IMPROVEMENTS IN UPPER PITT-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5918, 4 November 1880, Page 6

IMPROVEMENTS IN UPPER PITT-STREET.

A rrm.ro meeting of the Karangahape ratepayers, convened by requisition, was held last night in the Excelsior Hall, Newton, for the purpose "of considering the proposed works in I'itt-street," Mr. Barnes (Chairman of the Hoard of Trustees) presiding.

The Chairman , briefly stated the circumstances under which the meeting was convened. It had been proposed at the Board to execute certain works in Pitt-street. Tenders were called, and Mr. Attwood tendered to do the work for £;>7(>, but it was resolved to defer the matter for a fortnight. A meeting was held in Newton Hast school-room to form a committee to canvas the persons interested in the district. It was for Mr. Bevan or the other gentlemen signing the requisition to open the business of the meeting.

Mr. Bevan said the meeting was aware that tenders had been called for forming and making I'itt-street. At a meeting of the Board the subject r.as deferred. Mr. Barnes, the Chairman, had promised that no new works should be undertaken until this matter was attended to. There were nine objectors to this street being put through. Mr. Morrison claimed £'200 compensation. (Laughter). It was resolved to see all the objectors. Mr. Allright was also waited upon. That gentleman said the work could not be prevented. The only very important objector was Mr. Morrison. At the meeting of the Board Mr. Barnes moved, and Mr. Warren seconded,

"That the consideration of the subject should be deferred for a fortnight." He (Mr. Bevau) therefore moved that a public meeting should be called, for the purpose of considering whether the work should be done or not. The rateable value of the district was £U,-7'i (in round numbers); the rates on that at Is in the pound was JL'563. The rates paid into the bank amounted to £12:5. The amount left was £+41 ; tlie subsidy amonnted to £l.~>0; the licensing would amount to £50. The total amount, including a balance of £60, was £702. He had estimated the means of the Board, and found that the Board could very well expend £300. He therefore begged to move, "That the work to the extent of £300 be proceeded with."

The CiiAiKMAN' reminded the meeting that Mr. Be van's estimates were based upon the whole of the rates being collected, and upon the receipt of the whole of the subsidy. Mr. Bi:kxs seconded the motion. Mr. CiiKliitv asked how Mr. Morrison claimed so large a sum as compensation. The ChaiUmax replied that a piece would be cut off at the corner of Cross-street for the purpose ot drainage. Mr. (-iAKUKTT asked whether Mr. Bevan meant that a partial working of the contract should be made likely to leave the road in a worse position than it was. The Chairman said that the Board had a schedule of prices, so that the Board might be enabled to proceed with part of the work —so much of it as could be done without interfering with the tratlie. If the work was to be carried out in its integrity, they would have to expend about £800, including certain of the sums due to account of last year that would have to be paid. The finance of the Board was, therefore, a little critical.

Mr. CiiKUKY said the Chairman had acknowledged that there were buck debts amounting to JL'tiO. The Rev. V. M ason" thought the question was the work in Pitt-street, and not what had been done at the Board in former times.

Mr. CIIKUUV said there had been some concealment of the finance of the Board. The question really was finance. He did not see any reason for cutting down at Mr. Morrison's.

Mr. Bkvan" explained that, after allowing for the debt to Mr. Boyd, and other things, there would be £30!) to the credit of the Board. He could, therefore, reasonably ask for £300 to be spent in doing the work in Pitt-street.

