P.,. wrot r thanking the Council for asking him for his .co-operation in order to secure the appointment of a second r;epresen tative on the Transport Advisory Council, whose duty it will be to represent small boroughs. In reply he stated that he was placing this matter before the proper authorities and when he received a reply he would write to the Council again. With re-

gard to motor taxation, it was his opinion that no reduction should take p.acc v and he' would'\ use his best endea /out' to see that any step in this direction of reducing -heavy traffic license fees be strenuously opposed.—Received. SHANNON BRIDGE. The clerk of the Manawatu County

Council wrote stating that, although his Council has agreed to accept control of the bridge, nothing further has been received from the Highways Board. The question of an official opening has not been befbre the Council.

Cr. Curran jun., said that he would move that the Council write to the Main Highway Board and ask if it is possible, that there be an official opening of the bridge. Such a thing is done in ether places and as a contributing body they are entitled to one. The motion was seconded.

The Mayor thought they should allow the question to stand over tid next meeting before taking further action, to enable a reply to be receiv ed from the Manawatu County Council who will probably deal with the Council’s request at their next meeting*

Cr. Curran, jun., with the consent of his seconder, withdrew his Motion and the Mayor’s suggestion was adopted On the motion of Cr. Thwaites it was decided to write to the Foxton Borough" Council and Horov/henui County Council asking them for their support in the matter. HOSPITAL LEVIES. A statement of the levies to be made against contributing bodies by the ;Palmerston North Hospital Board for the ensuing year was received. The levy made against the Shannon Borough this year was £166 11s Id an increase of £2 over 1928-9, and since 1924 an increase of £79 6s 2d. The Town Clerk submitted the following figures showing how Shannon’s levy has steadily increased ’during the past seven years: —1924, £B7 4s lid; 1925, £lO2 Is 8d; 1926, £llO Iks 7d; 1927, £126 5s lOd; 1928, £lßl Os 9d; 1929, £164 11s 3d; 1930, £166 11s Id. Cr. Thwaites referring to the steady increase in the rates, said this was a matter which would have to receivethe consideration of the Finance Com-

mittee when they were bringing down the estimates for the year and no doubt this Committee would bring down a recommendation to the Council. They had been paying this levy ' out of the general rate, he said, and ' ns a result this had often caused a ' curtailment of necessary work in the way of improvements, sucli as forming of footpaths etc. Continuing, he said, there did not seem to be any finality to the increase and he moved that the question be left to the Finance Com- , miltee for their consideration. * , The motion was agreed to. • LIGHTING DOMAIN. . , A request was received from the

Shannon Football Club that the lights on the Domain be connected in order that the Club may have the use of the same for practice purposes The Town Clerk reported that he had made the necessary arrangements. BOY SCOUT TROOP.

Mr P.. Bass wrote asking if the Mayor'would call a public meeting, to discuss the formation in Shannon of a Boy Scout Troop.—The request was granted. Applications for renewal of licenses were granted to Messrs A. E. Osborne and 11. Hook, and to the proprietors; of the Druids’ Hall. The license for the Maoriland Theatre was granted subject to the approval of the Health Officer.

ROADMAN »S I: E PC>RT.

Mr 11. Butt, 'acting foreman, reported that he had been over all the bystreets and that they all wanted attention. East Boad and Grey Street required a fair amount of metal There was nothing for the grader to grade in. Had carted one truck uf_~ sand to shed. —Received. PETITION FOB FOOTPATH.

A petition was received, signed by a number of citizens, asking that a footpath be formed from the corner of Grey Street to the corner of Stafford Street and con tinted up the latter Street as far as the Shannon Dairy Co’s store. It was pointed out that this section, of road was used by a large number of pedestrians, and was dangerous owing to the heavy amount of vehicular traffic.

The. Town Clerk pointed out that before anything .was done property owners in* the vicinity should be notified that they were suujcct to payment of one-third of tlie cost of the work. The petition was referred to the Road Committee for their consideration when drawing up their schedule of work.

LICENSING OF BUTCHER’S SHOP. Following a discussion at ■ the previous meeting of the Council rc the licensing of a local butcher shop, the Town Clerk, after' a telephone conversation with the Medical Officer of Health, received a letter from the Department on the. matter that the Council should provide effective by-laws for licensing this butcher’s shop and other food premises in the borough. This may be done by passing a short, by-law which was enclosed. The Medical Officer .stated that the regulation made no provision for conditional licenses, but if the party concerned gave the Council an undertaking that he would put his shop in conformity with the regulations within a period of three months, he might with the consent of the Council commence business . therein. The Town Clerk stated he understood satisfactory arrangements had been made in the case of- the shop in question. As regards the passing of the bylaw the Council were.,, of opinion that the borough by-laws, needed revising and when this was carried out .the regulation could he embodied therein. PURCHASE OF A HpRSE, Or. Downes, reported that one of the Council’s horses had gone amiss and that it would be necessary to replace it. He moved that the Council advertise for a suitable horse. This was opposed by Or. Anderson who said he would like to see the matter held over in the meantime, as ho thmight some better method could be brought into force in respect to the Council’s carting. Cr. Thwaites was of opinion that the Council should discuss the question of purchasing a motor truck one with «i tip whereby metal could be spread automatically. They bought a considerable quantity of their metal from dumps and he thought probably it would be cheaper than carting with drays. . , Cr. R. Hook was of opinion that the idea was worth going into. The initial outlay for a truck said Cr. Hyde, at present would be a big item for the Council fo face and there was other points to be considered such as depreciation and running costs. If they had the work the truck was the thing. ' ~ Cr. Curran, jun., said that they would soon have the Main Highway through the town biiumenised and then there WO uld not be the work for* a truck. Cr. Anderson said he understood that the Council had two men and three horses employed in carting metal out of the creek. His suggestion was that they should let tenders for getting the metal out and'placing it in dumps in convenient parts of the borough, t .could then be picked up and carted to where required by two one-horse drays. He thought this would be cheaper than under the present method. . Cr. Downes replying said the factthat two men were employed on the dray, contended it was no use engaging another man until they get a horse. He had considered the purchase of a truck, but could not see how it worn l be an advantage. Horses would be required for grading work, and picking up rubbish. He did not, think a truck could be compared with horses in small boroughs. He stated that in maiiy places, they were going back to horses for short, carting. Several councillors agreeing wit.i Cr. Downes, the Mayor asked Cr. Anderson if he was agreeable to withdraw his opposition as the majority of councillors favoured purchasing another horse. Cr. Anderson agieeing, Cr. Downes’ motion was put and carried.

GENERAL. It was left to the Road Committee to have the willow tree on the Main North road in front of Mrs Rotter’s property removed. Cr. Downes asked if it would be possible, after the Finance Committee bad met, for each Councillor to be supplied with copies of this year’s and last year’s estimates, so that he would be-able .to peruse them before coming to the meeting. The Town Clerk undertook to carry out the request. So that the Council meetings can be held on their proper night, the next

meeting will be held on Tuesday even ing next.