THE STREETS ON THE RECLAIMED LAND.

Evening Post, Volume XXVI, Issue 101, 26 October 1883, Page 2

THE STREETS ON THE RECLAIMED LAND.

DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT. # A deputation from the City Coonoil, consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Thompßon, Newman, M'Kenzio, Petheriok, Wilson, and Richardson, Mr. J. D. Baird (City Engineer), and Mr. Graham (Town Clerk), waited on the Minister for Lands (Mr. Eolleston) today to urge the Government to put the streets on the Thorndon reclamation into a proper Btate of repair. Councillor Newman briefly explained the object of the deputation, and pointed out that if it had been a private individual who had sold the land, instead of the Government, the vendor could have been compelled by law to put the streets into complete repair. As it was, the Council could only appeal to the Government as to the justice of the thing. Mr. Rolleston asked what amount of rates was being derived from the property ? Councillor Newman replied only a small amount. Tho City Engineer said the Governmont paid rates only on the Supreme Court. Mr. Eolleston remarked that the roads were not as tho Government left them when they sold tho land. Nothing had been done to them by the Council since they had been metalled by the Government, and with the traffic on them it was no wonder that there were holes in them dangerous to life and limb. Councillor Newman replied that the Council had considered all along, and he thought rightly, that the roads had not been properly made in the first instance, and consequently refused to take them over. The Government had taken the land from the city, part of which they had sold for £90,000, and yet they refused to make the roads through it. Mr. Eolleston replied that that was a matter of legislation. He could not go behind the Legislature, nor did he see his way to interfere in the matter. When the deputation of purchasers came to him about the matter he looked into it entirely without any bias, and with the desire to do anything that could fairly be done with the consent of Parliament. The committee of the Lower Hon&e enquired carefully into the thing, and came decidedly to the conclusion that there was no claim. It was impossible for him as Minister to expend money on the roads in the face of such a decision as that. There was no objection to the character of the roads at the time they were made. The Town Clerk, in reference to his letter to the Government, which had been published in the Evening Pobt of the previous night, in which ho expressed the opinion that the Council were satisfied with what had been done, said that when he so wrote it had been represented to the City Engineer that it was the intention of the Government, " at present," to do only the 22 feet, and the Council, believing that the reßt would be done afterwards, expressed their satisfaction with this arrangement. That did not imply that they would remain satisfied with the 22 feet. Mr. Bolleston— Thera is nothing in tho records to show that. Mr. Baird replied that he received instructions to prepare specifications for metalling the whole street first of all ; then he received a letter from Mr. Blackett, stating that the Government was only metalling 22ft width of the road at present. Mr. Bolleston— Are the words "at present" in it. Mr. Baird— Yes. In the course of further conversation, tho City Engineer stated all the letters he received from Mr. Blackett were left with the Committee. He had their dates, however. Councillors Petherickand Thompson spoke as to the promise given by Colonel Whitmore at the sale that the streets should be completely made. Tho Minister suggested that it was very difficult to, recollect the purport of conver-

witiona, and that nothing took jilaoo beyond the badinage, usual at sales. Councillor Nowman— Wo paid our monoy on tho Btrongth of that badinage, sir. The Mayor said it was not at all fair to refor to tho rates roooivod by tho Corporation from tho land. Thoy had the power, for tho general good, to rate all properties in tho oity whother roads wero made to them or not. Then arose anothor quostion, as to whether tin* promise was or was not given by Colonel Whitmore. To his mind tho Government ought to take a higher and larger view of the question. The Government having taken £86,000 out of proporty sold in the heart of this oity, might woll havo afforded to spend the Bum of £1500 nocossury to place the roads iv repair. He thought there would have boen no difficulty if tho question had boon put to Parliament in that fair and straightforward manner. Mr. Rolleston replied that about £3000 had boen spent on the roads. Tho Mayor said ho was spoaking of what Mr. Baird now estimated would be tho oost of repairing the roads— £lsoo to £2000. Ought the Counoil, whioh did not dorivo tho proceeds of tho sale, to bo askod to spond this money in making the roads P In the case of private individuals tho Council would ref neo to take ovor roads that wore not mado to their satisfaction. They wore now asked to take ovor roads whioh woro a scandal and a dispraoo to tho city. Mr. Kolloston did not think the Govorumont would bo justified in spending money on tho roads without an appropriation of Parliament. Tho Mayor askod if tho Governmont would plaoe a sum on tho Estimates and lot it tako its chanoe noxt Bossion ? Mr. Rolloston— No ; I should not fool justified in holding out any hopo of that. After Borne further romarks from various members of the deputation, The Town Clerk said that tho contract that was let by the Government was never actually completed. There was litigation between the Government and tho oontractor, and the Inspeotor of Works opened up trenches to show the inefficient state of the work, and those trenohes had never boon properly filled in yet. Tho City Engineer said, just previous to the formation of the roads, tho Corporation laid down pipe drains, and his improssion was that tho Government ofnoers only wishod to inotal the roada temporarily for a width of 22 feet, in order to allow tho subsidence to take plaoo before completing the work. Councillor Wilson said dirootly tho Corportion touohed the roads it would mako them liable to keep them in repair, lie should, theroforo, objeot to a spadeful of material being put on them by that body bofore they wore handod over in a proper state by the Governmont. Counoillor M'Konsie remarked that tho Governmont would havo to make approaohos to othor sootionß shortly, and suggested that thoy might make the thing; complete by including all tho approaches in tho contract. Mr. Kolleston did not soo his way to doing this. The Mayor thought thoy would havo to plaoard the streets " dangerous," androoommend tho pooplo not to use them. Counoillor Newman — Are we to understand now, that any appeal to you is hopeless P Mr. Rolleston— Yes, I think so. I don't think there is any good in beating about tho bußh and saying I am proparod to consider it, because I really havo given it tho best consideration I oould. Councillor Thompson suggested that tho Governmont might give tho Counoil ono or two sootions as an ondowmont, to onablo thorn to put tho streets into repair. • - Mr. Rolleston Baid that was anothor quostion altogether. He oould not speak for his colleagues in that matter, but ho did not think there was muoh prospoot of its being dono. Counoillor Newman said that there was an amount of £240 doduoted by the Governmont from the sum duo to the oantraotor, whioh was offered to tho Counoil to bo oxpondod by them on tho roods. He askod if tho Minister found that amount was so promisod if he would now pay over the £240. Mr. ltolleston— l don't think you havo made out a case for the £240. Tho deputation thon retired, the Mayor jocularly asking Mr. Rolleston if ho would kindly direct him to " the Justioo Doportmont." (Laughter.)