THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE HARBOUR BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 111, 13 May 1885, Page 3

THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE HARBOUR BOARD.

? TO TUB EDITOR. Sir— Before this reclamation dispute is forgotten, will you allow mo to place on rooord, through your columns, a brief statement of the case? The Harbour Board ownß, with right of reclamation, the water extending 80 feet from the wharf corner of the Queon's Bond ; bejond this, the Corporation owns, and purposes some day to reolaim, the next 100 feet. This Corporation plot, until as far book as Hunter-street, is consequently only of width and value as a street. Ihe Board has the right to ereofc wharves whenever tho Corporation reolaims, but being in present need of berthage aocoinmo'Stipn, seeks that this portion of the reclamation should now bo gone on with, and on linos whioh experience shows to be alone suited for the safety of vessels lying at the wharves. It is unlikely that the Corporation will of itself for some time reolaim this ' strip, and when it does so it wiH be on its own lines. Until then the Board is prevented from reolaiming its sections, unless at an unnecessary expenditure on a temporary soa wall, and bertbage will only be available for three instead of fire coastal steamers. The early oommonoement ot the work and those two berths aro the sole benefit to the harbour. The advantages to tho city and Corporation are that instead of the extonsion of Cuba-street terminating on the wharf, it finds an outlot on solid land, in an open spaoe at the head of the wharf, opposite the Post Office, and this streot, being 100 ft wide, affords room for an extension of rails to Te Aro. and would materially add to tho value of all the Corporation's laud, besides relieving the crush of traffio in Willis-street. The only loss to the Corporation is the reduction of one of its blocks by 1 rood 23 perohea, for whioh the Board offers to pay £5000. Tho Board. farther offers to reofaim and make tho sttoet along its scotions, which the Corporalion otherwise would have to do, and tho lattor is so savod an expenditure estimated at £5000. The area to bo givon up by tho Board is 1 rood 30 perohes, and, allowing for advantageous position, is worth £25,000 if the Corporation's area is worth £17,000 as asserted, but, soberly, the valuo may be set down at £10,000. Togethor, thorefore, tho Board's proposal is a loss to that body of £20,000, whioh, apart from tho general publio benefit, only gives the harbour two berths and improves throe others. The amount that might fairly b« paid leavos room for honest difference of opinion. A large majority of the Board members Bought to make an offer at onoo so liberal as to avoid bargaining, but thoy feel that, for tho advantage gained, they have offored an rxtreme amount, and concessions so liboral, that, as conservators of a colonial harbour, they are liable, when seeking further endowments, to be reminded that what was entrusted to them has been sacrificed. It is a fair question for Councillors to consider whether the terms offered aro advantageous to the oity. It seems to me the advantages of the proposal are umob greater tomuniaipal interests than to those entrusted t» the Harbour Board, and that the offer was prompted ai muoh to help the oity over a difficulty as in the interest of tho harbour, for it must be borne in mind that with tho amount involved considerable additions could be built to the wharves. I am, 40., Jno. Dutbik.