CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6813, 18 September 1883, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

CUTHNarDOWN OF EMILY PLACE. A.SF.EcrAr, meeting of-tha City Council ..was. held: yesterday, afternoon at-three, o'clock to consider—(l.) . The report of the joint committee on tha cutting ,do.wn of Emily Place. \2.) Fixing levels;.'• (3.)' Report of the Surveyor :on the improvedgradient from CJuStom- . ..house-street to .Princes-street.. . There were present :-i—His Warship the Mayor (in the chair), Messrs. Burns, Harper, Thompson, . Devore, Dacre, LaKoche, CrOw.ther, Phillipps, Waddel, Flemingj Aickio, George, Garratt, ■ Field, and Steveusom The Council resolved itself into committee. The Town Clerk read a letter from the Secretary of the Harbour Board, stating that the estimated costs for compensation, referred to in clause I of the committee's resolutions would not exceed on the whole. £400.0. Under cover of letter dated 14th instant, the Secretary of the Harbour Board forwarded the following, particulars of ap- : proximate estimate Of costs for compensation, &c, for cutting down Emily Place z>— Keesiqg . and Fischer, no com-* pensationj D. Nathan, £150 (estimated); Hebrew congregation, £300; A. Wright, £300 ; St. Paul's Church authorities, £3000, and site Of equal, value; J. B. Russell, no compensation; J. L. Campbell, for R. Farmer, £4000, for purchase of property; J. Lawford, £250 for surrender of lease; Educatiop Reserve Commissioners, no compensation .; J, Lamb, no compensation. Total, £8000.. Sale of R. Farmer's property when cut down, say £4000 ; cost, £4000. The Mayor moved, "That the Council agrees to the proposal submitted in the letter dated September 3. provided that the Council and the trustees of St. Paul's congregation can agree upon an exchange of site." Mr. ArcKiN seconded the resolution, and in doing so would only say, in reference to J a question put—and which appeared to be a very pertinent ohe--.by Mr. Thompson at the last meoting, that it should be clearly understood that this money was to come out of the. £20(000—the portion of the loan for the East Ward. The proposed work would be of immense benefit to the East Ward by opening it np, and it would greatly improve the value of property. That being the case, he did not see that the money could be put to a better purpose. He merely wished to give that explanation as his view of the mattsr as a member for the East Ward. Mr. Field moved that the following words be added to the resolution :—"That in case the Council should fail in procuring a site to exchange for St. Paul's Church site, that money compensation should be arranged for."

. The Maylor suggested that Mr.. Field should have indicated where the money was to. come from; whether the Corporation was to pay this money, or whether it was to be paid equally by the three bodies concerned.

Mr. Fielp thought the Corporation should pay it, as they retained the site proposed to be given in exchange for St. Paul's.

Mr. Wa&del suggested that Mr. Field should name the amount, or otherwise there would be no end to it, Mr. Firld said he could not name the amount, but the matter might be left to be decided upon by the trustees of St. Paul's Church. Mr. Crowth-er said concerning the letter sent to the Council from the Freezing Company, through their Chairman, he would like that letter read ; also, the minutes as to how it was dealt with, so that the matter might be fully before the Council, that it might be fresh in the minds of members of the Council, and that members should know the position they occupied in regard to. the Freezing Company. The Mayor said it appeared to him that that would serve no purpose. Any previous correspondence was withdrawn, and what the Council had to consider Was the present, position Of affaire..

Mr. ChOWTHKR said the Council had no knowledge of the letter being withdrawn. The Mayor said the large demand the St. Paul'.-* Church authorities had put a i different complexion ou the whole matter. ' At the time referred to, it was thought that the mere Cost of a retaining wall round St. Paul's was all. that was required. The Mayor then read the letter, as follows :—" New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company, July 18th, 1853.— To His Worship the Mayor,—Sir,~-It having been found that there is some difficulty in the Harbour Board giving to the City Council an indemnity against any claims for compensation in regard to cutting down Emily Place according to ths plans submitted and agreed upon by the Council and the Harbour Board, I am instructed to ask the Council if it will accept the indemnity of this company in lieti of that of the Harbour Board should the company make such an arrangement with the Board? As this is a matter of. great public importance, I should be obliged if your Worship would be good enough to suT> mifc this matter to the Council at its meeting to-morrow night, and let ate be favoured J with a reply as early as yon can.—l am, fee, A. BoARDSfAN. Acting-Secretary, New Zea- j land Frozen Meat and Storage Company." I This letter was referred to the Legal Com- •] mittee, with power to accept the indemnity of the Freezing Company* The proposals in | this letter fell through with the previous negotiations, and the whole matter now was on a more extended Scale.

