SHORTLAND-STREET AND EMILY PLACE LEVELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7914, 5 April 1887, Page 6

SHORTLAND-STREET AND EMILY PLACE LEVELS.

A meeting of the East Ward members of the City Council, property-owners, and others interested, was held in tho committee room of the Council offices last evening, Mr. Crowther presiding. There were present Messrs. Crowther, Kidd, and Holland, and about twenty other gentlemen Interested, to consider the levels of Shortland-street and Emily Place. The Chairman read the resolution passed on the motion of Mr. Kidd at the last Council meeting, and read the following report of the city engineer whioh was made in compliance with that resolution : — The City Engineer roported as follows ; — "In compliance with Councillor Kidd's motion, that I should prepare plane showing the beet method of permanently improving Emily Place, also that plans and specifications of the work of cutting down Shortlandstroet to the permanent level be laid upon the table as soon as possible, with a view of calling for tenders for same—this motion I take to mean that Prinoes-street is to remain aa it is without any furthor cutting down. On the 6th of April, 1886, I submitted plans, estimates, and report on the best outlet into Symonds-street from Customsstreet, with the view of making Emily Place a usefnl and permanent work. The report of that date contemplated a cutting

in Princes-street of 13 6 at the junction oi

Shortland-street, and a cutting of about 11 feet at the junction of Waterloo Quadrant. This cutting would have given a grade in Shortland-street and Princes-street of 1 in 144, and a grade in Emily Place from Customsstreet to Shortland-stroet of about 1 in 12. The cutting down of Prinoes street being assumed to be now practically abandoned,

it now remains to be found what can be done with Emily Place under these circumstances. The question ie a very simple one, and resolves itself into this, that the level of Custom-street, and Shortland-street being known the best grade that oan be had up Emily Place is about one in ten into Short-land-street, which is the grade that it is now cat to: To attempt to get up Eden Crescent, through old St. Paul's site, or even behind it, would not improve the outlet which can be had up Princes-street when Shortland-street is cut. Shortland-street when cut will be a grade of one in eleven, and Princes-street one in fifteen and a-half. This cannot bo improved npon by attempting to go by Emily Place. In my opinion therefore the question resolves itself into this, that if Prinoes-street is not cut down below the existing fixed level then all that can be done is to cut down Shortland-street to the fixed level and form Emily Place on the piasent cutting. Emily

Place could be lowered on the east eide going into Eden Croecent, but this would entirely cut off any vehicle communication at the upper end of Eden Crescent into Princesatreet. It is just as steep as it well can be now for vehicles to pass along it, and these must be of a light character. A further detailed plan, detailing tho particulars of hia proposed work was forwardod by the engineer. The cost of making the whole of the streets affected to the permanent level would be £18,441.

The ChaikmjuN said the cost reported could not bo entertained. Hβ also said,, in connection with the proposal, that the commiteee were prepared to recommend to the Council, at their next meeting, that they should entertain the proposal of householders and owners in Upper Queen-street. It would bo suggested that they should have a private Bill passed for the purpose of enabling property owners to push on work in that or any other locality. If the Council entertained the idea, which it would not do until next Thursday, the matter would be pushed on during the next session of Parliament, If the Council could not got it

included in the amendments to the Corporations' Act, it would have to bo by a private Bill, but that could not be done without the approval of the ratepayers. He was not very hopeful, even if thoy did get the proposal, that the House would pass the Bill.

Mr. Lamb thought the improvement could be carried out if St. Paul's Church people would agree to reasonable terras. He had a site offered, and he thought if the people of St. Paul's had much spirit they could carry out the change in their position without much burden upon themselves. If the improvement proposed by Mr. Kidd were carried out he would be satisfied, but he would atill prefer the fuller scheme.

Mr. Nobrib, junr., said the St. Paul's Church people had not been fairly treated, and Mr. VVhitley said those interested in St. Paul's Church who had not at all been doeiroue of moving ought to be compensated in proportion to what they had given up, which he maintained had not been done. They must have their site in a suitable position, but they only wanted value for value. Mr. DoFiOR strongly advocated that the plans ehould be fixed, and the streets of the city ehould be made as far as possible to a level. The Chairman said the level of Shortlandstreet bad been fixed some time ago, Mr. R. E. Isaacs asked if tit. Paul's Church people met with a site that would suit them, would the Council meet them.

The Chairman said this was going over what had been gone over before. Two sites had been agreed upon before, and ho had seen Mr. Ballance, who had agreed as to the deeirabilily of one site, but there had been local influences against them. He had interviewed Mr. Ballance frequently since, but could not got him to agree to any arrangement, and finally received a reply refusing consent to the proposal to tako the site of the police barracks for the site of the church.

Mr. Holland moved "That the report of ihe engineer be adopted."

In anewer to Mr. Isaacs, the Chairman said the Council had no power to spend money, except for the specific purposes for which it was borrowed.

Mr. Lamb asked if they who held property there were to be unable to make use of it, because a site could not be found which would bo suitable for St. Paul's site. He seconded Mr. Holland's motion.

Mr. Mackechnie moved as an amendment to Mr. Holland's motion, "That the City Council be requested, through the ward members to call for designs for improving the access to Emily Place and the approach to Princes-street from Custome-street upon snch terms as to premium and superintendence of the work as the Council may consider advisable.

Mr. Isaacs seconded the amendment, suggesting that it should be added thatt a deputation be appointed to wait upon the City Counoil to ask them to call for competitive designs.

The Chairman said a deputation oould attend if they requested to be heard in support of the request.

Mr. Lamb asked if Mr. Mackechnie would add an inquiry as to whether the Council would be willing to exchange the value of the old St. Paul's site against another which bad been propoaed, which was that of Mr. Sinclair.

Mr. Whitley said he thought the church people wonld accept that site if the Council would give it them.

Mr. Mackechnik's amendment was then put to the meeting and carried by eight votes to three. The suggestion of Mr. Isaacs'that a deputation wait upon the Council was also adopted, to consist of Messrs. Mackechnio, Isaaca, Dufaur, and Grey.

Mr. Lame moved, " That the Council should be requested to value the site of St. Paul's Church and place it against the property of Mr. Sinclair, with a view of carrying out the exchange." Mr. Whitlky seconded the motion.

Mr. Kidd moved that it should be further added " That this meeting urge upon the Council the necessity of effecting an exchange of site with St. Paul's with a view of permanently improving Emily Place." Mr. Mackechnie seconded the motion with the additions proposed by Mr. Kidd, and it was carried as a substantive resolution.

This terminated the business of the meeting.