THE CUTTING DOWN OF EUIL PLACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6810, 14 September 1883, Page 5

THE CUTTING DOWN OF EUIL PLACE.

At the meeting of the City Council last evening, the Mayor read the report of the joint committee of the Council and Harbour IJoard aa to the cutting down of Emily .Race. On the motion of Mr. Thompson, the words, "in the same {jroportion," Were added to the sth clause. The Mayor said he indicated at the last meeting that he was prepired to move that these proposal? be agreed to, provided that the authorities of St. Paul's Church atd the Corporation could agree upon a site to ha exchanged for St. Paul's Church site. Hβ thought the Corporation could not do wrong in enteringintothis transactiftr.;. Aa regarded the levels of ismiiy Place as advertised; he should be inclined to move the following: resolution •• —That the. Council fix these levels when the arrangement referred to above are completed, and that for that purpose the consideration; of the levels be deferred, say for a fortnight. If they attempted to alter or fix the levels, as advertised, before arrangements were, made, in the event of snch arrangementa failing, and the Council losing the oppor* tuoity of carrying out the work, it would be awkward to have levels fixed at such a lowlevel. It would also be -well for the Council to consider a report which the Engineer was prepared to submit on the matter. The Engineer had been asksd to rcpqrt upon a better grade, if sueb. Could be got for Emily Placey that waa a better grade than that advertised, 1 in 10.. The Engineer had a report drawn Out showing a grade of 1 in 16 frqm Custonp-house-street to the junction of Emily Place in Customhouse-street; lin 10 from that point to the junction of Emily Place and Shortland-street opposite Bank-street; 1 in 13 for the top of Shortland-atreet. and Princes-street op as far as Bowen reducing the "bump"right in front of the Club by about 4 feet. In connection with. that as giving an easy grade, a grade of I in 16 would strike Shorkstreet at its present level, and then coming along Jermyn-street at the level fixed gave I in- 20 ; and from. Eden-street up to Syrhpnds-street he thought was about the same. This gave practically a ready exit from the town. Avoiding Priflces-street. altogether, traffic could, come down Symonds-street, afld either sweep outside the C)urt, or come into Eden-street to Jermyn>street, and on to Customhouse-street. To carry that out it would be absolutely necessary to widen Jermyn-street, the width, of which at present was only 33 feet. That, part of the question was another matter which Wc43 almost too important to decide upon the first day oa which the report waa submitted. If tjhe further consideration of the matter was deferred, he would be i&clinei to move : " That the Council will decide upon cutting duwn Emily Place and the surrounding streets to the level suggested by the Engineer On two conditions, viz. (.1) that the owners of property execute a deed that they agree to. the cutting without compensation; (2) that the Harbour Board and Freezing Company rerflove the earth at' their own. cost to the lewer level in the same way aa they proposed to remote the earth to give a grade of 1 in. 10," That would deal with Emily Place and. the streets immidiately arouod it. Aβ to making the road ffom Customhouse-street to Symonds-street he proposed to move: " That the work being desirable, the Council take steps to ascertain upou what conditions the property could be securird." -fie moved r " That the proposals made by the HarbOß* Board in their letter of September sth he agreed to, with this proviso added to clauee 2 : Provided that the City Council and the authorities of Sfc Paul's Church can agree npon sites to exchange." In reply to Mr. Ckowther, Mr. PritLupps Said that the Chairman o£ the Freezing Company had made two propositions which he afterwards withdrew. Mr. MACKECJUNiEstiggested that the word: "indemnify" in the seventh. Clause be. alterecL to " re-imburee." The Matoe said «'reimburse" was evidently the word intended to be used. Mr. GaHeat* moved : "That an equal area to the St. Paul's Churqh site be given from land in. Alten-ioad, immediately below th.e Supreme Court, in exchange for St. Paul's site." On the motion of Mr. Devobb, it was agreed that a special meeting of the Council be held on Monday next at three o'clock, to> coSfcider the whole question.