HUNTER STREET

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 121, 18 November 1936, Page 12

HUNTER STREET

RESERVE ON BANK

BLOCK

A MEMORIAL SUGGESTION

An original suggestion was contributed to a practically closed discussion by Councillor J. Burns at the meeting of the Wellington City Council held yesterday afternoon.

I Councillor Burns had been absent when the council decided to retain authority to widen Hunter Street, but when the passing of the amended bylaw reducing the width to COft came up, he suggested that a proclamation should be put over the whole block to the south of Hunter Street with the idea' of making it a memorial resting-place This would permit of the widening of Lambton Quay, Customhouse Quay, and Hunter Street. Massive modern buildings would in a few years make such a procedure impossible. He believed it would be better that the city's money should be put into that than into an exhibition at Rongotai. He believed the Government would be sympathetic, and asked the council to seriously consider the matter. The Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) pointed out that the total amount allocated by the Government, not only to Wellington, but to the whole of the Wellington Province, was £30,000, while the purchase of the area mentioned would run into at least £300,000. Councillor Burns: I would not care if it were £500,000. After a little further discussion, the amended bylaw was carried by 9 votes to 7. OLD BUILDINGS. Elaborating his suggestion, Councillor Burns stated today that the purchase of the land comprising the Bank of New Zealand block would never be bought cheaper. It was the smallest block between Willis Street and the railway station and all the buildings on it were old, so that the cost of the land would not be as great as if the buildings were new. The taking of the land would enable the widening of Hunter Street, Customhouse Quay, and Lambton Quay and still leave room to provide a rest park. The clearing of the block need not necessarily be done in one stage; it could extend over a period of years. Not only would the acquisition of the land by the city permit of street widening in this part of the town and the provision of a desirable reserve, but it would also allow of the application of the principle of betterment to the nearby buildings in Lambton Quay and Customhouse Quay.ci In his opinion it would be better to spend money on such a proposal than on a Centennial Exhibition at Rongotai. It might be possible by barter to exchange with the owners of sections in the block some of the land owned by the Corporation in various parts of the city without any money passing. The provision of a rest park would result in a permanent memorial and would fill a great need. Wellington was badly off for such reserves and, in fact, had no rest park in the centre of the city.