Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6440, 3 December 1881, Page 2

The City Council acted wisely at their meeting on Thursday evening in explicitly disavowing any intention to sanction the commencement of the Te Aro reclamation until the claims of the foreshore owners had been definitely dealt with. Why the Reclamation Committee should trouble the Council with a report until they are in a position to say that claims, present and prospective, have been dealt with, or at least are in a fair way of being adjusted, is not quite clear. At all events, the Council did well to adopt Councillor Thompson’s suggestion, and refer the report back to the Committee as being incomplete and premature. It is perfectly well understood that a consensus of opinion has been arrived at by a majority of the Council, as also by the citizens, that the work is necessary for the advantage of the city. This point having been arrived at, after much conflicting debate, it seems absurd to dally and play with the subject, and trouble the public mind with interim reports, which are valueless as records, because they mark no advancement towards the main work. If it is conceded, as it necessarily must be, that the foreshore owners have just claims to compensation, then the sooner these claims are dealt with and settled the better. It has been said on good legal authority that the work cannot be commenced until a special Act of Parliament has been passed in authorisation. As a necessary preliminary to the drafting of such Act, the sum, total of the claims which will be recognised should be arrived at. We presume, if an Act is necessary, it will also be necessary that mention of compensatory claims should bo made therein, and the method of adjustment, by arbitration or otherwise, defined. From the present aspect of affairs, it would seem that the Council apprehend being flooded with a host of heavy demands, and that they dread the responsibility of dealing with them. It is, undoubtedly, the moat onerous responsibility the City Council has yet had to deal with, involving, as it does, so many interests and considerations of, to some extent, conflicting and, perhaps, excessive demands. But the path of duty still seems clear ; the citizens having decided that the work shall be done, the Council have merely to so guard their actions that it shall be done at the least outlay, consistent with durability and efficiency, and that all claims shall be dealt with equitably, but with careful avoidance of extravagance or sub-: mission to undue demands. There is ample time before the next session of Parliament to have every detail so far arranged that, if it is found to be absolutely necessary to obtain special legislation, there will be no obstacle to prevent it. Any “Reports” which do not mark progress in such direction will not only be worthless, but absolutely vexatious to the ratepayers. ,