THE WESTERN SPRINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4192, 23 November 1883, Page 2

THE WESTERN SPRINGS.

Proposed Purchase of Edgecombo's Land for Thirteen Thousand Founds.

Opposition in the Council to the Investment. Wnmr tho City Council assembled last evening it was quite evident that some matter of unusual importance was agitating the minds of members, and subsequent events proved this to bo tho case. Tho correspondence having been disposed of, the Town Clerk read the following recommendation from the Finance Committee concerning the letter from F. T. Paten re offer of land at the Western Springs:—"Your Committee recommend that an oftV of £13,000 bo mado to tho Company (Mr F. T. Paten, agent) for the whole of the land owned by Mr Edgecumbo of about 100 acres ; also, to include the land at present held by the Tallow Company (4 acres), and the hotel and site (5 acres), cottages, &c. The Tallow Company to have tho right to remove the buildings therefrom." His Worship tho Mayor, in moving tho adoption of the recommendation, said this matter had been before the Council at the lastineeting, whunitwasreferredto the Committee, with power to act. They, however, did not choose to exercise that power, and now made the foregoing recommendation to tho Council. This property, he explained, was separated from tho Springs by tho Great North lload. It was offered to the Council some eight or ninomonths ago,when it was visited by a committee or by meinbois of the Council. At that time the feeling was expressed by those who visited it that it was desirable that the property should bo purchased, seeing that the water supply for the city flowed through tho land at not a very groat distance from tho surface. This was shown by tho fact that in a well dug on Mr Edgeeombo's land tho water rose and fell according to the rise and fall in the ponds. This was further shown by the additional circumstance that during the draining of tho ponds the well was affected to such an extent that Mr Edgecumbe asked that notice should be given to him when the ponds were to be drained, so that lie might draw Buificient water for his own use. An objection raised to the purchase at the time was that Mr Edgecumbo had reserved five acres round tho hotel. That was an important part, as there were many springs in that reserve. It was also considered important from tho fact that an, additional supply of twenty or twenty-fire per cent, could be obtained from these springs. Recently he had been informed that Mr Edgecumbe was in negotiation with some party for the sale of the property, including not only the block offered to them some eight months ago, but also the fiveacre reserve. With the object of ascertaining the position of tho matter, he asked the Town Clerk to inquire from Connell and Cooper, by whom the previous offer was made, whether it was still open. They were verbally informed that it was not, and that an offer had been made in writing to a company. The agent of the party or company in question then asked if tho Council would purchase, and he asked the Town Clerk to ascertain * tho price, including: the site held by the Tallow Company. This having been done, he had it referred to the Finance Committee with power to act. They wero given to understand tliat the price for the whole was £17,000, although a reduction might bo made. The Committee being fully aware of the importance of preserving the purity of the water supply, decided that it was advisable to offer £13,000. Anyone passing there now must be fully aware that it would bo wortli £1,000 to have that filthy factory removed from contiguity to tho springs. Cr. Aickin inquired tho acreage of the proposed purchase. Tho Mayor replied that it exceeded 100 acres, and, in fact, was from 109 to 111 acres.

