SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 28 June 1929, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The above meeting was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and Crs. A. E.» Hyde, R. DownespT. C, Thwaites, E. Hook, Jas. Curran, jun., S: Anderson, E. Laurvig, and J. Curr£LU sen OPENING OF SHANNON BRIDGE. Letters were received from the Manawatu County Council and Horowhenua County Council, regarding the opening of the Shannon bridge, stating they were not in favour of spending money on an official function, seeing that the bridge has been in use for nearly six months.—Received. _ EOTORUA-TAUPO RAILWAY. The secretary of the Rotorua-Taupo Railway League forwarded copies ot pamphlet giving the facts relative to. the abandoned Rotorua-Taupo railway and asking the Council's active support in the matter.—Received. P SUBSIDIES TO HOSPITALS The Kairanga County Council for warded a copy of a letter received from the Pohangina County Council, stating that -besides discussing the question of increase of subsidies to hospitals, they would like to take advantage of the opportunity to also dis-. cuss the question of the allocation ot ' levies as they consider the present method is unfair to rural districts, and that the levies should be allocated on the basis of capital value and population. . , The Town Clerk was authorised to obtain all data \possible and hand to delegates before the meeting and thus j show how Shannon stands in this matter. ~-"'■.. CEMETERY TRUST. In reply to a request from the Council to the Horo-Hthenua Oounty Couneil for a grant of £lO towards the maintenance and improvement of the Shannon cemetery the latter local body re- j plied that £lO had been granted.—Received. ■ ■ EXTRA STREET LIGHTS. The Horowhenua Electric Power Board notified that arrangements ar? being made for the installation of two | additional street lights. One is to be 'erected half way doAvn Sheehan Street and another at the corner of Vance Street and Levin road. REPORT DENIED. , Mr Ronayne, the District Engineer, Public Woeks Department, wrote advising that he did not notify the Manawatu Automobile Association, that the work of permanent surfacing the borough main highway would be carried i out for the borough. The newspaper report was not correet. He, stated the policy of the Main Highways Board is for local bodies t)p thenown work. —Rereived.' GRANT TO PLUNKET SOCIETY. The secretary of the Shannon branch of the Plunket. Society wrote making application to the Council for a grant towards the funds of the Society. \\ c feel sure you will realise the beneficial work carried on by the Society throughout the country stated the secretary, and claim that our ease is deserving of every assistance so that its activities may be extended. The work of the society has increased considerably during the past year without a corresponding increase in our subscriptions and we are finding it difficult to meet our expenses.—A grant of £5 was

made, ' ■ „„ WILKINSON'S BE EDGE. The Municipal Association's solicitor was recently asked 'for an opinion as to whether the Council is liable to. keep WilkjinsoiVs bridge .over StanseJl's drain, in repair, seeing that that body erected the bridge. His reply has nowbeen received and he is of the opinion that they are not. • On this advice Mr Wilkinson is to be advised that the Council will take no action. . TRANSFER OF LICENSE. The Shannon Meat Co. applied for a transfer and also renewal of slaughterhouse license from Mangahao Butchery to the Shannon Meat Co.—Granted. RAILWAY CROSSING NOTICES. The N,Z. Railways wrote drawing the Council's attention to Section !) of regulation 16 of the regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1924, which provides that the local authorities shall be responsible for erecting the St. Andrew's cross sign, on each side of ovory railway crossing -whether the railway be public or private. The Town Clerk stated that in October 1928 this Council and other Councils protested to the. fldvernmeiit against this regulation and a remit was passed at the last Municipal Conference iu support of deleting this regulation. Cr. Downes said that to comply •with this regulation they would have to erect nine notices for two railway crossings, seeing that they are required 300 yards away on each road. There i 9 already one "compulsory stop notice. It seemed to him a ridiculous regulation. It wa3 decided to take no action until the remit from the Municipal Conference has been placed before the Government.

BOROUGH EMPLOYEES HOURS. Mr D. Ellwood wrote asking the Council's sanction allowing him to make his time up to 48 hours per week. . . At present he was only being paid for 44 hours. , ~ Cr Downes said he was under t.ic impression that the time was made up; the men worked 48 hours with a halt holiday on Saturdays. ~_.., The Town Clerk explained that the Council in office in lSfe3 resolved that borough employees should work from 8 ain to noon and 1 p.m.. to o p.m., a week and from 8 a.m. to noon to Saturdays. This came as a surprise to councillor, many, of whom were not aware that there was such a on _ he book and all were agreed.that the staff should be paid for a 48-hour week. CrflyoS explained that wheu the raiOlW ** B P ut into fore °

Couneil only employed one man permanently, the other was a casual and oil some occasions was off for a month or more at a time. The Council unanimously decided to rescind the minute on the book and on Cr. Downes' motion it was agreed that "Where men so desire, they be allowed to make up a 48 hour week." THE WATERWORKS.

