WIDENING NARROW MAIN STREETS.

Evening Post, Volume LI, Issue 64, 16 March 1896, Page 4

WIDENING NARROW MAIN STREETS.

» SIE EOBEET STOUT'S SCHEME. The Mayor of Wellington sends us the following letter which he has received from Sir Bobert Stout, and requests its publication — •Wellington, I2th Maroh, 1896. His Worship George Fisher .Esq., Mayor of Wellington City. Dear Sir— No one residing in Wellington can fail to bd struck with the congestion of traffio in two speoial parts of the oily— Willis-street and Lower Adelaiderbßi^The problem is, how oan these streets be wideWlat small cost to the ratepayers? My proposal is, that on the eastern side of Willis-street no new buildings should be erected save at a distance baok from the present frontage of, say 20 feet, and that on the west side of Lower Adelaide-road no new buildings be ereoted on a spaoe 25 or 30 feet from the present frontage. The proposals I make will have to be oarned into effect by a speoial Act. I propose that it be declarnd by Act— ' (a.) That no new builaing be ereoted within 20 feet of Willis-street, and 25 or 30 feet of Lower Adelaide-road. (b.) That so soon as a new bnilding is required, that it be built at the distanoe back that I have mentioned. (c.) If no new building is required before JLO years the present building or part of building on the said space be removed at the end of that period. (3.) That the streets be completely widened at the end of that period. (e.J That compensation to the owners be now fixed under the Pnblio Works Aot, but not payable or due until the buildings are removed and the street widened, or until the end of 10 years, whichever shall first hippen. (j.) That a special judicial commission be established to classify the land in the vioinity of the streets to be widened into three olaßßes — 1. Landß greatly improved by the widening. 2. Lands improved by the widening. 3. Lands partially improved by the widening. (g.) That the lands greatly improved by the widening do pay a rate of 3d for 21 years on the annual value as rates are now levied. - That tho l»ndB improved do pay 2d, and the lands partially improved do pay Id. (h.) That these fnnds be paid to a sinking fund to pay the cost of widening. (ij That authority be given to the Corporation to borrow any sums necessary to defray the coat of widening. (k.) That the Corporation set aside, say, .£SOO at least per year to go to a fund for widening purposes. I believe some such scheme as this would enable the Corporation to proceed with the widening of these two congested portions of the oity without placing an undue burden on the oity. Let me show briefly what it would do. Muoh money would not be required at once. The betterment principle would be applied to some small extent, the oity as a whole paying, however, the most, as the whole oity would be benefited. Take Lower Willis-street, for example : —With a wide street every shop would gain, and it is only fair these shoulaVpay some rates for 21 years, as they would have their properties improved. This principle of a separate rate has been recognised by many Acts passed by our Legislature. The need especially of widening Lower Adelaide-road is, I think, clamant. There oan be no other thoroughfare to the south It is important that compensation be now fixed, and on the principles laid down in the Publio Works Aot, so that the owners do not get the benefit of the future rise of the price of land. I oould elaborate arguments in favour of my proposal, but I do not think that ie needed. I am, &c, Eobxbt Stout.