HIGHLAND PARK.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5009, 6 July 1903, Page 3

HIGHLAND PARK.

A meeting of tho burgesses of Onslow was held at Waclestown on Friday evening to consider tho question of the borough streets through Highland Park estate. Mr E. B. Williams, Mayor, presided. There were abut twenty persons present. Tho chairman, in tracing the history of the roads, said it was originally proposed to close cortain streets of the h r ugh in Highland Park. At a public meeting it was found that the closing of these streets required careful consideration, and the people at that meeting considered ‘it wise* that .the question should be deferred pending the report of a committee, who would confer with the Council and the trustecs'pf the estate. The committee gave the " matter careful consideration, and it was agreed by air parties that' certain streets should be clored. Then came the question how this was to be done. Some misconception appeared to exist at first of what seemed to many to he the plain course as laid down by law—that was that the land would have to be paid by whom soever it'was acquired. The trustees were told this and they were surprised to think that they were to pay for .these streets that were to be closed, seeing that they were to open up a number of others. Finally, whatever their idea was respecting this question, the OnffnciTa duty was laid down by statute.; The Con-oil said the trustees would have to pay for the streets. At the_jreqnesc of the trustees valuations were made, but tho trustees were dissatisfied. The land was subsequently offered to the trustees at tho valuation, but they, would not pay the price. They considered it excessive. Correspondence and interviews took place, but without avail. The Council then resolved to sell tho land by auction. . When the trustees came to know that they intimated that if the Council was going to..,,take that course they would prevent tnom closing the streets—-the very thing that they had asked to do formerly. The Council was then called upon to open up the streets, a course which it. hesitated to do ag being harsh. The question was, shall that course be, taken ? Mr Lowe asked if the streets were allowed to lapse for sixty years ■ would the borough loose all power over them? The chairman replied "yes,” and! explained that about forty or fifty years had already elapsed. Mr . Cook considered that the whole ones Hon was simply n matter between th“ Council and Mrs EVdes. If the land belonged to the boxonoh it should be treated on a business basis: if it did not belong to the bor-ngh the Council should find that out as soon as possible. _ Mr Lowe proposed that the matter bo left entirely in the hands of the Council to settle. He d'd not think those present cmld make any other proposals. It was hotter to leave it all to .those who had been elected to do the work by the ratepayers. ,Mr A. E. Atkinson thought the Council should be urged to bring the matter to an immediate issue. It was decided to leave the matter entirely in the hands of the Council, and that it should be asked to deal with the question at once. ,