PROPOSED EXTENSION OF UPPER QUEEN-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7650, 29 May 1886, Page 3

PROPOSED EXTENSION OF UPPER QUEEN-STREET.

A MF.BTl.sr, of ratepayers of the Karangahape Ward, especially those of property-owners having property abutting on Upper Queenwas held kit evening at the Newton Athenicum, Eaat-atreot. The meeting was called by the ward menbers—Messrs. Garratt, Burns, and Stevenson —to coneider the advisability of taking etepa to continue Queen-street through to Newton Road. There was a email attendance, although probably a pood representation of the people affected. Mr. H. Garratt was called to the chair. He explained that the representatives of the ward in the City Council thought it advisable to call the ratepayers together to consult them, and take their opinion betore embarking on the proposed soherne bofore the City Council The ward members wore not committed to the proposal, but they wished to get the opinion of the ratepayers as to whether it waa desirable or not that the street should be continued, or as to whether the compensation demanded was too great for the ward allocations. Mr. Stevenson had made inquiries as to compensation, and ho would call on him to explain the matter. Mr. Stevenson said that the part he had taken in this matter wau for the public good, not for his own benefit, but it had been represented to him, after the fire at the corner of Gloucester-street and Newton Road, that this would afford a good opportunity to take Queen-street through to Newton Road, and he had made inquiries. He ascertained that the claims for compensation for property taken according to the plans before the meeting would be about £2000, that £'20UO would cover all compensation for buying these propertyholders out. His object in bringing the matter forward was to test the opinion of the ratepayers. They would recollect that some time back he had tried to get Pittstreet through to Newton Road, but the question of compensation killed that scheme, and they had now called them together to ask their advice before going to the City Council to aek that this work should be done. They should bear in mind that their ward members were only three out of eighteen, but if the meeting decided on carrying out the scheme , , their members would do their best, and they should form a committee to help them. In reply to Mr. Warren, Mr. Stevenson said no estimate of the coat of makiDg the road had been made. They did not think it advisable to go into the cost of engineering skill before they knew whether the ratepayers thought the road desirable. In further reply to Mr. Waddel, Mr. Stephenson and the chairman said that the Council did not in all cases act on the recommendation of ward members as to ward expenditure ; but in this case, if the members were supported by the meeting, they would go to the Council and support it. A good deal of desultory discussion took place, and Mr. Green moved, " That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that Upper Queen-street be continued to Newton Road, as shown on the plans now before tho meeting." An amendment wa< proposed that the words "as shown *o the plans" should be eliminated, but *ie amendment was lost. Mr. Green "That Messrs. Davis, Hobson, Ljflch, tUpley, and the mover be appoin«d a committee, to assist the ward mem>ers in obtaining valuations of property, estimate of cost, &c, and report to a meeting t> be held in a fortnight." Mr. Warren proposed as an amendment, " That the whele matter be left in the hands of the ward members." This was carried. A vote of tlanks to the chairman terminated the mertirg.