RICHMOND BLOCK RECLAMATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 203, 10 August 1928, Page 6

RICHMOND BLOCK RECLAMATION

FINALISING AGREEMENT. SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. Very satisfactory progress towards finalising the agreement between the Napier Harbour Board and the Napier Borough Council is being made for the reclamation of 92 acres oi the Richmond Block. At a recent meeting of the two committees, so a report to the Napier Harbour Board stated yesterday, there were present:...Messrs A. E. Jull and J. E. Jones, representing the Harbour Board, and Messrs J. C. Bryant, J. W. Callaghan, P. F. Higgins. the Town Clerk (Mr J. Dick), and the borough solicitor (Mr J. Moiling). Mr N. P. Eriksen was also in attendance.

The council’s solicitors submitted a draft of the Bill which it is proposed to introduce at the present session of Parliament. The details of the proposed agreement were also discussed and the matter is at present in the hands of the solicitors for both parties. As to rates on the area when It comes into the borough, the borough solicitors and the board’s solicitors are to draw the necessary clause making it so that rates will not be payable until the sections are ready for leasing.

The amount of loan required is to bo left to the discretion of the council. Tile interest on the loan is not greater than 6 per cent. Power is to be taken in the Bill for the board to acquire any Harbour Hoard leases within or cnnti<ruous to tho area of the 92 acre block. It was considered better not to embody the agreement in the Bill at present as this may cause delay, but if necessary - this could be done when the Bill is before the Local Bills Committee of the House. Interest and rents are to be adjusted between the Borough Council and the Harbour Board half-yearly, and the books of the Borough Council are to be open to the Harbom Board and the books ot the Harbour Board are to be men to the Borough Council at any time if necessary. As to the order of works it was agreed that the board’s dredge first remove the little, island on the harbour side of the Taradale road, where the dredge is being constructed at

present, then to do the 28 acre block, then the six acre block south of the High School property, and then the dredge to do the 92 acre block either by the board on the Borough Counsil’s account or the dredge to be hired to the council.

For the purpose of flood protection of the 92 acre block the council is to have the right upon arrangement with the Harbour Board to erect the flood protection bank on Harbour Board land adjacent to the 92 acre block.

Mr Rochfort is to prepare the survey plan, and the cost is to be equally borne by the board and the council.