THE "WATER STREETS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12523, 16 March 1904, Page 6

THE "WATER STREETS."

'.:-■■] :>:■.■',: ~-.-■.:. '.. ■■:■■;■■:■■.:■■ '■■■■■.:.■■,:■ :y-nr ■,'.■■'■ " ::-;.■■:.■ ;;'.;: .', ■ ..... I . HARBOUR BOARD DISCUSSION. - The question of " water streets " again engaged the attention of ■■ the Harbour Board, when a letter was received from the Cham-, ber of Commerce, containing a report"; of a Special Committee to consider the proposed "water streets." The committee signified its strong disapproval of any departure from Mi-. Napiei Bell's scheme,; and although recognising '. that certain industries required temporary . water frontage, nevertheless the interests of the city as a whole must be considered before those particular industries. The committee recommended the council of the Chamber of Commerce to protest against the formation of " water streets," chiefly for the reasons that the natural trend of the extension of ; ; the city westward- would be stopped, and that the creation of these " water streets "• would be prejudicial to the public? health • and moreover, the letting of allotments ' fronting the "water streets" with only a 10ft right-of-way would constitute a" practical ; sacrifice of the. Board's water rights. It was recommended'that the frontage should be made similar to Quaystreet- -:■ »'.-■• v - .' :,■•. ,

;,, Mr. J. Walker moved, " That as Mr. Napier was not present it would-be. unfair to him to discuss the matter during his absence." Mr. Parker seconded. Mr. Philson objected. , The Board -was not called upon to defer ' consideration of this matter because of the absence of one member.. He referred to Martin's contract fay the erection of the ■ breastwork, Which should have been terminated. .;; If the Board had accepted.a tender for the scheme it had been done without the Finance and Legal Committee knowing anything about it. ( The fulfilment of the Board's intention to erect these " water 'streets "would bring down upon them the condemnation of the whole city. If the city was committed to the water street" scheme the Board would never cease to regret it.- It would be a most effectual barrier to' the growth of the city westward. : *; Mr. Witheford said he was prepared to support the Board's engineer, and to be guided by his skilled experience. The Chairman recognised the importance of the question, and that was why he preferred discussion upon it being deferred. Mr. Mitchclson agreed that the discussion should be adjourned, for the question had provoked a good deal of friction. So far «s he was concerned he would not take responsibility for the acceptance of such a scheme. He. thought it was wrong for the Board to bring up a report upon such an important subject without first bringing the 'matter before the members. He supported the motion for the adjournment of the discussion. The Chairman said the matter had been discussed month after month, and he thought everybody was fully acquainted with what was contemplated. Mr. Philson moved as an amendment, " That the matter be referred to a'committee of. the whole Board next Tuesday." Mr. Baume pleaded guilty to being one of those -who' were not sufficiently informed on the subject of the proposed alterations. It seemed advisable to him that the land should be occupied" by warehouses, and not by the smaller . industrial undertakings. ". He strongly'supported the motion for the adjournment. ' He, asked for some assurance that Martin had not been officially communicated with by letter. • , The Chairman said no communication of tho sort referred to had been made. He appealed to members 1 to spend an hour or two with the engineer in going over the plans with the engineer. In any case he asked for a suspension of judgment until the whole matter had been threshed out.

. Mr. Philsou said not all the inspection of plans would remove the impression in the public mind that the " water street" scheme would be prejudicial to the extension of the city.•■■;' .:•■.•.■:■;■';'-.:■■■; v'"\

* Mr. Witheford reiterated his intention of supporting the scheme so long as the engineer approved of it. The original motion to defer discussion was carried, the amendment not having been .seconded.;';.;.- : - , ..:„:.■', . /.;■■• ...