THE SURREY HILLS ESTATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6822, 28 September 1883, Page 5

THE SURREY HILLS ESTATE.

At the meeting of the. City - Council last night, '.' . ? .. ;

Mr. PHLLtiPrs- the following motion:—"-That .this Council, taking into consideration, the maimer in' which the Surrey Hills Estat.ei . abutting upon _the...city boundaries, is laid out, there being 'no reserves for recr.eation> or-breathing: spaces or any public conveniences or for either educational or religious^'''pllyposes;''.thiß'.Council , ' pledges itself to oppose this district being, added to the; city,, tirilfess provision is. made for the aboye. purposes." .He . asked - leave to strike out the .words, "or for either educational or religious putposes." This was granted. Mr. Pml4jp.ps.said.he did not even know the proprietors of the:estate, but he saw the fact that it was laid, out,; and how laid out, in the HkkaLd. Shortly after, he saw :si[ plan of the estate, and saw no reserves or squares, arid ; , every. . inch occupied by. building allotments 33 feet, in width, and. that, in all probability, the. lanes, would be built on. He felt it his duty, as no one ..else had done so, to take the, action he did, and he insisted that although the plans had been . withdrawn, the motion was. still necessary. Mr. Gahhatt seconded the motion in the hope that it would, be withdrawn, for its object had been carried out, and it would be impossible for the Council to pledge itself to the motion, or to carry it into effect, for they could not bind their successors.

Mr. Thompson spoke in support of the motion.

Mr. Field heartily Sympathised with the spirit of the motion, but the last clause asked the Council to do what it had no authority to do. . He suggested its alteration so that the .clause: be: altered to.read '■ that the Council expresses an Opinion, &C." The Mayor said the proprietors of this land had made a mistake in trying to make the most of it. The Newton Highway Board had taken action regarding the streets. He sympathised with. Mr. PhiilippS' desire for breathing spaces, but he could not pledge himself not to take, them into the city on that account, although he should urge, to have these reserves made. He then referred to the fact that the proprietors had not guaranteed to make the roads, and so were blind to their own : interests. He suggested that it bo added that tho proprietors o£ the Surrey Hills Estate be requested, for,, their; own interest and.' that of the public, to make, form, kerb,, and metal the back streets,, as. while it remained a portion of the .Newton highway district there would be nO funds to make these roads ;. and if it joined the city the Council would certainly be in no hurry to make them,.

Mr. Burns said that there was a movement now on foot by the Newton district to. to join thfe.pity unless the proprietors took some such, action as that indicated by the Mayor.

Mr. Fleming spoke strongly in regard to the cutting, up. of the estate, into small iota, and narrow streets.

■ Mr. Piiillipps replied, and the. motion Was put and carried.