"A GRIEVOUS WRONG"

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1923, Page 11

"A GRIEVOUS WRONG"

AN,EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY

MAYOR DEFENDS CITY COUNCIL.

Claiming that a prievoua wrong is teing done lo the citizens of Wellington by tlie City Council in respect to an excnange of property at Oriental Bay, Mr. W. J. Hefyer writes to "The Post" record his protest against what he describes as "an act of'vandalism, tor which he holds the councillors responsible The councilshas given to Mr. J. J M'Grath, he states, about 63 feet frontage to Oriental Bay of a city reserve in exchange for a large section in "Roseneath, situated just above the quarry, near life Oriental Bay Kiosk. "This" was necessary, it was said," writes Mr. Helyer, "to facilitate the construction of the lift or tramway to Roseneath. But, Sir, this is.not the case, for the council could have obtained all the land it required under the very ample power it already possesses, and which it exercised in regard to the proposed hew approach to Victoria College, '".rvtve it took land belonging to Mr. J. R. M'Kenzio, thus compelling him to buy elsewhere. No exchange whatever was necessary. I do not for one moment blame Mr. M'Orath. The councillors—the so-called guardians of our city's interests—are solely responsible for needlessly sacrificing a, beauty spot that ■can. .never .be replaced. . .. . Much of the work in grading and constructing- the zig-zag, paths, etc., on the reserve was done by '-volunteer" labo-ar, prominent - among the willing toilers being Professor Kirk and the Messrs. Belcher. When ■-these and other gentlemen learn that much, of their labour is to be scrapped, or destroyed, and that the public are for ever to be denied access to this portion of the reserve, their opinion of the City Council can well be imagined. Some blunders, it is said, are wprse than crimes; surely this is one, and'-one to be increasingly deplored." 1 When the matter was referred to the Mayor this morning, he agreed that tho facts as stated in the letter were subr stantially correct. The land could have been acquired under the Public. Works Act, but it was thought that as an exchange coulH be effected it was unwise to spend money in making a direct purchase. Having made.the exchange, the .'council still ha 4 ample space left for the reserve, though not actually, on the [street frontage. -Mr. M',Grath;had' been ..'awarded by a Magistrate a piece of reserve .land having 64 feet frontage :to the road, and a,, depth of 100 feet, in exchange for three-quarters of an aero .of property above the quarry. Th« .council was, therefore, making a gain s-> far- as the comparative areas were con'.cerned, and- he maintained that'the rsserve would be little affected. Another pathway.was being constructed to connect the'reserve with the road. "It was a' question," he.said, "whether the council- should buy tlie property by. tak '•ing advantage of the provisions of the Act;, a policy -which, if,practised'in every ca,sc, w.ould necessitate increased rates, 1 effect an exchange. In its wisdom, the council decided to take the latter cciirse. :in order to save money." At the same time, he maintained, the value of; the. reserve from the educational point ,ot. vi^w: was as good as ever. ' The reserve referred to is situated about a hundred yards south of the-.tram j-termiriusv'V" .