EVANS BAY SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 155, 25 March 1908, Page 9

EVANS BAY SCHEME.

' LAND FOR SPOIL. ' In conversation with a Dominion reporter yesterday, Mr. T. M. Wilford, 21.]?., Chairman of tho AVeUington Harbour Board, said tlmt a special committee of the Board was dealing with tho Evans Bay reclamation scliemo, and that"'the' neccssary consents had been obtained for the acquisition of land' by tho Board for spoil purposes. It was proposed to ,take for theso purposes a largo block of landin . tho vicinity of tho Miramar, Wharf', and abutting on tho ono sido upon tho road to Miramar, and on tho other sido upon tho Gas Company's property. The Board some timo ago proposed to purchase this bliick from the owners, but the prices asked were ' so high, that the matter was postponed. '".Since tho new Board came into office," continued Mr. Wilford, "a valuation of each individual suction and tho interest of every owner has been obtained, and I liavo convened a special meeting of- tho- Evans Bay Committee, to bo hold on Tlnirsday,. prior to tho monthly mooting of tho Board,, to consider tho roport of the valuers, and whether or not the Board shall purolmso at tho prices offered or.leavo tho price to be determined by a Court. Tho Board has power to take land for spoil purposes eompulsorily, subject to tho consent of the Minister for Lands and the City Council. That power was given in tho ■'washing-up Bill'' of last session, and tho consent of both thoso authorities has been given in regard to tho block I have montionod."

Oil the' question of .tho acquisition of the Patent Slip by tho Board, Mr. Wilford would only say that ho had delegated his powers to another committee, of which tho Hon. T. K. Macdonald, M.L.C., was 'chairman. Thai, committee would meet to-day, and he hoped it would be ablo to rcnort to the Board tomorrow.