GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15334, 17 June 1910, Page 11

GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATION.

[Per Press Association.] ■WELLINGTON, June 15. Full details of the Government’s proposals in connection with the closing of a portion of Sydney Street and the widening of Charlotte Street, Bowen Street and Museum Street wore given by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph AVard) to the Mayor and members of the City Council this morning. Sir Joseph Ward said that in connection •with the proposals of the Government •regarding the future Parliament Buildings and the rc-avrangement of Government properties for departmental purposes he had a plan prepared, and ho suggested to the Mayor and some _ of the councillors during the last session of Parliament that they should consider the proposals made. From timo to timo they had interviews on the subject, and a couple of months ago negotiations reached the point that a request was made that a Government reserve of 12 acres at Lyall Bay should be handed over to the City Council. At that time he said ho would have to look into the matter, and the proposal lie made was that the City Council should agree to the closing of a portion cf Sydney Street, between Molesworth Street on the one side and Museum 'Street on the other, and that the Government in turn should give tho City Council streets 66ft wide running up Charlotte Street and Molesworth Street to the corner of Hill Street on tho one *ide and round Bowen Street and Museum Street on the other side. He also suggested that the street from Wellington Terrace, which now turns fro uml the corner at the Congregational Church into Museum Street, should be /straightened, with a width of 66ft to Sydney Street, and that a permanent right-of-way should be given through Sydney Street to Hill Street, through the Parliament Buildings grounds, with ! steps running up to Hill Street, instead 'of the present devious pathway from Sydney Street to Hill Street. In addition to that, he proposed that the Government should purchase Quinton’s Corner, so as to give a wide approach to Bowen Street from Lambton Quay, . and to enable the City Council, if it so desired, to run trams un Hill Street, or Molesworth Street or Bowen Streot and round Museum Street into Sydney Street. The Corporation had a valuaf Son made of the land that he proposed should be given up in Sydney Street, 'and the amount was fixed at £7500. Tho Vftlue of tho land that tho Government proposed to give was £32,720, including the acquisition of Quinton’s Corner. 'As to the twelve acres of land at Lyall •Bay, Mr Wilford, tho Mayor, now suggested that if the reserve was vested in the Council is should be a part of the arrangement that it should be available for drill purposes in connection with the territorial forces, and for other Government functions, and not used for buildings of any kind. He thought the suggestion was a very good one, and he should bo quite prepared on that understanding to have the reserve vested in the Council. What the Government was proposing was a big thing for the city of Wellington, and it was a. good thing for the country, providing as it did a large area of land for parliamentary and departmental purposes. They knew that the present Parliament Buildings could last only another ten years and that there must be some provision for extensions, and the Government desired to be able to mako provision for' interest and sinking fund on the cost of the new buildings. If the Corporation agreed, the Government proposed to put the work in hand without delay, and he had no hesitation jn saying that it would add materially So the advantage of the city and be also of advantage to the country. 1 The Mayor said ho had no power at the present time to tell the Prime Minister what occurred at the meeting of the Finance Committee of the City Council yesterday in dealing with this matter, but the recommendation of tho committee would be put before tho Council on Thursday night and a decision come td. He hoped that in carrying out the alterations-, : card would be taken not to disturb the existing gas and'water mains and the sewage system. As to the offer put forward by the Government, he considered that it was a generous one, and he thanked Bir Joseph Ward for the plain way in which he had placed it before the Council. -A definite reply would be sent on Friday evening. Sir Joseph Ward said that nothing would be done to injure any of tho existing water or sewage systems.