NAPIER TECHNICAL SCHOOL SITE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 50, 11 February 1920, Page 2

NAPIER TECHNICAL SCHOOL SITE.

TOXVN CLERK’S REPORT.

At the Napier Council meeting on night, the town clerk’s report regarding the Technical School site was read as follows: — The. council has notified the director, Napier Technical College, that the following resolutions were adopted by the council, subject to the borough solicitors advising that the council has legal authority to carry out the same: —

1. That- in so far as the property of the Napier Borough Council is concerned, this committee is of opinion that the said property, comprising an area of lac. Ird. 23 pr., be granted to the Education Department for the immediate erection thereon of a Technical College for the accommodation of the' Technical College pupils, and that the Napier Harbour Board be urged to cede to . the Education Department the freehold of the required adjoining land, which, together with the council’s property and the road to be closed, would give an area of approximately five acres.

2. That in respect to the Har hour Board leases this committee recommends that they be acquired from the lessees by the council and handed to the Education Department, subject, however, to the foregoing recommendations being first completed and subject also to the condition that any amount paid by the council for the goodwill of the leases shall be deducted from the purchase money of the present Technical College site and buildings. 3. That subject to the council acquiring the Harbour Board leases as aforesaid, the department to undertake to transfer the present Technical College site and buildings to the council, immediately the new Technical College is erected on the new site, rat a price to be fixed by arbitration, less the amount paid" by the council for. the aforesaid leases.

Nothing herein shall, however, bind the council to accept the transfer.

4.. That subject to the foregoing matters being completed* the council to take steps to legally close the road between the two properties and vest the land in the Education Department;

The borough solicitors, Messrs. Kennedy; Lusk and Morling, were asked to advise on the questions arising out of the above resolutions.: The. position now appears to be:— 1. The council has now to transfer to the Education Board, without payment, its freehold property (lots 2,3, 4,5, 6, and 7 Faulknor street, containing lac. Ird. 23.2 per.) as n site for a Technical School.

2. The council has power to close that portion of Faulknor street adjoining the above sections, subject to the consents of the Napier Harbour Board and of the lessees from the board of the lands adjoining the southern side of Faulknor street being first obtained. < , 3. The council has power to transfer to the Education Board, without, payment, the freehold of the road so closed, as a site for a Technical School.

4. The council has power to make i the Education Board a grant of £1835 with which to purchase the interests of the lessees from the Harbour Board, provided the grant is made out of the general funds. No provision for rtiis amount appears on the estimates for the current year. Should the council not desire to : make the grant the borough selici- : tors should be asked to adVise further on the position. 5. The borough solicitors have not advised on the council’s power, to purchase the present Technical School site on the terms suggested. It is also noted that in the suggested terms for the purchase of this site provision is made for a reduction of the purchase money by the amount paid by flic council to acquire the lessees’ interest, but no provision is made for a reduction of the purchase money should the council make a grant," instead of acquiring the lessees’ interests, and no provision is made for any compensation, or payment. to the council should the council either make the grant or acquire the lessees’ interests and decide not to purchase the present site. The report was referred to the Public Works Committee.