Mr.. AiOkin said that sinae the letter was sent in a fresh proposal, had been made, and another survey had baen made by the City Engineer.

Mr. PiiiLnrt'S said that both individually and collectively the Council was very touchy Upon its dignity; at the same time they should not let that interfere with their doing what they believed tx> be the best for the whole community. Ete hoped. Mr, Field would not press his .amendment, because he did not think it would facilitate the negotiations being carried on. He believed the Alten-road site Would be' acceptable to the incumbent and vestry of St. Paul's and if the Gouacil could exchange one piece of ground for another without monetary cost to the city, he thought it would be better than to make a larger demand on the monies of the city.

Mr. Thompson said the Legal Committee should have reported to the Council that the letter had been withdrawn. It would have cleared up all these misunderstandings. Mr. Crowther had no sympathy with the amendment. He feared it would still further delay business; He had come to support the resolution, but he felt at the same, time it was his bounden duty to protect the. interests of the Council, and the ratepayers of the city as against a private company especially. It might be said chat he was personal, but he had a. feeling that the company had received a concession from a public body equal to pay. ing the 1 expenses of the whole job, and leaving a large margin. That was his Opinion. He felt it probable that Auckland province in the course of five years might have no meat to freeze at all. Then who wo aid reap the benefit of this concession ? In a few years meat might be sent from tho South to Auckland, where it would fetch a better price; consequently there would be no meat to freeze in Auckland. That meant that this very large concession Would be used for storage purposes, and, as Mr. Devore said, it would be " a freeze-" for the Council, and would have to be paid for by the citizons. He thought thai: the Council should be let off, in. accordance: with the first proposition, —that was, that they should not be asked to pay one-third of the £4000. He was prepared, however, to Support the proposal that they should pay one-third of £4000, but no higher sum than that.

Mr. Flbmino believed they had digressed from the original proposition to the Council. They ought to have carried out the original proposition. For himself, he Was prepared to give compensation in order to carry out the original conditions. If the Harbour Board and the Freezing Company would relieve the Council of all responsibility, the. Council would certainly make the roads, kerb, and channel them; but ho objected to the Council becoming liable for a part of the expenditure.

Mr, AlCKjy said the alteration was not made to benefit the tiarbour Board or the Freezing Company. The alteration was made to get rid of St. Paul's—an eyesore—to benefit that portion of the city, and to get a better grade. It was not proposed Originally that they should do away with St. Paul's. The Harbour Board and. the Freezing Company were, going thirds with the Council in compensation to the church people in order to get rid of an ugly building l —if he might so call it—and without doubt it would be a ! great improvement to that locality to have the grade made easier, and the place' planted as a reserve instead of the church being there. It was a matter of business with the Board and the company to got the. earth at a low price, and it paid them to give compensation in order to get that earth. It was a pure matter of business as far as they were con-