Mr. Wiiitk said he had been acquainted \rith the accounts of the Board for some years. He thought lie could put the matter in a clearer light than Mr. lievan had done. The contract for the work was £5(17. They should consider the income of the Board, and the actual necessary expenditure for the year. Scoria would cost £'200, day labour £110. rent .t'")0, repairs of roads JCIIS, printing £-20, Engineer £30, making £500. He did not mention dog collars, but that did not amount to much. The rates received last year were £500. The Chairman : I beg your pardon, £390. Mr. White : There was considerable doubt about the subsidy. The Chairman thought it might be 10s in the pound. He (Mr. White) thought it would give nothing. Now for I'itt-street. There would be required £S0 for scoria if improved. Tlie total amount of expenditure would be £G4O. The ell'cct would be to leave the Board £35 in debt. Upper Queen-street was during winter in a very bad state. Mr. Ii.MiKKTT moved an amendment, "That, in the opinion of this meeting, it would not be in the interest of the district to enter into the partial improvement of Pittstreet, but in the event of the trustees being in a position to carry out the contract in its entirety, this meeting recommends that the work be proceeded with at once." Mr. White seconded the amendment. The Rev. Mr. Mason said that the residents in I'itt-street had helped to make the road.s in other parts of the district. Why should not the other parts of the district help I'itt-stivet? lie was informed that if the work was commenced from £50 to £100 would be contributed towards it by residents in the neighbourhood. He moved, "That the trustees be requested to carry out the projected works in Pitt-street in their entirety, or with such modification as might be deemed necessary." If the work could not be done in its entirety, he would be glad to accept as much as could be done.

Mr. (i. Stain ks said that part of Upper Queun-street was almost still in a state of nature. It was a main thoroughfare. It was an extension of the city. It had greater claims to attention than I'itt-street. There had Ihjch a good deal of money spent on I'itt-struet. What amount of money had been spent in Pitt-street? Mr. S. C. Wii.kks seconded the amendment of the Jiev. Mr. Mason. Mr. Stkhiknson said some of the money that should have been expended went in compensation for a slip of earth that was made. That was £f)0. Mr. Staines took that and cjuictly put it in his pocket, whereas any other man having a stake in the district would not have taken it.

Mr. CiiKKiir rose to order. Whatever Mr. .Staines might have done was not the question. Mr. ISt.unks said Mr. Stephenson vas speaking irrelevant matter. He (Mr. tStaiues) only asked how much had been spent in Pittstreet. He thought the Chairman should compel Mr. Stephenson to take his hat oil'. The Chairman : Mr. Stephensou has a reason for it. Mr. Stainks : That accounts for it. (Laughter). Mr. Stkimiknson said that £300 would be available, £100 would be subscribed, and a gentleman in the meeting was prepared to go security to the bank for another £100. Mr. Wakhkn said he would be disposed to make the culvert to its full width, to build the wall, and form the street permanently to Cross-street. Mr. STKPirKNSON believed the work could !>e done without any ditliuulty ou the score of want of funds.

Mr. Wakrejt : To do the work in its entirety -would leave the Board £200 in debt. A burnt child dreaded the fire, and the Board had once been in debt. (Cries of

"Upper Queen-street.") Upper Queenstreet had had a good deal of money expended on it. That street would have been thoroughly made but for Mr. Staiues and another party, who claimed compensation. Other persons said they would not claim compensation so long as the district was improved. Such gentlemen were the people wanted to improve any district. (Cheers.) Mr. Staises explained the circumstances, and said he gave the Board the option of building a retaining wall or filling in the ditch. What Mr. Warren said was untrue. (Disorder, cries of "Shut up!" and confusion.) Mr. Warkkn : Mr. Staines wanted us to build a wall such as he could build his house on. (Laughter.) Mr. Be I'.xs said the trustees believed that it was too much to do for I'itt-street. The other side must be done. "This side of the gully had not received its fair share of the rates." [At this stage of the proceedings the discussion resolved itself into a cross-fire of personal interrogation not mutually complimentary. Dr. Wallis, M.H.R., interposed, and said the proceedings were disgraceful ; if such questioning were allowed to continue they would not get home till morning.] Dr. Wallis agreed with Mr. Burns that " this side of the gully had not justice done it." He admitted that the Chairman and Mr. Warren had behaved so energetically that they had a right to a large share of the expenditure. (Laughter.) The district was so badly off for lights, that it was indebted to the publicans. In fact, the public-house would give most aid to morality in the district by affording lights, unless the Board would find means to light the streets. Mr. Bevan's motion was put (to expend £300 from tlie rates), and was declared to be carried by a large majority—so to 3.

On the motion of Dr. Walus, a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman.