NEW RECLAMATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 97, 17 January 1908, Page 7

NEW RECLAMATION.

THE FILLING IN OF EVANS BAY. .WHERE THE SPOIL IS TO BE BORNE FROM. . CRAWFORD'S HILL TO BE DEMOLISHED. Now-that it is decided that the southern : shallows of Evans Bay aro to bo reclaimed by.- tho Harbour Board under an arrangement With , tljo City Council for tho ostensiblo object of providing choap wator frontages for industrial projects, it only remains for tho Bqhemo' to bo ivorkod out in detail deliberately, and, having mapped out what, is considered; to bo tho best lino' of action, to prooecd- with tho work oithor by contract or day. labour. Ono of tho first and most im-' , pdrtant ,considerations that, concerns' any work.,'of.;reclamation.is the distanco away from tho scene of "operations, and the quality of tho spoil to bb used as filling. Irt jthe case of tho Evans Bay reclamation this, n iriatter has, been practically settled. ; The Board' has decided that tho filling shall bo taken . from what is generally known as • Ciawford'g Hill, that part of the western' ' Miratnar ridge lying between tho cutting (at tho entrance to tho Miramar wharf) and the. Old Fatin Road (tho old road that in tho old , days led' over tho hills from the head of ' Evans, Bay to tho Miramar flat); This hilly ridgo includes a block of land over twelve acres'in' oxtent, and ranging in height from 80ft. to 120 ft. above the Evans Bay Road. • Tho land was out up and • sold some time ago V.'the ridge being privately owned by some thirteen persons, ana. the bottom slopes on the-i Miramar sido by the Wellington Gas Companyj'whioh recently acquired some nineteen sections for the future extension of tho ;.'' works.■ •' ' ''The' Wellington Harbour Board has formally . notified the Miramar■' Borough Council of• its : intention to demolish the hill named, and' has .forwarded tho following letter to private owners of properties (soino of whom hate CTeoted'fine houses on thoir sections): — ; Doar, ; Sir,—The Wellington Harbour Board havo urider consideration a reclamation at the head of Evanß Bay. Legislative power, was granted to tho. Board under Clauso 54 of tho Reserves and .other- Lands, Disposal and Public Bodies/Empowering Act of last session to take such lands as may be necessary . for tho purpose of providing spoil for tho • . execution of the works. Ono of tho ' : sohenies • suggested would involyo the acquisition by tho Board of the land lying ;to the south;of the Miramar. cut-. • • ting:and to .tho north of the, Old Farm Road. , • Irunderstand that : yoii are the owner of,' or aro beneficially interested, in section No. -—Tho Board desire, bo-: bbfpro. definitely deciding to tako 'thoso , >lands, to ascertain whatithe views of the . .'owners.of tho sections aro—as to whether they would be prepared to dispose of tho • land privately to the Board, and, if so, on wnat terms. I need scarcely point ' rbnt; to:.you ; that a private purchaso by 'tho : .Board would probably be effected ',with much less trouble than,,if tho lands '. \ 'wßro'-'Oompulsorily taken under the •Publio Works Act. Any statement you. may/ choose to make as to tho terms on which you aro propared to sell to . tho Board will bo considered confidential, ' and/not used, in any way if. the Board aro compelled to take your land compul- . sorily . under tho Public Works Act. As ■ it lis-desirablo to loso no time in this : matter, JL should be obliged to you if • you "would .reply to this letter as speedily • ■as possible. .'. .. And am, doar Sir, ' ■" •> ... Yours .truly,. .... WILLIAM: FERGUSON, . •>' Secretary. . ' Several of iho owners have : already replied to the Board's lotter. It is almbst needless to add that the prico of Miramar land in the vicinity bf'tho proposed reclamation has not receded in'valuo. during, tho. past mpiith. . ■