WELLINGTON STREETS BILL MORE ABOUT THE BLOT.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 49, 26 August 1905, Page 6

WELLINGTON STREETS BILL MORE ABOUT THE BLOT.

PAST PERMITS OVER-RIDDEN. PROPOSED INDIGNATION MEETING. As people are waking up to wilt the Judges' interpretation of the Public Works Act means, and what Mr. Seddon's amendment in the' Wellington Streets Bill means, more and more instances are coming 1 forward of hardship bordering on conlisc.it ion. A case in point is iound off Wellington-terrace. ANTI-SLUM RESTRICTIONS ON TITLE. A section of land lies behind present frontages to the Terrace, and with no prospect, of frontage to any other street. The owners got permission to put vi a 15ft way from Wellington-terrace, hedged round with conditions ; for in this, as in other cases, the Council has' qualified its permit with a stipulation limiting the number of houses to bn erected with frontage to such way. Such stipulation, we are informed, is registered against the title, so that the conditions against over-crowding laid down by the local body in the first instance can never be broken. In this case, the owners stated that the permit was granted by the City Council on condition that the maximum number of buildings should be four. Accordingly, the land has been .sub-divided into four sections, each 40ft frontage to the way, by 190 ft depth Othti conditions imposed by the Council are that the way shall be asphalted and drained and formed to the satisfaction of the City Engineer. This work has been done by the owners at a cost of close on £300, including £70 paid down in lump sum, to providt foi esubWimem and maintenance of a lamp for all time. Having thus complied with tne costly conditions of the permit, the owners built two houses. Under Mr. Seddon'a amendment — which prohibits biiilding-a on a right-of-way less than 40ft wide — thssb two sections appear to be exempt, unless the buildings are burned down. But the other two ample sections have not yet been built on, and, under the Stddon Blot, cannot be. Theii value, the owners claim, is confiscated. Yet the Government and the Corporation assess them for taxes and rates on their value aa building land. Not only will they yield no return to the owner — be he poor or rich — but they will eat up his estate in rates and taxes. Therefore, the owners claim, it is not only an engine of robbery, but of bankruptcy. It must be remembered that in the above case the permit was granted, some time ago, and the work done, so the Blot represents the sweeping away of a vested right. Another owner has got a permit from the City Council to build on an existing private w.iy if he puts the way in order, at a cost of £200 to £300. "Under the Seddon Blot, the agreement goes for nothing, as he will not be able to build. Tha repairs also will not be done. A question has been raised as to how building societies (in which so many small men have invested savings) and lending societies will fare as reg.'.rds value of their securities. Sections on 'narrow ways, not yet built on, must become a very much I diminished security; even if built on, their value as security must suffer, for under the Blot re-building appears to be impossible, i A movement is on foot to hold a public indignation meeting on Monday evening next to discuss the Blot and the whole situation. Should it be decided to hold the meeting an advertisement convening same will appear in Monday evening's isspe of the Post. It is stated that an effort will be made to secure, for Monday, an interview with the Premier by a deputation of the Wellington City Council. MEETING AT DUNEDIN. [BY TELECBAI'H. — PllEH 1 ? ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, 25th August. At an adjourned meeting of those interested in the subdivision of laud as affected by the Public Works Act, a committee- reported recommending th.V' effort be made to include in the Bill now before the Legislative Council ' the following clause : — "Subsection 1 of section 3 of the Public Works Act, 1903, is amended by striking out from the proviso therein the words 'and such resolution is approved by Governor-in-Council. 1 " It was resolved to ask the local bodies to pass resolutions in support of the amendment. Messrs J. A. Park and A. R. Barclay were authorised to proceed to Wellington to endeavour to secure the passage of tho amendment, the effect of which would be to leave local bodies to take action without having to wait for the approval of the Governor-in-Council. It was recognised that other amendments were required, but it was not deemed advisable to press theso at tho present stage of the session. The missionary meeting advertised for Monday night should prove very interest, ing. The Rev. F. Rowlands, missionary from Japan, has only been in New Zealand a few months, and is therefore fresh from the field. Mr. Wong's work is well known in Wellington, and should interest all. The proprietors of the To Aro Steam Laundry gave an entertainment last evening on the occasion of the opening of their new premises in Hopper-street. Dancing, songs, and games wero indulged in. Messrs. W. Worthington and B. Finucane acted as M.C's., and Mr. W. Naismith made an energetic secretary to tho committee. During the evening Mr. Finucane, in proposing the toast of "The Proprietress," referred to the progress the establishment had made since its foundation in 1885. Mrs. Carrol attended to the catering.