EVANS BAY RECLAMATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6490, 9 April 1908, Page 5

EVANS BAY RECLAMATION

DAYLIGHT AHEAD. THE EATING DISPUTE. There seems to bo a prospect of nome understanding between the Harbour Board and the City Council on tho matter of the Evans Bay reclamation. At least that is tho impression gained from a conversation with Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P.. to whom a representative of the "Now Zealand Times'' referred the matter yesterday. Mr Wilford said ho had every hope that tho negotiations between the Council and the Board would end satisfactorily. Tho Council had discussed the matter recently, and some members seemed to think that rates should be levied by the Council upon, tho land which was reclaimed directly tho reclamation was completed. The Board had how written again to tho Council, pointing out that tho whole cost of the reclamation was being borne by the Board, and that tho city was consequently obtaining a rate-producing .asset without tho expenditure of any money at all. Moreover, an area was being provided by tho Board for tho accommodation of tho manufactories of Wellington, so the reclamation provided what was urgently required in the expansion that was now taking place. Tno now proposal of the Board is that as soon ns tho land is let and becomes revenue-producing to the Board it shall immediately yield rates to the Council. The Board, moreover, undertakes to make and maintain the streets at its own esnense. and not to ask the Council to take them over till tho land is lot.