The Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1881. ALBION STREET.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 116, 25 May 1881, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1881.

ALBION STREET.

We recently drew attention to a Gazette notice, by which 2 roods 28 perches of ground were taken from a section of 5 acres and 4 perches originally reserved for " a site for telegraph station or other purposes of the General Government," in a Gazette notice of 26th April, 1871. The land referred to in the notice published during last April was taken fur the purposes of a public road in Hawera, and is shown on the official map at the New Plymouth Land Office as Albion street. On seeing the Gazette notice, everyone naturally supposed that this street would shortly be opened, and that the numerous applications which had been made to the Government on the subject had at last borne ~fruit. Unfortunately a well-known officer, having almost supreme authority in high telegraphic circles, shortly afterwards passed through Hawera, and left a memento of his visit behind him in the shape of an advertisement for tenders for ploughing, sowing, and harrowing 3| acres of land adjoining the Post Office. On inquiry, we were surprised to find that this contract, since let to Mr. Collins for £10, includes the whole of the land recently gazetted as required for Albion street. It is, we believe, to be newly fenced, and altogether the chances of the public convenience being consulted by the opening of the road seem suddenly to have been reduced to a minimum. The proclamation is dated Ist of April. It appeared in the Gazettes of the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th of April. But, according to the Public .Reserves Act Amendment Act of 1878, the Governor, under clause 8, has power to change the purpose of a reserve. The notice must be published in the Gazette " for four" consecutive weeks," and must thereafter be laid before Parliament within ten days of the next sitting of Parliament. If no resolution adverse to

the proclamation be passed during that session of Parliament, the proclamation becomes valid. It seems unwise to allow a vested interest to be fortified and strengthened adversely to the interests of the Hawera public, without entering a protest against such action on the part of the present official occupiers. The publication of the Gazette notice is an earnest of the Ministerial intentions, which are likely to prevail over any departmental obstsuctiveness.