The Waterworks Committee reported that after a visit to the hcadworks they lecommend to the Council that an extension be made to the present box of 14 feet, and that the box be placed on an angle towards the stream from the present box. Dimensions of box to be 2ft x 2ft x 14 feet, timber to be heart of totara. Cr. Hook said that by putting the box at an angle they would probably get twice the amount of filtering and water . At present they were only getting the benefit, of ofie side. Since the weir has been put down the box has sunk two feet down in the metal. The suggested arrangement would giv-j more satisfaction and save the men's time. Cr. Hook said he would not advise putting the work into effect at present with all the water in the stream. He thought it would be better .to wait until the stream was lowei'j then they would get a more successful job. Cr. Downes said personally he would like to see some decision come to that night. Jf adopted it could then be left to the Waterworks Committee to do the work when the time, was opportune. The recommendation was adopted, it being decided to have the. box, with perforated, half inch holes, made immediately, so that everything will, be in readiness wheil required.ROADMAN'S REPORT.

The assistant Borough Foreman reported that 42 yards of metal had been carted to Ballance Street and northern end of Borough. Owing to the continuous wet weather a number of culverts had been opened up to let the water away. 10 chains of water tables had been cleaned out in Thompson Street. The grader been at work on the main highway.—Adopted. RANGER'S REPORT. "The ranger 1 reported that two horses and ten head of stock have been found wandering and he had issued threes warnings to owners. PURCHASE OF SCARIFIER. ■Cr. Downes said that, following a suggestion by Cr. Hook that a light scarifier might be of use to the Council, they had worked out a schem? of which they had laid the foundation. The outside cost of the machine was J£7, and he wished to know if the Council would sanction the purchase. He was firmly of the opinion it would be a good asset. The main road was gettina' a "ood crown on it, but was breaking 0 into potholes. The idea was to use a fairly weighty scarifier over it, one that could be pulled by three horses. He thought the experiment would ultimately be a great benefit. Or. Hook said he had noticed that .when two inches of metal was put on, jt was dished out by the traffic in about a couple of days. The, idea was .to break tha crust and till in the potholes. This was going to save a lot of metal. On Cr. Hyde's motion it was decided to sanction the purchase .

PERMANENT SURFACING MAIN HIGHWAY. Cr. Hyde brought forward the question of the cost of maintaining the Main Highway through the Borough. He said that on a conservative estimate, taking 25 per cent, off the Town Clerk's figures, apart from the subsidy, the cost was £225. The position was goino' to become worse, he said, ana if they could cut the cost down to £175 and keep £SO, they were going to be better off. Going over the estimites submitted by the Union Asphalt Co. for permanent surfacing through the Borough, he found there were several items that could be deleted, so ■that the work could 'be done for approximately £7OOO. On a £2 for £1 subsidy the Council's share or the cost .would be £2500. He would therefore move "That a poll of ratepayers be .taken to borrow £2500 for permanent surfacing through the borough; as set out- in the Union Asphalt Co.'s estimate." ' .. Cr. Downes said he would second the .motion pvo forma. The Town Clerk said the Council .should have the estimate and report .submitted to the Board for their approval before going to the ratepayers. Cv. Dones: I admire Cr. Hyde's persistence in this matter. But now we have him in a corner, as we cannot go to the ratepayers till we have a proper estimate and report, Cr Hyde- As for getting, plans and estimates, it is a simple matter. Any engineer would know that, if it was turned down,-he would have to wan for his fees till March 31st next. Wo have trot to pay about £BO for the alans and estimate sooner or later and there are plenty of engineers who would wait till March 31st next. The Mayor said he cud not agree with Cr. Hyde. • ' Ultimately, said Cr. Downes, the Main Highways Board would have to take'over the main roads in small boroughs. It was a matter of marking time. Plenty of towns the size ot Shannon would hesitate before spending £BO for plans and estimates. ' Cr. Curran, :en., drew attention to 'the state of Sheehan Street, which is now a main highway road and carrying a lot of traffic, urging the necessity of immediate attention. Cr. Hyde: We have' been bled dry in the maintenance of our roads, and you can't contradict it. Cr. Downes: Sheehan Stieet has not .cost £IOO since it was first metalled. In agreeing this was so, Cr. Hyde said he was referring . to the main •street through the borough. Continuing, Cr. Downes contended that Sheehan Street should have been included in the scheme when the two miles of new road was put down to the •bridge Instead, the Council had been

saddled with a by-road which had now been declared a "main highway. The Main Highway Board should be written to ana this point stressed. Cr. I-Ivde's motion was then put and lost. It was decided that the Town Clerk write to the Main Highway Board drawing their attention to the state of .Sheehan Street stressing the point raised bv Cr. Downes.