HOBSON-STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7787, 5 November 1886, Page 6

HOBSON-STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

At'the meeting of the City Council last night,

Mr. BtfcaANAN, by permission of the Counoil, asked whether the fresh deeds the solicitor was instructed to prepare for the Hobson-street works had been received.

The Mayor said the deeds were received. Was it wished that they should be read or submitted to the Legal Committee.

Mr. Diqnan asked that they should be submitted to the Council at onoe.

Mr. Crowthkr said the deeds had never been submitted to the committee, which should be done before they were presented to the Counoil.

After a brief discussion, the following letter was read from the oity solicitor, Mr. Cotter :—

Re Hobson-street. To the Town Olerk : Sir,-1 beg to inform 70a that I attended a meeting of the joint committee, held at the Council office yesterday tiernoun at {oar o'cloct, and after considerable dlacusalon iti to the probable acceptance by the Council of the covenant only by those j> r»ons whose properties would be benefited by the improvements, and not the actual ptymeut by them of the promised contributions, I was instructed to prepare a ileed requiring oash payments to Dβ made to truttees then appointed by the committee, who should hold the mono.a and pay tbeia over to the Council if the work was started In three moutlin, or return them if not I waa also ioformod by the engineer that theomiaaion of Chapel, Moore, and Swansou streets from the propos-id rcheme and tne carrying out of the saiue with tho e streets omitted wouid not prejudicially affect those three street! acording to the present fixed Uvels thereof. I hare ther-fore prepared three deeds, as follows: No. 1: For nignature by those parties to whom the Council has to pay compensation, 2nd who do not agre« to return any p.rt of it to the Counoii. No. 2 : For signature by those parties to wnoin the Council la to pay compensation, and who do agree to rotund part of It to the Com.ell No. 3 : For aignataie br parties whose properties are likely to be benefited by tne proposed improvements, and who contribute and piv to certain trustees their promised contributions In trust, to pay to the Oonncil when the work is started. Win you be good enough to place thes i before the Council at its sitting this evening for it* approval.—l am, etc., Thomas Coitkr, City Solicitor.

Mr. Bdohanan moved that the council take steps to get the names of those concerned attached to the deed.

Mr. EIDD asked that their solicitor, who, he underatood, was present, should be asked to give them an explanation, Mr. GoLDiB moved that the matter be referred to the legal or the special committee for consideration.

Mr. Gakkatt seconded Mr. Goldie'a amendment, to refer the matter to the legal committee.

Mr. Liqnan said they had the three ward members, aud a member of the outstanding committee, who had approved the deeds, and they now only wanted to get them signed, Mr. Devore said the difference in the deeds now waa that Chapei-etreet, Mooreetreet, and Swanaon-street were left out. and the committee thought that the money promised should be in band before the works were carried out. Tbe work would oost about £12,003. of which £7000 would be for compensation, and the rest for the contract. Mr. Eidd wished the deed to be read and considered at once by the Counoil. To refer it to a committee was only taking up further time needlessly.

Mr. Phillipps aaked for some further explanation as to alterations in the levels of Hobeon street. If Hobaoo-etreet only were done, the streets entering upon Hobsonatreet could not be made in accordance with the fixed level.

Mr. Dignan said the information Mr. Phillipps aaked for was on the plan, which bad been before the Council for 18 months. The plans did not interfere with the streets in question. The amendment to refer the matter to the Legal Committee was then put to the meet ing, and loat.

Mr. Cooper proposed that the question be referred to a special meeting of the Council to be held on the following night.

Mr. Ckowthkr seconded the amendment. He thought that was the only way to get the matter settled, and also added that the city solicitor be requested to be present,

Mr. Cottkk, oity solicitor, who had been asked to come to the meeting, said he would be able to attend on the following Thursday.

Mr. Kidd objected to the matter being further put off, and thought it should be settled at once.

On the votea of the Counoil being taken, it wae deoided to read and discuss the deeds at once.

Mr. Cottkr then read over the deeds which he had prepared, and gave explanations in reply to the inquiries of members of the Council. He eaid the Council would not be rendered in any way liable for doing the work by the execution of the deeds. The time for doing the work under the conditions of the deeds was three years. So far as the legality of the deeds were oonoerned, they were mere proposals.* Owners of side streets could have no claim for compensation, unless their property was injured. He was told by the engineer that the three etreets alluded to would be ratner benefited than otherwise by the improvements. Mr. Devour moved, " That the deeds be approved, and that the special committee be empowered to obtain the necessary signatures. Mr. GoLDiK seconded the motion.

Mr. Kido asked if, in case property owners were unable to pay their contributions, they could give a lien on their property. Mr. Cottbr said the question had been dieoussed at length by the Joint Committee. The largest individual contribution was £100, and they could not expect that anyone would give a lien on his property when that was all be was li.ble for.

Mr. ATKiN wished to add to Mr. Devore's motion, that the committee be empowered to employ any assistance they might require in getting signatures. Mr. Devohb agreed to accept that addition.

Mr. Cottkr said it had been thought an advertisement in the newspapers would meet what was required. Mr. Atkin aaid the signatures would require some hunting up. The motion ot Mr. Devore wae then carried, the cost not to exceed ten guineas.