THE RHODES ESTATE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 489, 23 April 1909, Page 5

THE RHODES ESTATE.

QUESTION OF "PArER ROADS," . OFFER OF TRUSTEES ACCEPTED.. Among tho recommendations submitted to the City Council last night by the Finance Committee; was one to the following effect:—" That they had considered the offer made by the Rhodes Trustees for the settlement of", the question of "paper roads!" and would recommend that-it be accepted,'and that the necessary steps be taken to complete the matter." The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the recommendation, said that a certain amount of land was required for widening the Wadestown Road and;for tramway purposes. • Part of tho land required was of considerable value. The' offer ot the trustees, which had only been obtained with a great deal of difficulty, was to close up about seven acres of old roads, and form new roads in then', place, arid ..in addition to cede to the council lour and a half acres of land to form the new road, according to the requirements of the engineer, arid'to put' other roads in order/Whilst the corporation wou.d have the right to lake the'necessary land for improving the road up the hill'from lhorndon Quay, in case it snould desire to take a tramway up that road. The area of four and a half acres, which the trustees were handing over; included one and a half acres along the tramway and the road, which could reasonably be said to be worth twice as much per acre as the average for the estate. The balance of the land to,be acquired was of aver-' age quality. The old roads'were public reads, which would have had to bo formed and metalled at the expense of the corporation. If the offer were accepted it would be a splendid bargain to the city. This was tho final attempt to settle the matter.' Councillor Godbcr seconded the motion. '■Councillor Luke thought that the matter should first of all be submitted to the residents of the old Wadestown ward. As an amendment ho moved in that direction. His own opinion was thatthe proposed basis of settlement was a very fair one. The value of tho "paper roads" 'had been variously estimated at from JSOOO to The amendment was seconded by Councillor M LarCn. Councillor Fletcher, in supporting the amendment, said; that he believed that it was always best to trust the people. "I object to referring a matter which affects the whole of the city to a section of the ratepayers, observed Councillor Hindmarsh : The Mayors It is a question now whether it would be better to take advanta.se of.an excellent, offer, or to allow tho matter to eo on in a state of chaos. I do not know whether the trustees. have been moved by gencro«itv but they have certainly made the most'extreme offer in their power. Bj-eleven votes to four the amendment was rejected, after which the recommendation was adopted.. ■'■-.■,