%*™&. ''The Board had stepped in and raid ■they, were willing to help'the making, a public improvement - ■ ' ™ Mr, Devore ,snggested..'that the Council" ' Ponder ..thjblausea .«^«« m) S ' tl l9 . amendment on it, because: the whole principle was contained in. the: first • TT bt^ erqlan?es * ere a — * - ery -Pwperty-owner signed ' M^ a^ mgtp Uk<? a amount Tbe Mayor rephed that all the parties had done so, more or less definitely Ht T °l, SaM , he thoa ght not. In regard to Mr. Devore s suggestion, he thought , it better to move, the .adoption, ol all the ; clauses, and amendments could be taken on as it Was. read. He objected to Mr..Fields amendment, for various reasons It complicated, the question. If the proposes Were agreed to, he believed it very hjely that an eichange of sites would be effected. _ He suggested that Mr. Field should withdraw his amendment. Mr. Field said, as it appeared that if the negotiations failed, the matter, could come before the Council in the form he had proposed, be was willing to withdraw the amendment. Amendment withdrawn. Clause I. : " That as it is desirable, in the interests of the citizens of Auckland, that Emily Place and the adjoining properties shopld be cut down to tb.s levels as Shown ori plan in the offices of.the City Council, and as advertised, tueHarboUr Board, City Council, and New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company undertake conjointly to pay in equal proportions all costs, for compensator for cutting down Emily Place to such levels;' Mr. Crowther had no objection to thi: Clause, if the following words were added :— ''Provided that the. compensation to be paid by the Council shall not exceed one third of £400 Q." Amendment lost. Mr. Thompson moved, " That the clanei read as follows :— 'Tbat it is desirable, ii the interests ol the citizens, of Auckland that. Emily Place and the adjoining propertie: be cut down." Mr. Phillipps enquired if the Counci adopted the new levels submitted by the Engineer, whether that would affect anj negotiations: between the Board and the Freezing Company ? The May oil thought it would leave thi matter exactly as it was at present. Sup posing the proposals from the Board and thi company were agreed upon at the presen meeting, and even that the levels were fixec as advertised, that there be a Uniform gradi of 1 in 10 from Customhouse-street to Prin ees-street-—that Was, to the permanent leve of.Shor: land-street; then if the Council de cided to carry out levels even differed from those—carry out the recommen dation. in the report of the Engineer is be brought, before the Council, if agreed to do that, on the conditions h( had indicated, he should be inclined to move that they should be adopted on the cOndi tion that the Board and the Freezing Com pauy take the earth from the deeper cutting on the same terms, and that the owners o; property would, by deed, agree to ask for nc compensation from the Council. Mr. Devore would support the amend inent of Mr. Thompson, it was precisely ir the direction in which he had intended t< move. AH that they affirmed by the motior was that Emily Place should be cut down, leaving the level to be ascertained at some future time. The laet clause should be amended, so as to provide that the wort should be completed within two years, and that there be exchange of sites should bs accepted by St. Paul's Church trustees. Mr. Harper and Mr. Gabratt Would support the amendment. Mr. Crowther said the City Engine?] had supplied him with the following esti mate:—Kerbing and channelling Einilj Place to Shortland-street west of St. Paul's and to Eden Crescent east of St. Paul's £584; metal to above, £531; drainage £351 : total, £1466. Mr. Thompson's amendment was carried. Clause 2: "That the City Conncil under take to offer a site to the authorities of St Paul's Church in exchange for the present site, the present site to be transferred to the City Council." The Mayor said, he had eommunicatsd with reference to the site of the Police Barracks, close to Albert Park, which might be. got to exchange for St. Paul's Church site.. There were, however, two or three questions involved in getting that - first, the ' Government would have to assent, to the proposal; second, there would be the cost oi exchange of sites fer Police Barracks; and third, the cost of removing the building. II a handsome church was built on that site il would be an ornament, to. Auckland. Ciause agreed to. Clause 3 : " That the City Council undertake, upon Emily Place being cut down, to form and channel all the roaas on the new level." Agreed to as abeve. Clause 4: "That the Harbour Board atid Freezing Company undertake to remove all the earth from Emily Place and the adjoiuing properties free of coat to the City Council or owners of property." On the motion of Mr. Devore, the following words were adrlei to the clause: —"The proportion of claims for compensation, and compensation for alteration of levels, to be paid by the contracting parties in eejua.l proportions, and work to bo payahle from time to time on. the production of the certificate of the City Engineer, in accordance with levels fised and plans approved of by the Council." Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 5 : "That the Freezing Company purchase any properties requiring to be parchased, and sell the same upon the work oi euttipg down to new levels being completed, the Harbour Board and City Council Undertaking to pay the Freezing Company theii equal proportions, or one-third each of anj loss, and the Freezing Company dividing any profit that may accrue on the transactions in the same proportions." Clause agreed to, Clause 6 ; "Interest en purchase monej to be allowed at the rate of six per cent, pei annum until the property i 3 sold." The rate of six per Cent, was inserted on th< motion of Mr. Harper, the division beinj • to 7. Clause 7 ; That the City Council undertake to carry out the contract for cutting dowi Emily Place, the Harbour Board and Nev Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company indemnifying the Council agaiost any losi that may occur, other than the City Council') responsibility for one third of the amount o compensation as above noted (subject to pro visions of clause 4). Agreed to, after considerable discussion. Clause 8 : That the whole of the work above referred to be completed within a tern of two years from date of commencement o Works.

Agreed to. The resolutions were then reported to the Council, and agreed to. On the motion t>f Mr. Thompson it was resolved, " That all money paid by the Council for carrying out the works in Emily Place be charged against the amount of the loan allocated to that ward." The question of fixing the levels was. adjourned till Thursday fortnight. Mr.. Waddel moved, " That the Sfc, Paul's Churbh authorities be offered a site on the Alten-rdad at the junction of Syinonds-street and Alten-rpad, oc the site at the j auction of Wakefield and Alexandra Streets."—Carried, The Finance Committee was appointed to negotiate with the vestry and report. The> consideration of the Surveyor's report on a new gradient from Customhouse-street to Princes-street was deferred till Thursday next.