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SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Shannon Borough Council was held in the Council Chamber on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr. E. Butt), and Crs. A. E. Hyde. E. Downes, S. Anderson, D. Laurvig, Jas. Curran, junr., T. C. Thwaites and R»Hook. EXTENSION OF WATER

Mr. F. Bryant wrote stating that he intended erecting three dwellings in the Borough 'and asked that the Borough water supply be laid on to the proposed .sites. Also that the road past the Cemetery be opened. The Mayor, in replying as to where Mr. Bryant intended to erect the houses, stated that two-were at the northern end of the Cemetery and the other on the south side. The request for the water supply was granted under the usual conditions. In reference to opening the piece of road Cr. Hyde stated that Mr Bryant had informed him that there was no immediate hurry for this to be done. He said that the road was a dead end and was .a matter for he and Mr Bryant to come to an arrangement in regard to removing the present fence, which divided their properties. The Mayor pointed, out that the Council would have to consider which

route to take the water pipes. At present the water was taken across pri- ' vate property to the Cemetery through ,a half-inch pipe. This would not be sufficient pressure to supply three houses. There was a one-inch pipe in, Thompson Street where the Cemetery road joined up. This could be continued on and then there was another inch pipe on Foxton road which could be carried along the unformed road to (Cemetery road. There wais a two-inch pipe under the railway bridge which came* out on to Nathan Terrace. This pipe could be continued to Thompson street and the oneinch pipes taken up and used in the extension. It was decided that the matter be left to the Waterworks Committee to select the best route with power to act. The question of opening up the road is to be left to Cr Hyde to come to an agreement with Mr Bryant as regards the removal of thle existing f^nce. • ’. T " CONSTRUCTION OF SHEEHAN STREET.

The Public Works Department, writing with reference to the construction of Sheehan Street, stated that it would be necessary for the Council to forward four copies of the proposals to widen the street to 24 feet and also tto metal 18 feet wide. Also that the Board would subsidise the work on a £2 for £1 basis. The Department pointed out that construction work is usually subsidised on a £1 for £1 baps. The Town Clerk pointed out that the estimate for the construction of the road was £285 10s, which on the subsidy offered, the Council would have to. find £95, the Board finding the remaining £l9O. The Mayor: We have no provision on our estimates for this work. The Board should be asked if they will do the work and that the Council's contribution be allowed to stand over till March 31st next. Cr. Anderson: “I don’t agree If we can get money to do other things not provided for on the estimates, we can get it to do this work.” He had been given to understand that the estimates brought down were correct. Yet already they had spent £6O on a horse, £5 to the Plunket Society. £5 to the Cemetery and engaged a third

man. He had been given to understand when the extra man was put on, that there would be no more money available for any work not provided for on the estimates. He said he was ignorant of the position and would like to be enlightened. He was not criticising. Cr Hyde endeavoured to point out

to Cr Anderson that the estimates were v only a guide to the Council as to what the various works were going to cost. In some things there might be a sating of £3O or £IOO. while on the oth-

or hand they may exceed these amounts. Again a bridge might be washed away on a highway. No provision had been made for it, but the Council would have to replace it. To do this the Finance Committee would have to re-arrange the estimates. The estimates were simply a guide as to what could be done.

Cr. Curran, junr., thought that if the Council did the work themselves they might make a little profit. He suggested that the Council’s men and teams with the assistance of some extra men be put on the carry out the work.

Cr. Anderson: In the event of a bridge being washed away and it costing £IOO to replace it, what would the Council do?

The Mayor: We would have to re place it.

Cr Anderson said the construction of this road was just as important and Ire would therefore move, “That the Council go on with the construction of Sheehan street.’’ This was seconded by Cr Curran, junr.

'Cr Downes contended that the Council had been saddled with the road by the Main Highway board and were not receiving a fair deal with ,a £2 for £1 .subsidy. In the past it had only been used as a side road by a few settlers. He strongly objected to the Council crippling their finances to the extent of £95, thus not being able to cany out improvements to footpaths and repairs to roads. Seeing that the Main Highway Board must know the position they had placed the Council in they should be asked to assist with a little more than a £2 to £1 subsidy. The Mayor: The Town Clerk has already tried them without success. Cr Anderson stated he noticed in the Roadman’s report that 42 yards of metal had been carted and in the previous report 60 yards. He did not think this sufficient and he could not .see what difference that amount was going to make if the Council’s men were put on constructing Sheehan Street. *

Cr Hyde, in speaking to the motion, said that roughly there was £BOO set aside for the maintenance of eight miles of formed roads in the Borough. There had beer, occasions in the past when the men had been taken off the roads for other work and he thought the suggested work could be undertaken by the Council. Of course, he said, if Cr Downes had any inkling that the Council would get a £3 to £1 subsidy, it was. alright not to be in a hurry, but the work was so essential that they could not hang on too long.

Cr Hook was not in favour of taking the men off the roads during the wet season, as by doing so, he said, it would take three times the amount of time to put the roads in order again. IT the proposal was carried out after the wet weather it was quite a good one.

At this stage the Mayor said, as councillors were speaking for and against the motjion. .someone would like to move an amendment.

The Town Clerk said he could place before the Road Committee a statement of the finances and this he thought would enable them to come to some solution.

Cr Thwaites then moved an amendment, which was seconded by Cr Laurvig “That the matter be referred to the Road Committee to bring down a report.” • The amendment was carried. WATER CHARGES. An application was received from Mr W. H. McSavney for a reduction of fee for Borough water supplied to 15 acres outside the Borough for which he is charged £5. The Town Clerk pointed out that the Borough charge fer outside the Borough water supply for farming purposes is £o per annum.

