BROOKLYN'S NEEDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6996, 9 December 1909, Page 5

BROOKLYN'S NEEDS

• THE QUESTION OF NARROW STREETS. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES URGED. Concerned, in particular, for the fate of tho Bill—now awaiting its third reading—which they look to to solve for them the problem of converting private rights-of-way into public streets, ratepayers of Brooklyn to tho number of nearly forty assembled in the schoolhouse last night. Mr J. Barr presided. Councillor Frost moved that a deputation wait on the Premier and Ministea- of Public Works requesting them to reconsider their attitude. Ho emphasised the fact that it was the aotion of the Melrose Borough Council, and not any rights conferred by the City Council which had brought about the present state of affairs. The roadways objected to, he said, were mostly over 40 feet, and in no caso under 30 feet in width, and were adequate for all purposes. Being some of them around steep hill-sidrs : they could not possibly he extended to the:required width. The Hon. W. W.-MeCardle said thai the wider the streets were made tho worse the position would become. .is far .as breathing-space was concerned abundance was provided. ■Mr C. W. Palmer was convinced

that when the Premier realised/tho special conditions obtaining ho would waive his objections. ; The Mayor, Dr Newman, said tho opposition to tho proposal was an instance of a fetish being made of words. . A strong deputation was appointed to wait on tho Premier. ASSISTANCE TO HOUSEHOLDERS. AN OBLIGATION ON THE CITY. "When the ratepayers of Brooklyn, a couple of years ago, authorised the raiding of .a loan of £IOO,OOO for the ■ purpose or installing a sewerage service, they believed that those of them who required accomnnodatiorj when the cost of " connecting up " had to be met would bo able to got it frcin the City Council. Tlioy believed the loan included provision for this. 'Xb« voting paper said so. It read, "For providing a system of drainage for the Melrose district and constructing private drains and house connections with sowers and drains on tho deferred payment system." The timo for putting in the connections has come, and all tho money is spent. Residents are being called on to connect up—and also to pay up. Tho Mayor, Dr Newman, essayed to 'explain tho position to last night's mooting of ratepayers. After the loan had been raised, he said, a special Act of Parliament had extended the district over.whioh.it was to bo expended to include Northland and Wadestown. The resxilt was that the whole sum ■ was absorbed in tho main work. However, ho had undertaken to bring down a .report on ..the subject at the next meeting of the City Council, and it was his intention to recommend that the council should meet the grave obligation imposed upon it. It was there in the voting-paper in black and white, and by hook or by crook it was the council's duty to carry . out the purpose of the loan. Where the money was to come from he did not know. The Mayor received a hearty vote of thanks for his attendance.