Cr. Aickin seconded tho adoption of tho Committee's report. Cr. Masefield considered it to be his duty to oppose tho purchase, and moved, as an amendment, "That the offer of Mr Clay ten be declined." He said that when tho matter came before the Finance Committeo he was not prepared with sufficient information as to whether or not it was advisable to purchase. Now, however, he had fully considered the matter, and had arrived at the conclusion that is was not advisable. It was, ho believed, useless to acquire this property in question unless they also bought the land whore the water collects, and flows through from Edgecumbe's. Then again, if they bought this land now, the people owning the other properties would increasouiepneeof theirland. Furtherthan this, the pr.ice asked was far too high, £100 an acre boiii" ample money to give. He thought the Council was being rather sat upon in tho matter, the price asked being really exorbitant when it was remembered that tho property was bought for £11*000 and t'17,000 was being exacted. It was quite apparent that the purchase had been made in order that the investors might exact from tho Council a price incompatible with its value. Then for a long time he liad feared that the Springs supply would eventually ran short, that tho bottom would fall out, or, in other words, that tho water would go elsewhere. Therefore ho felt that the money which might be involved in the expenditure of £15,000 on this purchase', and an additional £15,000 for a pumping statian to Mount Eden, would go a long way towards providing a pipe from Waitakarei, which would never fail. The money might bo better expended in this direction. Ho (the speaker) had gone into the matter somewhat, and he found that the cost of a line of twelve-inch pipes at 16 10s per ton for fifteen miles would be £14,000, this sum representing tho cost of the pipes themselves. He had also gone into the cost of laying them, and ho believed that from £30,000 to £40,000 would supply the whole lino. It was worthy of notice that where water mains wore being laid, large 24-inch pipes were being done away with, and two or threo lines of 12-inch pipes were being put down, so that in ense of an accident by landslip or otherwise one line would be always available.'

Cr. Harper seconded the amendment. He agreed with a great deal that Cr. Masefield had said in roferenco to the subject, but he thought his facts in connection with Waitakerei wore hardly up to the mark. His remarks an tho Springs were good. Ho (the speaker) believed thoy should go to Waikato for their water supply, and bring it from Mercer. So far as tho Springs were concerned, there was a wholo basin round Mount Albert from the Threo Kings, and if they bought this property thoy would have all the people in this distriot wanting them to buy their land.

Cr, Mackochnie said shis was so large a question that ho thought tho whole matter would bo adjourned. It had camo upon him as a surprise, and lie considered they should have an opportunity of looking at tho land beforo arriving at any decision. Cr. Fleming agreed with Cr. Mackcchnio that this was a serious question. At first blush, ho approved of Cr. Masefield's remarks in reference to Waitakerei. If they had a reservoir, the Engineer told him, the water,would gravitate towards Mount Eden. Ho believed that if they purchased ono portion of the Western Springs estate they would have to buy the whole of it. He would like tho matter postponed, so that thoy .might go into it it moro fully and clearly.

Cr. Phillipps moved that the Council do now adjourn until next Thursday. Cr. Dovoro seconded.

It was pointed out that this would necossitato tho postponement of the other reports, tendors, and motions.

" The resolution was put, and only fivo members voting in its favour, it was declared to bo lost.

Cr. Thompson said tho.question had caused him a great deal of anxiety, and ho had devoted considerable attention to it. Ho agreed to a considerable oxtont with Cr.' Masofield's remarks. Doubtless, a deal of stress would bo laid on the points that they must maintain tho purity of the present supply, and that thoy should supplement it. There would, however, bo a difliculty in making the supplementary supply available unless they were going in for purchasing a largo slice of this land. To keep tho boundary creok affecting tho supply pure, they would have to purchaso a large tract of clay land extending from the Asylum. Then the owners of the adjoining property had only to get up one of these obnoxious factories on the corner of their land, and the Council would have to purchase that also. He believed the price asked for this block was excessive, and agreed with Cr. Masefiold that it was an attempt to milk the Corporation. At the same time ho felt that they had not adopted the wisest course in negotiating as they had done, ieehngtnat tho purchase would lead to considerable outlay in extending their possessions in that neighbourhood, he would vote for the amendment. •

