SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 6 September 1929, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Shannon Borough Count'.i was hold in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening: Present: The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and Crs I R. Downes, K. Hook, Jas. Cm-ran jmi., S. Anderson, Jas. Curran sen. Apologies for absence were received froin.„Cxs,..A. E. Hyde, T. C. B. Laurvig. LEAVE OP ABSENCE.

three months leave of absence was -granted Cr. Laurvig, who has had to go to Taranaki. ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The secretary of the Shannon branch of the Plunket Society wrote thanking the Council for grant towards the funds of the .Society.—Kcceived.

TERMS ACCEPTED,

The N.Z. Railway Department wrote accepting the Council's terms for the supply of water to trough in railway stockyards.—Received. GRANT TOWARDS CYCLE TRACK. The Shannon Athletjic Club wrote asking for a grant towards the permanent surfacing of the cycling track in the Domain. The Club stated that they have £9O in hand towards the ■work and strong efforts are being made to increase this amount. The estimate for sealing only is £127 103, the work to be carried out by the Athletic Club.

Speaking' in support of the request, Cr. Downes said the cause was a worthy one as they all knew that the Athletic Club had already put in a considerable amount of work on the track and to' see the work stop when the end was in sight would-be disastrous. If the Council could assist the Club in any way it would be a great help. The Mayor said that so far as a financial grant was concerned-, they all ,knew that the Council was not in a position at present to' make a grant. On this year's estimates there is a ' grant to the Domain and perhaps some • of this could be used. Cr. Curran, jun., said there was now about £ls to the credit of the Domain, but there" were certain improvements which would have to be made and when these were done there would not be much left. He thought the Council could assist the Club by loaning their men to'do the tarring and also help with the carting. If'they could* see their way to do this it would be equal to making- a financial grant. He thought the Council could easily give the services of their men for a few days. The Club had decided to commence the work as early as possible. The Mayor asked to what value they wanted assistance from the Council. Cr. Downes said, that if the Council's men did the first tarring and the carting; the estimate for labour for the first tarring was £lO aind with the carting probably £l2 or £l3 would cover the lot.

Cr.- Curran, jun., thought that if the Council found the labour, probably some of the carrying firms would do the carting. Cr. R. Hook -said they had to consider the town as a whole. The Council had given donations to other institutions such as the Plunket Society and he was of opinion that the Council should help the Athletic Club. As 'the Council had the conveniences for putting down the tar they could do this work and the Club could make arrangements for carting. Cr. Curran, sen., offered to' loan ;a horse and dray, for the carting, which' offer Cr. Downes, who is president of the Athletic Club, accepted. Cr. Anderson' said he was in favour of the Council's men being put on to do the first tarring. On the motion of Cr. Downes, seconded by Cr. Hook, it was resolve! that the Council's men do the first tarring. RE-VALUATION ASKED FOR,

• A letter was received from W. F. Gill approaching the Council relative to the rating of a brick '.building ir. Ballance Street and asking that another valuation should be made. The Town Clerk stated that he had replied suggesting that application be made to the Valuation Department, but no alteration could be made in the valuation for the present rating year. —'The letter was received.

OCCUPATION OF UNUSED STREETS

The Town Clerk, Wellington, forwarded a copy,-of deed of license under which occupation of area of unused streets is granted to adjoining property owners by the Wellington City Counc.il., After the Town Clerk had read it over to the meeting, Cr. Dou lies said he thought it would fill the bill for Shannon. He said it was certainly not a lease but' it gave right 'of occupation.. With something of a similar na-

ture the Council could lease unuse I

or portions of streets. He moved '•'-'-That the Council let their unused or portions of streets and that first option be given to present occupiers, under the same conditions as those of .the Wellington City Council. Cr. Anderson seconded the motion which was carried.

A committee consisting of the Mayor

and Crs Dow'hei and Curran, sen., were '.appointed to go into the question of value of the different sections.

HEALTH OFFICER'S RUPORT.; 'The Health Officer's report .stated that the borough is fortunate in its comparative freedom from infect ion.? disease during the worst of the winter. Many routine matters have, been attended to, including the matter of questing the Railway Department _to improve the drainage of the trucking yards. The following investigations were made: —Scarlet fever 2, habitations 17, fruit seller's premises 5, j plumbing and drainage f>, hotels 2, public halls- 4. —Received. - ROADMAN'S REPORT. The Borough Roadman reported that 58 yards of t metal carted. on to the Main Highway and footpaths, and 48 yards of spoil carted for filling drain

in Sheehan Street. The grader has been in use on. the Main Highway. There being a fair quantity of metal in the stream at the rear of the Pound property a track has been formed to give access to the metal. The water mains have been scoured and galleries found to be in good order. Eightyeight chains of water tables have been cleaned out. —Adopted. HELD OVER. Cr. Hyde who is absent from town, asked that hi 3 notice of motion, re Main Highways surfacing be held over until hi s return.-—Granted. REQUEST FOR' COMPENSATION. Six months ago a request for compensation for damage done to their properties when the water pipes were put down was received from Messrs Veale and Murray, of Stafford Street. The .matter, which was held over for six months, came before the Council again. Cr. Downes said that some time ago a grant was made by the Council to owners through whose property water pipes were put, to compensate them for levelling the ground which had been left in a bad state by their late Engineer. Payment had been made to those owners who had signed the easement, but he pointed out that though the two applicants did not sign the easement they owned the property. He would recommend that each should be compensated. It was always a mystery to him why these two owners were left out. The matter had nothing to do with signing the easement. Cr. Curran, sen., moved that 'each owner be paid 30s, the same as was granted to the others. Cr. Downes seconded the motion, which was carried.

LIBRARY BOOKS. Cr. Dqwnes asked if the Library Committee had considered placing in the Library the much discussed book "All Quiet on the Western Front" and another by Mr Rod McDonald, of Levin "Old Horowhenua." The latter was of much local interest to middle aged and older people. He thought the Library Committee should consider purchasing them. He knew of one or two libraries which had turned the former book, down, but there are plenty of others who had accepted it. He had read the book himself and if fiuvthing'had (got,a tendency to abolish war that book had. He said he would admit that in its present crude form it was not a book, suitable, for the average girl, but he was of opinion that every father and every mother should read the book, as there was a big moral behind it. The chairman of the Library Committee not being present,' the matter was referred to the Committee.

GENERAL. The resignation of D. Ellwood from the borough staff was accepted and it was decided to offer the position to the next man on the list, who is W. Gray. Cr. Downcs reported that the Road Committee during the week-end made an inspection of the roads and everything appeared satisfactory. In, regard to. the applications for metal to entrances, he said some of the applicants were trading on it and the Committee had found it necessary to cut a few out for the present.