Cr Downes said this matter had been thrashed out by previous Councils when a reduction had been made from 2/6 to 1/6 per acre, with a minimum charge of £5. Perhaps in this case it was a hardship, but the Council would make a mistake if they departed from their by-law, as well as getting away from their principle. It was decided to notify Mr MeStivney that no reduction can be mad#.

TIME SHEETS TO BE KEPT BY EMPLOYEES.

'The question of cost of carting metal was raised by Cr Anderson. He contended that the amount of metal carted did not warrant the purchase of a £OO horse, seeing, that only 40 yards of metal had been carted during the past fortnight. He was not satisfied they were getting value if the Borough roads were costing the Council £IOO a mile for maintenance. .

The Mayor: It is your duty as a member of the Road Committee to see that the Council do get value. Continuing, Cr Anderson said that a time sheet should be kept by the workmen, and the time recorded for each item of work done and then the cost of each job could be arrived at. Under the present system the Council did not know what anything cost them.

On the motion of Cr Curran, junr., it was deci'ded to procure time sheets and each employee be. compelled to keep his time and hand same to the Town Clerk each week. POUNDAGE FEES.

The Town Clerk said that a resolution of the Council stated that the Pound-keeper was to receive £1 per month. He asked for a ruling regarding fees collected by the Poundkeeper, as previously all fees were kept by the Poundkeeper, the only exceptions being the sale of stock, in which the Council received the profit (if any), and footed the bill in the event of a loss. It was resolved that the Council collect all fees. ROADWAY RIGHTS.

A letter was received from Mr S. Millar, Ballanee Street, asking who was ihe rightful owner to the grazing on the surveyed roadway between the properties of Mrs Butt and Mr T. Gardner. He stated that he had rented the latter’s property for the past seven years and Mrs Butt had informed him that the roadway in dispute was his, whoever leased her property. Mr Peach, who was now leasing Mrs Butt's property, had defied him to use it.

It was decided that Messrs Millar and Peach be written to asking them to meet the Mayor and Chairman of the Roadr Committee (Cr Downes) on the ground, with a view to coming to a settlement.

DAMAGE TO CEMETERY ROAD. Cr Downes drew attention to the damage being done to the filling on the Cemetery road by wandering stock. The Council had spent a lot of money to form the filling and now it was being trampled down. If stock had been kept' off, the bank would have been grassed over in the spring. Owners of stock, flood or otherwise, win allowed them to wander should be prosecuted and if the Ranger did his duty they would not be there. On Cr Downes’s motion the Ranger is lo be instructed to impound any stock wandering, irrespective of under what conditions.

STAGNANT POOLS ON ROADSIDE

Cr Anderson wanted to know if the Council considered filling in potholes was more beneficial than the health of the community. He said there were stagnant puddle holes at the comer of Bryce and Thompson street i which would disgrace any cowyard in tlu* district, also on the stock route for loading cattle there were deep holes on each cornc-r, which were death traps and an accident was due at this spot any time. He said he would move that the Council give instructions to their roadman to drain off the water at the 1 cornet- of Bryce and Thompson streets and fill in the holes near the railway crossing in Nathan Terrace. Cr Hyde seconded the motion. -Cr Anderson stated that when he w r as acting-chairman of the Road Committee he had asked that this work be. done, but with the exception of draining a little off, nothing was done. Cr Downes: They are only two. There are hundreds of similar pools in the Borough. Cr Anderson: Well, they are a disgrace to the Road Committee and to the Council for allowing it. Cr Downes: To prevent this sort of thing the sides of the roads all over the Borough will have to be graded and if they are going to level all the

roads the Council will have a life job. It is an utter impossibility to plough .and grade and fill up all the holes on the sides of the roads in the Borough. They would want at least five men to do the job. Cr Anderson: The holes* I refer to are a danger to the public on account of the number of cattle which pass along the road. They are two death traps. He impressed on the Council that at the present time when influenza was so prevalent they had a moral responsibility to fulfil to residents. These holes,'he said, were only a breeding ground for disease. Finally, it was decided that the ’Roads Comrnitte inspect the corner under discussion an dget the work done immediately.

Cr Downes: That means you have given the Roads Committee definite instructions.

The Mayor: Yes. . ’Cr Downes: Is that over the whole of the Borough? The Mayor: No, only those referred to by Cr Anderson. ' ROADMAN’S REPORT.

The acting BoVough foreman ’(H‘ Butt) reported taht during the past fortnight 60 yards of metal had been carted on to the main, highway. It had been necessary to replace the wooden culvert crossing Vance strcett with a pipe culvert. When the roads got a bit .dry the grader would be in operation on the main highways. Several water tables had! received attention since the last report. The water main--had received the usual attention. GENERAL. A vote of thanks was accorded Or Curran, senr., for a donation of £1 towards the beautifying f unus. A resolution was .'onfkmed appointing Mr D. Ellwood ranger and dogtax collector. The secretary, Shannon Volunteer Fire Brigade, wrote thanking the Council for the grant of £lO for the purpose of purchasing a hydrant. The Kairanga County Council forwarded a copy of the minutes of the conference of representatives or contributing local bodies to the Palmerston North Hospital Booard recently held to discuss the question of approaching the Government for an in•crca.se of subsidy to hospitals. The Postmaster (Mr It. C. Jones) notified the Council that their request for extended telephone hours had been acceded to. The hours are now from 6 a.m. to midnight.

Accounts totalling £94’ 9s 7d were passed for payment.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SNEWS19290712.2.11

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Shannon News, 12 July 1929, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,430

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL. Shannon News, 12 July 1929, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL. Shannon News, 12 July 1929, Page 3

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