Cr. Crowther thought Cr. Mackechnie was entitled to tho time for consideration which he asked for. Ho could say without hesitation "that this business had given him more pain than any other matter which had

arisen since he sat at that tabl« owing entirely to the manner in which v had been dealt with. Ho always had I sti-ong objection to committees dealinc -with business, i.e., having power to act. At the last meeting he had voted against the rele gation of power to the Committee but h Felt sure they would not deal with it, seeing the small amount of information they hJj at their disposal. Since the last meeiW he had considered it to be his duty to loot up the matter. This was not in consequent of what had transpired, but of what might transpire hereafter. He had looked ur. as far as he could ascertain, what power the officers or any Councillor had to enter into negotiations of this sort without con suiting their co-trustees. Last Thursday the business was brought on hurriedly and they Had no opportunity of considering the matter. Therefore, he had looked up the question, and found that clause 70 of the Municipal Corporations Act provided that "No extraordinary business bo considered at any ordinary meeting unleßS due notice of such is given at a prior meeting of the Council, and notice thereof sent to each Councillor." No such notice had been sent The business was brought up as urgent' and the letters wore not even read at the meeting.

The Mayor rose to make a correction. It was not brought up as urgent business and the letter was on the business sheet.

Cr. Crowther: But it was not read. Cr. Harper supported Cr. Crowtiier in the statement that the letter was not read Cr. Crowther asked if due notice had been given of that extraordinary business The Mayor did not sec that it was necessary. Cr. Crowther proceeded to say that it had transpired that certain Councillors had been taken into confidence on the subject while others were excluded from the consultation.

Cr. Waddel: Hence the trouble. Cr. Crowthor proceeded to say that this business was commenced on October 23 fully a month ago, and that letters had been passing during the whole of that timo till tlio 13th of November. To his mind the curious part of the business was that until the 15th November no money was paid on this transaction. On the 15th the business was brought before the Council, but, singularly enough, not before the deposit was paid and the property secured. The Mayor: Does Cr. Crowther imply that any money was paid ? Cr. Crowther replied that £3,000 was paid on the 15th, and the whole matter was then brought before the Council on the same night, and referred to the Finance Committee with power to act. Hig in.

ference was that it was not considered good enough to bring the matter before the Council until the deposit was paid. Hia inferenct further was that if the £3,090 had not been paid on the 15th, the matter would not have come before the Council at the meeting on the evening of that day. If business of such importance was to be

conducted without consulting the Council, then it was not good enough for those wishing to act conscientiously to sit at that table. Cr. Montague said if this matter could not have been submitted to the considera-

