NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 11, 12 July 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Additional Street Works.

In view of the fact that the City Council estimates for street works have been increased from £81,000 to £84,000, the council has decided to include the following additional items in the estimates:—Tar and sanding wood blocks (additional), £850; stormwater drainage within street boundaries, £1000; repairs to footpaths (additional), £1000; Plymouth street, kerb and channel, £ 130. Damage by a Flood. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. G. C. Black (Motueka) asked the Minister of Public Works whether, in-view of the week-end flood in Riwaka having cut off communication with Sandy Bay, he would have arrangements made to re-establish it, and have work begun on the proposed road. The Hon. E. A. Ransom replied that that, was the first intimation he had had of the trouble. The matter was really one for consideration of the interested local body, with which lie would be pleased to confer, and have money made available. Ho hoped to hear shortly from the local body in regard to the work. Encroachments. _ There are many properties in Wellington, particularly in hillside areas, where properties encroach on the road a few feet or yards. In a number of cases the land encroached upon is useless for road widening, and it has been put to good use by the occupants, who have cultivated it. The council approves of the use of the land encroached upon, but charges a rental, in some cases about los a year, plus the cost of a deed. Last evening the City Council discussed encroachment generally, and the principle upon which the rental should be charged. The consensus of opinion was that any property owner would not object to paying a fair rental for the use of the public road, but it -was suggested that the charge might be made lower, for example 2s 6d instead of 5s a perch. The Bylaws Committee recommended that now rentals as fixed by the city engineer in certain cases should remain in force, and the recommendation was carried. Latter by Captain Cook. A holograph letter by Captain Cook, which was presented to the Auckland Harbour Board in 1925 by Mr. Moss Davis/and has since hung in a frame in the board's office, is to bo lent to the Old Colonists' Museum, subject to certain conditions (states the "Now Zealand Herald"). The board received a request from the chief librarian, Mr. J. Barr, that the letter be lent to tho museum, where much larger numbers of peoplo could see it. "The public do not know it exists," remarked Mr. E. W. Inder, ono of the members. It was agreed to deposit the letter in the museum, provided Mr. Moss Davis or his representatives agreed, and provided also that the City Council insured it for an adequate sum, against lire, in the name of the board, but at the council's oxponse. Tho letter is dated from Rio de Janeiro, 30th November, 1765, before Cook's rediscovery of New Zealand, and relates to the victualling of his ships. " Duplication of Wadestown Line. Tho ■\Vadestowu and Highland Park Progressive Association is to be informed by the City Council that, it is not proposed to duplicate the Wadestown tramway line to Grosvenor terrace in the near future, but tho council hopes to bo able to duplicato the line from Park street to Newman terrace this year. Moro Buses. The City Council i.s iiicivjishig its fleet of buses. It was decided at List night's meeting of the council to .-all tor tenders for three bus chassis which aro required to cope with the growing domands on the Tramway Department's road.services. Private Ways. A protest against the City Council's action in refusing to take over a private right-of-way leading from Willis street to Flagstaff Hill was made by Councillor C. H. Chapman at last" night's meeting of tho City Council. He complained generally against the policy of the council in leaving similar rights-of-way to the control of private individuals. Councillor M. P. Luckie also queried the council's action, and suggested that the time had arrived when the council should deal with all private rights-of-way in a comprehensive manner. Councillor K. A. Wright (chairman of the Works Committee), referring to a legal aspect, explained that if the council took over the particular right-of-way the property owners on either aide of it could call upon the council to widen the way to a width of 66 feet, and the council would have to pay compensation. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) said that if the council took over all ways it would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. After further discussion, the council decided to take no action regarding the taking over of the Willis street right-of-way. More Sunspots. On Tuesday Mr.' <?. V. Hudson, at Karqn, observed a small snnspot. This has developed with unusual rapidity into a large and complicated group. It is now situated near the centre of the sun's disc and will be well placed for observation during the next three days, Free From Rent and Rates. The Libraries Committee of the City Council recommended last night that the Library Department should be exompted from the payment of rent and rates from 31st March, 1930. Councillor I? A. Wright said he would oppose tho clause most strenuously. It was not a fan- proposition at all for the committee to seek to bind the council in regard to its future actions. He characterised the proposal as a cunning move to get more money on the part of a "greedy and selfish" committee. (Laughter.) Councillor M. F. Luekie said the library was in a different position from the trading departments of the council. Councillor T. Forsyth expressed the view that the clause should go back to the committee. While he was in favour of libraries, he was much* more in favour of better roads The clause was referred back to the committee. Ho Broadcast of Racing. At to-day's annual meeting of delegates of the Racing Conference, a letter was received from Jhc Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand asking for permission to broadcast the results of race meetings on holidays and Saturdays of main metropolitan clubs. There was no discussion, and the conference unanimously decided to reftise