MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 463, 23 October 1877, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was held thiu morning for the purp se of considering certain telegrams in reference t> the Oaniaru Unserves Bill now lie oie the Legislative ('ouncil. and nmre especially with regard to the action of the H<n. Alathcw Holmes in itill opposing the Mill, as well as to consider what reply should be given to the opinion expressed that the Crown should receive the full value of the police paddock. There were prestnt—His Worsh p the C unc llors Mainland, Headland, Gibbs, Liddle, Procter, «nd I anii|ti>n. Ihe teleg aim in connection with the matter having been read and considered, it was resolved to forward the following statement to the Hon. H. J. Miller : "Oamaru. October 23, 1877. "Hon. H. J Miller, Wellington.

""Your telegram of yesterday was considered at a special meeting of the Council to-day. The Council thinks that the Legislative Council, or rather the members who take the view m your telegram represented, regard the matter of the proposed exchange of land from a mistaken point of view. The land asked to be granted to tli£ town was reserved for sites for public buildings which would be better placed elsewhere, aud for which the Council proposes to give an ample area; in point of fact, moro than double the area to be gronted to the Municipality. It was never contemplated to make the matter one of bargain ami sale, but it was felt that it wouid not be fair to nsk the Government to make an arrangement which would involve any outlay on the Government's part. Hence it was offered that the town should bear the whole cost of all buildings reudired necessary by the exchange, and f"i which the sum set down in the B 11 is a liberal and ample one. In point of fact, however, the three sections in are worth lully LBoo probably, if sold in one block, might fetch LIOOO ; and the value of three and a half acres given for C atnty gaol site would be LSOO more, so that with the LSOOO. ca4i consideration is actually given by the Bill to the value of upwards of L6SOD. It is hoped that even thus the Municipality will pecuniarily benefit, and we submit that it u desirable that it should.

The several public department* concerned having been consulted, and approving of our proposals as tending to their benefit as well as ours, wo respectfully submit that every necessary condition to secure"the approval of the Legislature is complied with. \Vcar« not by anv means suio that we shall be aide to let all the building sites into which the ground to bo conveyed to us would be laid out for some time to come, ami although anxious to see the great public in>. provement which the exchange would enable us to carry out effected, fear that any further concession would involve tho possibility of an actual annual lost in a revenue point of view, and consequently, instead of a relief to, a f irther increase of the hurdciiß of the Municipality. It is earnestly hoped that the legislative Council will not bar the way to earning out an arrangement on all ".rounds so desirable, and which has tho approval of the public, the Municipal Council, the Government, and the Huiiae of IJcprescntatives. " WM. .1. Sl'KWAlill." This was the whole of the business brought forward.