tion of 17 or 18 gentlemen at the Council, it should not have been sent to the Committee. So far as the Waitakerei scheme was concerned, ho was not sure whether that was the better of the two, but at all events he was sure they could spend £18,000 or £20,000 to better advantage than by purchasing this property of Mr Edge* cumbe's. The price asked looked very much like levying blackmail on the Council, § and ho for one could not consent W bo a party to it. If they did acquire the : land, they would soon have another ■ factory in close proximity to it, andthen thoy would have to purchase again at a still higher price. He thought 11 they should first obtain from the Engineer further information regarding a gravitation supply either from Waitakarei,- Mercer, or * > Waikato. Cr. Phillipps said lie Mould vote for Cr; : Masefield's amendment because of theargu-;" ments that if they purchased this land they would Jiavc to acquire otherproperties; that the purchase of tho block in question by the. Council would enhance the value of thei / adjoining property which might subse-" quently be required ; that thoy would be' constantly purchasing other properties,"; becauso, as the population extends, the I tendency would be to pollute the supply. ■ While giving Cr. Crowther credit for being I ono of the most conscientious members of the Council, he objected to his remarks concerning tho manner in which this matter? had been doalt with. For his part he would.;! not sib in tho Mayoral chair unless he had some discretionary power, and ha:*' thought it would be better that some matters should not bo made public toaA soon. He thought their executive officer"; should have moro power than an ordinary .^ Councillor, and repeated that the business. - was on the order paper last week. ■ The .). speaker complained of some members of tha ■;'■": Council being made acquainted with the proceedings in committee. Cr. Garratt also objected to the manner;' in which the negotiations had been carried on, and considered that there was nothing to have prevented the Mayor calling a special meeting, seeing that the matter was one of I sneh importance. If the question of sitei.. did crop up, lie would not vote for Wai> I takerei or the extension of the present waterworks site. Ho knew something about Mount Albert District, and he; was convinced that when McElwain'g property was built upon, it would in^ liuence the supply, as the whole natural I drainage would tend towards the Springs. He agreed with the Mayor concerning the' ' necessity of providing a further supply, although he might differ from him as to the ; manner in which it should bo carried out/ He did not see anything calling for special B censure in tho whole matter. Cr. Waddel said one of the most forcible", argumonts of Cr. Masefield—that the fact of their wanting the property in the neigh*.; bourhood would increase its value—was; certain to apply with equal force to the: Waitakerei site. So far as Mercer-■was';; concerned, the tide rose and fell post Mercer, and they could not go there unless they wanted a mixture of salt and fresh water. He was speaking from infor-- X ma tion supplied by those wefl acquainted ' with the matter, and of his own knowledge he knew that the tide affected the water at Meroer. He was sure that every Councillor, if t!iey*only tookthe troubleto see the letters ■ which hadpassedinthenegotiation, would be ' surprised at what theyliad been talking about. There was a deal of pretended innocence expressed to give the idea of a; want of knowledgo of affairs, but he knew;: that amongst Councillors nothing had been! v so much talked of during the last week as.: this purchase. The whole matter and the ' course pursued had been freely canvassed. * Cr. Aickin suggested that they should now adjourn the consideration of the ques-;' tion, especially as three members of the. Finance Committeo had expressed dissent from the report.' He thought it would be < unwise to carry the amendment shelving the , \ whole question, as tho matter was one re p quiring full and earnest consideration.!' He knew nothing of the details, and was.'; quite prepared to accept the statement of :: the Mayor. Those facts spoke for themselves, and ho believed they made out a prima facie case. But at the same time ;: the other facte adduced required looking into, and hence tho necessity for adjourning tho question. Regarding the state-; ment of Cr. Garratt that the contents of Mr" Patten's letter were not made known to the: Council, ho wished to say that it had been ; especially resolved by the Council that the letter should not bo read, because in a business transaction it was not alwaya desirable that the contents should be made: ■ known to the public. But it was the right . and privilego of every Councillor to make himself acquainted with the contents of "r that letter. Cr. Devoro trusted that he would not' have to vote either for or against until they a had further information from the Engineer. .': Ho would liko.to know if the purchase was merely sending the nuisanco farther back, if there was likely to be a fringe of . settlers around tho border of the land requiring tho acquisition of further pro- ■ porty that tho water should be as pure as now. For his part, ho believed thore' ■ should be another supply, and that from Waitakeroi; but that was not the question r | now. Ho asked if the Engineer.had reported on the matter at all. The Mayor said there was no report from tho Engineer either bofore the Council or ■ the Finance Committee when they decided v on this resolution. He did not knowiftho Engineer had reported before, but he might • be allowod to state that, so far as the poll- I tion of three creeks was concerned, an Engi ■ ; neer's report was not necessary. The watershed was between the creeks; and houses M on either side brought the population, | within a biscuit's throw of these creeks. § The purchase would place these houses 100 m acres back. The Town Clerk informed him i '>■' that both the Public Analyst atod theEngi- % neer expressed themselves verbally in favour.! of the purchase of these properties. Cr. Devore : Believing that the Engineer ;■ can give us all the information that is.' .; needed, and can tell us whether the purity" i will be affected, and if 100 acres is aft that" lis required, and further, that we should ; have all the information on the subject ■ obtainable, I will move that the Council do ■ now adjourn. . The motion was lost by 9to 7, " |

After some further remarks on the question of deferring tho matter Cr. Masefinld withdrew his amendment for the •"Lent and tho wholo matter was adfouroed till next Thursday, when the Engineer will report. Cr Thompson explained his alleged inconsistency in not nssuming the powers "legated by the Council by the fact that tent members had held the snine opinion « himself, and that tho other side only numbered seven without tho Mayor. The ordinary business was then proceeded with.