SURREY HILLS V. RIGHTS OF WAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6821, 27 September 1883, Page 6

SURREY HILLS V. RIGHTS OF WAY.

■ TO THK EDITOR, '. Sib; —Your .correspondent '-'Fair.Play is 'a-Jewel, , "-for one who in hia own words, has "directly or indirectly, nothing to do with this estate," seems remarkably au fait of all particulars., I. however, certainly agree with •him, that I bcliove the owners, in laying put rights-of-way to the varioaa allotments, were anjmated with a desire and intent to promote the convenience and comfort of' intending purchasers. Unfortunately the absence of any legislation , in that directionwould prevent these rights-of-way becoming, what they were intended.for, arid in a.short time they would be streets or "lanes, and it is a wonder that' the gentlemen'who are con-' nected with the administration of thisestato did not perceive that such must inevitably be,■■the , result.: I observe,," Fair Play is a Jewol" is very reticent .on/the question' of reserves or open spaces, of which,tho plan of this Jareo estate or small town.shows literally none.,' lithe freehold of the allotments are to-be, sold,, the ,best way is to make the allotments C 6 feet or, 50 feet frontages, and ' this ' will. .- leave ' plenty, of room for , private, entrances, and, exits," and then, if some 20 acres■ ,aro reserved, say in 40. lots" of. half an aero each,, over the wholo • estato, or 20 lots of one acre for public gardens each, the .'proprietors may, rely on finding plenty of purchasers.. ~The objection to the suggestion to'leaae for. 999 years, with a view of enforcing. certain conditions as to rights-of-way, are these : That after a time the property passes out of the hands of the original owners, and it becomes nobody's business to see to. the enforcement

of conditions; and by collusion, and the soothing influences of tiine, all such restrictions are swept away, more particularly where the property is owned by private persons, whose interests point in another direction to that of providing rights-of-way. —I am, &c, Ajdyance.