THE ROADS ON THE RECLAMATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5756, 29 April 1880, Page 5

THE ROADS ON THE RECLAMATION.

DEPUTATION TO THE CITS" COUNCIL. At the regular meeting of the City Council Held last eveniup, a letter was read from Mr. C. J. Stone, chairman of a meeting of pro-perty-holders on the reclamation, stating that a deputation had been appointed to wait on the Council in regard to Custom housestreet West. The deputation—Messrs. Holdship and Winstone—was in attendance, and those gentlemen were admitted.

Mr. Holdship said that Mr. Stone, the other member of the deputation, was unavoidably absent, and it devolved on him to explain to the Council the purpose for which the deputation had been appointed. The matter that the property-hol !ers on the reclamation had to complain of was that Custom-house-street West, although at present passable, would be rendered impassable when wet weather set in, and it would stop the traffic and large business which was now carried on there. Hitherto the leaseholders had been referred from the Harbour Board to the City Council aud from the City Council to the Harbonr Board, and now they did not know to whom to apply. When the allotments were l6t it was net only understood, but stated, that the streets were to be made by the Harbour Board ; bnt since then they say that the Council took forcible possession of the reclamation, and annexed it to the city, and the Harbour Board now said they had nothing to do wi:h them. The property owners can now therefore only look to the Council to drsiu the street, and put it in such a state of repair as would make it passable for the winter, leaving the larger question of permanently making the st-eet to be settled between the two bodies. The leaseholders should not be made to suffer besause of the dispute between the two bodies. Time was of great importance. . If the Council would drain and repair the road at once, there would be, he thought no great difficulty afterwards in coming, to some arrangement with the Harbour Board; but if the work were delayed the whole expanse would be greatly increased, and very serious loss would be caused to the business people by having to close up their business places. It was always understood that the city was to provide drainage to carry ofF the stormwater flowing from the higher portions of the city. The leaseholders believed that a small sum would be sufficient to remedy this. They had come to lay the case fairly before the Council, hoping they may see their way to make the road passable for the winter ; but if the work was delayed, it will cost a great deal more than it would do now.

Mr. Winstone said he fully endorsed all that Mr. Holdship said, aud said that the first heavy rain that fell would make the road impassable, and there was not even a footpath along it. He pointed out that the heavy traffic which formerly went over Victoria-street and Drake-street was now directed to the Besc'a Road, and relieved the other streets. The leaseholders had no remedy but to come to the Council, a3 they had been thrown overboard by the Harbour Board. If they did not get help, they wonld all have to close their places of business during the winter.

The Mayor said (speaking for the Council and himself) the Council was fully alive to the necessity for the work, and the position of the reclamation leaseholders.

The Council, as they were aware, had passed a resolution to settle the difficulty with the Harbour Board, and an attempt made in that spirit had been thrown over by the Harbour Board. The Council was fully alive to the necessities of the case, and would exhaust every means to settle the question before the winter set in. Other steps in this direction would at once be taken, which he hoped would be successful.

Mr. Goldie said he did not wish that the deputation should go amy under any false impression. He pointed out the heavy revenue derived by the Harbour Board from the leaseholders, not only in rent. The Auckland Timber Company, for instance, had to pay as much taxes, &c., oa timbers landed on their own wharf as if it came over the Queen-street wharf, which had to be maintained by the Harbour Board.

Mr. Holdship pointed out that the Harbour Board would have been bound to make the streets only that the City Council came down and levied rates, and took forcible possession of the reclaimed laud, and the Board declared that they had now nothing to do with the roads or streets. The leaseholders had no legal claim on the Harbour Board. If the Council took a bold Btep, and drained the road, and pat it in repair, he was convinced that public opinion would bear them out in getting a fair adjustment with the Harbour Board. He hoped the Council would not send the deputation back to those who had sent them, without something definite. While these bodies were discussing the question at issue between them, the leaseholders were suffering.

The Mayor said that all that had yet come before the Council wa3 that the Harbour Board had no power to spend any money on roads, but they might _-et that power, so that all means of adjustment were not yet exhausted. The Council a-, as willing to do all in its power to all that was reasonable to get a settlement, and failing a settlement, the responsibility would rest witli the Harbour Board. Mr. Hoidship said that no doubt the difference between the Council and the Board would ultimately be adjusted, but time was of great importance. The season was now advauced and the property owners would be heavy sufferers if the work was not done at once. The Mayor sa : d that if an arrangement was arrived at on an honourable basis, it would not be necessary to wait the completion of all the legal forms before doing the work of putting the street in repair. Mr. Ajckin said it was necessary that something should be done at once, and that each body—the Council and the Harbour Board—should be responsible for half the cost. Mr. Crowmer said, in regard to the drainage from the city, the Council had executed all that was stipulated for by putting in drains. These were of a temporary character, large wooden shoots, but it would be useless to put in permanent drains in land that had only just been made. They were however sufficient for the purpose. Mr. Hor/Dsmp said theae drains had been of no practical advantage, as Mr. Crowther, or any other practical man, would see by visiting the place in wet weather. It would be something gained if the Council would at oaca start to perform their part by draining the street, and prevent injury to the properties by the storm-water from the city, even if the repairs to the street had to stand over for a short time. A great deal of damage had been done by the storm-water during last winter. The property-holders

did not desire more than temporary repairs to the road for the present, but they wanted it made passable for the winter. The deputation then retired to the Mayor's room, and the Council proceeded to consider the matter. Mr. Fleming opposed any expenditure of the ratepayers' money on temporary works. The street was not to the fixed level, and the repairs asked for would coat £500 or more. He would go so far as to expend all the rateß collected on reclamation properties on the reclamation, or even supplement it

to gome extent on the formation and drainage of the streets on the reclamation. Mr. Goldie moved, " That the reply to the deputation be to the effect that the City Surveyor would meet them, and thai tliey should point out to him what was required, so that he might be able to give an estimate of the cost to the Council." Mr. Cp.owther thought if the Council darad do anything it would be to place, say 1000 J ards of metal on the road as they had done on the other side, where the railway station was. That had done very well during the winter. This would prevent the carts from cutting the fascines. Mr. Katiian sa : d he would support this view, if it could be done without prejudicing the Council in the dispute with the Harbour Board. Mr. Cp.owther moved, "That the surveyor be instructed to have carted on to the a'.reets metal, to the value of a year's rates obtainable from the properties on the reclamation, to be placed where most urgently required." Tbis motion was not seconded. Mr. GolJie's motion was then put and carried, and the Town Clerk conveyed it to the deputation. It was further agreed, in order to save time, that the surveyor should report to the works committee, at its next meeting, and that the works committee should report to the Council. The Council then proceeded with its ordinary business.