PARNELL ROAD.

New Zealander, Volume XXI, Issue 2264, 2 November 1864, Page 4

PARNELL ROAD.

A Meeti.vg was held last evening in the Presbybyterlan Scb.ojlroo.ll, Parnell, to receive the Report of the C>m nittee appointed to conn-lei* the teasibibility of forming a new line of road between Parnell and Auckland.

On the motion of Mr. Gilbshd, Mr. Tnos. Mac farlane was called to the (/hair. •

The Chairman said before reading the Report of the Committee appointed at the last meeting, he would explain why it was that the present meeting had not been called at an earlier peiio I. The ddlay arose through the Committee not being ablo to carry out their intentions. In the first place, when they waitad upon his Honor the Superintendent, they were told that the Provincial Engineer was then engaged in preparing a plan which included a sea-wall to Paruell. They therefore waited until Mr. Weaver's plans were ready and it was now laid before the meeting. A plaa had also been prepared afc the request of the Committee by Mr. Wrigg, which was also ready for inspection. Considerable time had elapsed before these matters bad beeu arrayed. The next question was as to obtaining funds, and his Honor was again waited upon. The Committee were informed that the Superintendent could not say definitely what he could do in the matter until certain propositions now before the Provincial Council had been determined upon, and which, if c irried out, would absorb the funds for disposal during the current year. So that even now it was not certain that the necessary funds would be forthcoming. The Committee waited upon his Honor a fourth time to ask at what time it was thought the work couk J probably be undertaken, and they were informed that it could not possibly be before next May. But in order that they might be in a position to taks action when the Superintendent said he was ready to go on, it ,was advisable to appoint a Committee to act until proper Trustees were appointed. He then read the following report : •

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. The Committae appointed by the Publie Meeting on the 26th of September last, beg leave to report as follows:

1. They met on the 28th September and conferred wi hj Mr. Wrigg on the subject of the plan and report which he had prepared of the proposed road, with a view to reduce the expense, especially by the omission of the pitched slope and parapet. Mr. Wrigg's considered the suggestions of your Commute in his letter dated September 29th stating his revived estimate at £37 500, is appended to the report. The plan is placed on the wall for the inspection of the meeting. 2. The Committee then waited on his Honor the Superintendent, and have had several subsequent interviews with him as to the mo le of carrying out he proposed roadway and especially as to p ovidiug the requsite funds. The Superintendent requested the Committee to defer the consideration of the matter.

First, until the Provincial Engineer-in-Chief had prepared a general plan of the Harbour improvements, in ovdei to determine how far the proposed road fall in with or affect that plan. A sketc iof this plan is now before the meeting. Secondly, until the Provincial Council had decided whether the railway works should be carried on. If they had resolved on delaying the railway, the Superintendent would have at once been in a position to advance the funds for the Parnell road in its entirety ; but the Council having decided that the Railway should proceed, the Superintendent finds great difficulty in providing the funds, as his arrangement with the Bank as to advances on the half-million loan will not admit of more being done till May next. J ijThe Committee were anxious to give his Honor all the time they con d, in the hope that some way might yet be devised to euable him to raise the means ; but at their meeting on the 26th ultimo, they felt they could no longer delay the public meeting. They accordingly waited on his Honor the n°xt day and begged him to communicate his views to them in writing, so that they might report to the public of Parnell early this week.

'■ Superin endent's Office, " Auckland, October 31, 1864.

" Sir, —Referring to the verbal communications had with yourself and the other gentlemen forming a deputation from Parnell, I have the honor to request that you will inform the parties interested in the proposed new roai across Mechanics' Bay, that, assuming they raise the sum of twelve thousand pounds towards the cost of that work, I believe the balance of the amount required can be had Irom the Harbor Trust and eras Auckland and Drary Railway, " A legal difficulty has ju't been brought under my notice by Mr. Merriman, viz., that the Railway Act will not confer the necessary powei to make a road, it

may therefore be necessary te obtain an Act of the General Assembly before anything can be doue.

" I have, &c.,

'•Robert Graham, " Superintendent " Thomas Macfarlane, Esq., Merchant, " Auckland."

His Honor complied with the request and in his letter assumes that the Parnell inhabitants will themselves raise £12,000

