SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 23 August 1929, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. VThe above meeting was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present Crs A. E. Hyde, R. Downes, T. C. Thwaites, R. Hook, Jas. Curran, jun., and S. Anderson. Owing to the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor (Or. A. E. Hyde) presided. GRAZING DOMAIN. Messrs Mason and Peach wrote offering to graze the Domain grounds with sheep only and to pay £3 per annum for grazing rights.—The matter is to be referred to the Reserves Committee to come to 'some arrangement for sheep to be grazed when required.

APPLICATIONS FOR METAL. A number of applications for metal for footpath entrances were received, also one for repairs to a culvert. Cr. Downes: It looks as if the Council have run their necks into a noosa over supplying metal for footpath entrances. At present they, cannot get sufficient metal from the creek for the roads, let alone for footpaths." Cr. Curran, juu., said that ratepayers should be considered first. They were more entitled to metal tha.-i people using the roads. This remark was supported by Cr. Hyde. ' Cr. Downes pointed out that a condition laid down by the Council in supplying metal was that ratepayers should form footpaths. Several of the applicants had not done this. ' The" applications were granted subiect to paths being formed. WATER CONNECTION.

'The Railway Department wrote pointing out that in order that a water trough may be installed in the Shannon railway stockyards, it would be necessary to connect to the local water service. The Department asked for particulars as to cost. It was decided to inform the Department that tlie Council's charge is £2 10/ for connecting, and then a fee of £2 10s per annum. • EOADMAN'S REPORT,-

■ The Borough foreman reported that the construction of the Sheehan Street Main Highway had been commenced. The new drain has been constructed and the old one will be filled in when the widening of the street takes place. The concrete -pipes have been put in. The scairifier has been working on 25 chains of the Levin-Palmerston North highway. With the exception that ths points of the tines are soft and wear out quickly, the work done by the scarifier was successful. Metal has been carted to Sheehan and Vogcl Streets, Main North Eoad and Plim•mer Terrace and 52 chains of water tables have received attention. The waterworks have received the usual inspections, but owing to the reservou being practically empty, it. was injudicious to scour the mains.—Received. FENCING OFF STREETS.

In reply to a request from the Town ■Clerk for an opinion' as to whether the Council has power to fence off streets or to lease them, the Municipal Solicitor advised that the Council ha.s not the power . The letter stated that the Council has power to close the streets and sell to the adjoining owners, but as long as the streets- remain streets it has no power to lease them. What the Wellington City Council does, states the Solicitor, i s to give a right of occupancy by way of license without entering into any covenants for title. The licensee then erects the fence, but it can be removed by any person claiming to use the street. This Council usually deals with portions ot streets not u 3ed for traffic and not whole streets.

It was resolved to write to the Wei lington City Council for particulars of the methods used by them. ACCIDENT CLAIM.

A letter was received from the South British Insurance Co., to the effect that there is no liability on the part o'l the Council, to pay compensation to their foreman, Mr F. Haley. A letter was also received from Mr Haley notifying the Council that he is commenc ing proceedings against them for the amount due.

The Town Clerk reported that hehad communicated with the Insurance Co., notifying them of Mr Haley's decision, but he had not yet received a reply. It was resolved that the company be communicated with immediately, asking for the return of the doctor's certificate and a reply to the Town Clerk's letter.

BEQUEST HELD OVER. A request from Messrs Murray and Voale for an allowance in connection with the Borough water supply laid through their properties, which was discussed by the previous Council when it was resolved.to discuss the matter in six months time, came before tln> Council when it was resolved that owing to there not being a full meeting of the Council, the matter be held over till next ine"cting. THE NEW PLOT.

Cr. Curran, jun., reported that the plot opposite the Club Hotel had been ploughed and disced. He said that before it could be sown down a failamount of work required to be done. He had been approached by several residents for the right to plant potatoes with a view to cleaning the ground. He thought it was a good idea to plant either potatoes or oats, which would thug permit the clumps of grass to decay and clean the ground. The fencing can be gone on with, but he would certainly not be in favour of sowing it down this season. It was decided to leave the matter to the Beautifying Committee to deal with.

POSITION OF RATES ON HOUSES

DESTROYED BY FIRE

Or. Hyde jaid he would like to know the position as regards rates on buildings destroyed by fire during the period within the first half year. The Town Clerk read the Act which shows that the valuations made ou en the let April of each year eannoi

be altered until the end of that financial year. The same applies in the case of a house, the building of which say was commenced in February, ami not completed until the middle of April. It would not be .liable for rates until the following April. Cr. Hyde: “What about the sanitary charge. ” The Town Clerk: This charge and rate are the same.

Cr. Hyde: Well, that is the legal aspect, but it is ridiculous on the face of it to make the sanitary charge. Anyhow, he said, it was just as well councillors should be clear on these points if they were asked. NOTICE OF MOTION.

I The following notice of motion was given by Cr. Hyde for next Council meeting:— "That the Council take immediate steps to put in hand the .tpermanent surfacing of the main hightway in the Borough."