A PROPOSED STREET.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 135, 5 June 1909, Page 2

A PROPOSED STREET.

DISCUSSED BY THE COUNCIL.

The following letter was retfeivedljyj $he Borough Council last night; 4r©ni Messrs Conolly and Burden, solicitors, relative to the proposed~"hew street through the Club Stables, to connect with Maxwell Road: — "We have been directed to address you concerning the Council's new,.re-) quirements regarding the formation ot the new street from Maxwell Road to Arthur Street, Arthur Street to Charles Street, and Charles Street to Hign Streets - . "We would point out that the requirements of the Council were contained in a letter to Mr C. L Goodman, dated November 25th 1908, and in a letter to us dated March 2nd, 1909 We would respectfully submit that these letters contained condition^ and' specifications upon which the Council agreed to take over the proposed streets, and that it is unreasonable to alter or add to the specifications and conditions now. Whether the old conditions were * ample ©r not, they at least constituted the foundation of a contract, and that being so the Council is morally. bound to take over the roads, provided the conditions under which they agreed to do so are faithfully carried out. "The conditions are as follows:— " (1) Culverts to be put m at the intersection of Charles Street, Arthur Street, George Street and Maxwell "(2) Storm water well to be put in where required. . ".(3) Kerbing. — The necessary curved kerbing shall be done at ail street corners where the new street intersects-out to the full ™gtk of the footpath line in Charles Stieet, George Street and Maxwell Road. " (4) Asphalting water-tables. —■ Water-tables on both fides of the streets to be asphalted to a depth of. four inches and a width of three feet. •"(5) The street to be maintained by the owners for two calendar months after completion, and to be conveyed to the Council free of all costs and charges before the Council 6^ l(6) aArthurStre e t.--That section of Arthur Street where the/ewstreet intersects shall be culverted witt 30----inch concrete pipes such as already used in drains, and shall be laid on good solid foundation, and secured with approved timber under P.ipes. "(7) The necessary filling-in shallbe done over pipes and at all the street crossings where the new street intersects, including the filling-in ot Arthur Street drain over pipes. _ # '•On behalf of the new street syndicate we may say that they do not wish the Council- to be put to any ' extra expense on account of the new street being opened up, and wish to " meet the Council in a reasonable way in all matters. ,' , . , "Conditions 1, 2 and 3 are fair and reasonable, although not in the 'original conditions, and our clients agree to them unhesitatingly. vondition 4*, insisting upon the asphalting of the water-tables, ia new, and SCems Unjust, because similar streets, :BttCh as High Street and Wynen Street, are not treated in a similar manner. Condition sis agreed to. without comment. Condition o, regarding Arthur Street, and condition 7, insofar as it refers to Arthur Street ditch, are surely a great injustice, lo ask the syndicate .to-do this work is to endeavour "to force a private enterprise to do Borough work—to impose upon a small section of ■ the payers, a work which should be borne by all. We submit that the filhng-m of Arthur Street ditch and the formation of the street is a borough woak of immediate importance, which should be borne by the Borough funds, and to ask private people to do a part of the work is unreasonable and unfair. "We do not ask that our. clients should receive any consideration from the Council beyond that which is right, but we contend that the, new conditions insisting upon asphalt^ water-tables and the Arthur btreet ditch draining and filling-in, are • tantamount to a breach of an existing agreement. •■ "We would ask the Council to kindly re-consider thtf -matter with a view to amending the new conditions by cutting out the two referred to, and with these alterations the syndicate will lose no time in getting the street completed to> the Councils satisfaction. , "In conclusion, may we be pardoned if we point out that the work of the syndicate is in the best interests or the Borough. It is true that the > enterprise is a private one, but whether the result will be profitable to the promoters or not, it is certain to be a distinct improvement to the town, relieving the traffic on some of the main streets, adding to the value of the land near to and bordering on the new street, and thus increasing the rates. We feel sure the, Council will recognise that they are honoiv ably bound by the agreement of the previous Council, and will, upon further consideration, deal fairly with the syndicate. We ask that the Council will strike out the conditions re- • garding asphalt and water-tables, and regarding the drain and filling-in of the Arthur Street ditch." THE DISCUSSION. Councillor Penny asked if the previous Council had agreed to the street. The Mayor said it had, and thought the present Council had gone a little too far when it suggested that new conditions be imposed. It was not fair to ask the syndicate to carry out the new conditions. The work of fill-ing-in the Arthur Street ditch was essentially one for the Council. Councillor White said he did not see how the Council could shirk its responsibility of filling-in the Arthur Street approach. The Mayor thought the condition relating to the Arthur Street ditch should be deleted.. Councillors Priddle, White, Penny and Parker agreed with the Mayor's suggestion. Councillor Penny moved, and Councillor Parker seconded, that the Council undertake to put in pipes in Arthur Street and fill in to the level of Arthur Street as at present, the syndicate to form and make the crossing of the streets and complete the necessary kerbing. Councillor Carr said he would like to know something about the levels first. Councillor White thought it would be for the Council to consider whether it should fill the ditch up altogether. He was opposed to the motion. The motion was carried. The Mayor proposed that condition 4 be stnick out. Councillor Penny said the wateriables would have to be gravelled in any case, and it would not cost any more to asphalt them. Councillor Parker said that was .what the Council asked the syndicate to do. j -.Councillor Girling said the value of

the property in that street would be very large j in fact, there would be the value of. the two frontages. If the Council asked ill© syndicate to (asphalt the w.ateiviables the Council rtvo.uld have ;to asphalt those "in its; BftKer streets. By not any 6iiib'argo "on these who had to construct the street the Council would have property opened lip which, while considerably benefiting the town, would mean a great deal to the Council in revenue. The Wo street frontages would have to be valued, and there would be a tremendous increase in revenue from each. He seconded the motion. The motion was put and carried, the voting being as follows:—Ayes: Councillors Girling, Adams, Parker, Birch and the Mayor. Noes: Councillors Dodson, White, Penny, Priddle and Carr. The voting being equal the Mayor exercised his easting vote in favor of the motion. The remainder of the conditions were left unaltered.

and unfavourable weather reports from the Argentine. Cargoes are , firmly held. A carso sold at 43s 9d, j while 44s 6d is asked for JanuaryFebruary shipments, 43s 6d for April shipments and 44s 3d for steamer parcels now due. There is good inquiry for Australian on spot at .47s to. 47s 6d. There is no New Zealand wheat here. The American visible supply is 31,084,000 quarters. _ Butter is very dull. Danish 109s to 112s; Colonial is neglected, and there is nominally about 2s decline. • Continental and Home supplies are minactive. Patents London 32s 6d to 33s 6d, very firm; Glasgow, 33s 6d is asked for prompt shipments.