The Committee were led to hope that whataver sum the inhabitants might raise, or for the interest and sinking tund of which they wore to become responsible by rates, would be returned to them—at least to a very considerable extent—from the proceeds of the vast amount of property thus recovered to and do ivered into the hands of the Harbour Trust. But there are legal difficulties in the way of accomplishing this object. They are disposed still to hope that whatever legal objections may lie in the way of such an arrangement, on account of the mortgages now existing on the harbour trust property, His Honor may devise means of obviating them, at least to some extent. But should His Hoiior be unablo to do so, Parnell will have to raise the L 12,000 stipulated for by His Honor. It. is rather hard, considering the lurge amount of valuable property reclaimed ; but, on the other hand, considering the importance of the proposed road to Parnell, the committee would recommend this meeting to agree to the proposal if no better terms can be got. 3. " With regard to the plan of the road, as now connected with the harbour improvements, the committee were glad to find that the temporary readway mention id at the last public meeting would b-? superseded by the plan which Mr. Weaver now proposes to carry out. That plan substantially agrees with Mr. Wrigg's plan, except that it keeps further out and encloses more ground than Mr. Wrigg's. Mr. Wearer adopts this line to bring the proposed road into the street northward of Custom Hous -, called Commercialroad. jßy that plan it will be seen that he proposes cutting down Britomart Point to the level of the road, but till that is done, he intends, as a temporary measure, g MJVg' round Britomart Point, and from thence along the west side of the Barrack Hill to Custom-iluuso-street

" The expense he estimates at £39,000, say £40,000.

" Mr. Weaver's plan indicates a tunnel under Barrack hill, but he does not propose that this should be done at present, as it will involve the purchase of the mill and other property, besides a considerable outlay in the work. 4. " A memorial to his Honor the Superintendent has been prepared, requesting him to take the necesary steps to constitute Farnell as a district for making and collecting a rate for the proposed road. "It is important that it should be signed as numerously and speedily as possible. •' That the Superintendent has requested Nr. Merriman, with the concurrence of the committee, to draw up the bill, and has engaged to defray his professional charges. That gentleman is now occupied in framing the bill.

5. " Should the Superintendent and Council be unable to give the £10,)09 or £12,000 to be raised, the sum will be borrowed on the security of the rates, and the amount raised annually will be sufficient to pay the intorcßton the loan and provide a sinking fund for the ultimate extinction of the debt. The frontages of Parnell, estimated at from 3d. to Is. per foot, will produce £1,300 annually, which, should the interest be at 10 per cent., would pay the above interest and wipe off the loan in 20 years. If a lower rate of interest can be got, the loan will be wiped of so much the earlier. " Should the decision of this meeting be to proceed in the manner thus indicated, a committee should be appointed to cany out any resolutions which this meeting may adopt, and to manage all mutters connected with toe proposed road, till the Act of Council shall come into operation, when the permanent trustees or managers shall be elected by the ratepayers.'' After reading the report, the Chairman explained the plans that were before the meeting. Mr. Wrigg's plan was to carry a straight line through Britomart Point by means of a tan 101. Air. Weaver's pla i was for carrying it round tile Point by a bend. He also stated that the proposed district was the line of coast from .Mechanic's Bay to tlobson's Bay, along the creek up to tlobson's Bridge, then the Domain boundary to Mechanic's Bay, from whence they started. He moved, " Tnac the Report be approved of."

Mr. Warnbr seconded the proposition, whieh was carried unanimously. Colonel Nation moved, "That the following Memorial to his Honor the Superintenlent, requesting him to bring into the Provincial Council the necessary Bill for constituting Parnell into a district for road improvement, be adopted."' Tne mora irial, after some altaration had been mide, stood as follows :

" To his Honor, Robert Graham, Esq., Superintendent

of the Province of Auckland

" We, the undersigned, beingdesiriousof Parnell being formed into a dis r riet for the purpose of raising an annual rate to provide for our portion of the expense of constructing a roadway across Mechanics' Bay by Britomart Point to Custom-house-street, have respectfully to request that your Honor wilt cause to be prepared a Bill, to be brought into the Provincial Council for that purpose, and that you will be so good as to further tne proposed measure by all means in your power, it being understood that the sum which they shall contrioute shall not exceed £.2,000, and the road shall be approved ol by the following Com nittee. (Names afterwards added.)"

The Chairman said he held in his hand the hea Is of the bill that would be sought to be obtained, dra>vn up by Mr. Msrriman. ft would he like the City Board Act for appointing Com nissioners for the district.

Alter s)me rem irks from Mr. Gisborne, Mr. WKiGLEY,auI other gentlemen, the proposition was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Mr. Wuiglev moved, " That a Com nittee of seven be appointed for carrying out the resolution adopted at this meeting, and to mmageaH matters connected with the proposed roil, till the Commissioners to be appointed under the Act of the Provincial Council are selected."

The proposition was seconded, and the following gentlemen were appointed: ilr. Keoipthorne, Mr. Pike, the Hon. Reader Wood, Mr. Gilberd, Mr. Wrigley, Mr. Hunter, and Mr. Gisborne. A vote of thanks was given to Mr. Macfarlane and the Committee for their services. The Chairman acknowledged the vote, and remarked upon the ditficu'ty that existed in getting up a meeting in Auckland or Parnell without greit diversity of opinion arising, that rendered it almost impossible to get on with business. He thouglit there had been some unnecessary cavilling th.it evening. It seemed as if there was a want of trust in the persons appointed to serve on the Committee, he thought that the details might safely have been left to them. He was however glad to render what service he could at all times.

A vote of thanks to the Chairm yn for his conduct in the Chair terminated th« business.