TOWN BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 90, 28 February 1862, Page 2

TOWN BOARD.

;, an adjourned special meeting' or me Town board i'" was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. Shand, Hardy, c Cargill, Graham, and Switzor. Dr. Hnlme in the o chair. """ '• Mr. Cargill on belialf of tlio committee appointed at o the pi-uvious meeting, to confer with the owners of '•> land on each side of the cutting, reported that all the 0 owners of such property with the exception of Mr. ( 1 Farley, objected to the proposed alteration in the o level of the street, and refused to consent to if, unless they got compensation, lie thought that t;u;re were /' therefore, only two courses open to the Board; either to give those persons a reasonable amount of compeii- •, sation, or proceed with the work and let them bring r actions against tho Board for damages. The reditc- , tionofthc levels would be a great public improvef ment, and unless it were done now it would never be i, done. The objections urged against it were trilling to ~ a degree, lor instance, one man objected because lie would have a step of one foot to his shop door. Mr. Switzer thought that if they were to try the a question at law the public fooling would be with the ,/, Hoard, and that no jury would give tho proprietor of g the hind more than nominal damages, perhaps one : - farthing. He thought, however, that it might bej r well first to call a public meeting' of the ratepayers on; r the subject. ' 0 'iSMr. Shand approved of calling a meeting of the 1 ratepayers. , c Tim'clerk stated that Mr. Green had refused to act cept the £20 offered as compensation, and that he jl 1 demanded £75. ;•' s Mr. Cargill thought that if tho hump were allowed 1 r to remain in the Cutting it would immortalise the | - Board. Thsre was a considerable amount of difficulty] 1 about the ease, but it was better to take the bull by - j the horns boldly, and at once, and to deal with each I individual case as it arose. If the occupiers of thciland were reasonable in their demands, let the Board.o , meet them, and if they were not so, tight them. He'ii - would therefore propose the following resolution:— :V >" That the Board proceed with the improvements, j- ' and deal with the parties aftected by them, on the i i merits of'eaeh individual case." Mr. Switzer seconded the resolution. \J i Mr. Graham thought that the Government should o; • pay the expenses of compensation, &c, as they (was ft r fixed the level in the first instance. The Board had S

not. in a position to do so, and he thought it should appeal to tlio Government. Mi-. Hardy wished to know how the work was to be earned out, and when, as there were parties about to build at ouee. He would, however, propose the . followii.iriimeiwni!ent:-"Tlmta committee be appointed to confer v.-ith the Government, to ascertaiu whether they will boar the expense of lowering the •',/."- V? * " l? ru;)ost;(1 »ew level; and further, whether the work can be proceeded with at once. lue committee, to consist of Messrs. Ilulme, Switzer aud tne mover." ' • Mr. Shand seconded the motion, and Mr. Car«ill , having withdrawn his original resolution, the amendment was agreed to. Mr. Cargill then proposed "that the Clerk be instructed to write to all parties whose interests may , bo aUeuted by the proposed reduction of the levels in Princes-street, requesting to know whether, and on what terms they will sanction the proposed alteration ■ of tlie levels." Mr. Switzer seconded the resolution, which was car- ■ ried unanimously. In reply to a question from one of the owners of l property affected, and who was ready to begin build- , ing, as to when the Board would finally decide the question, the Chairman stated that they would be in a position to do so at the next meeting, after receiving c the report of the Committee apnointed to confer with I the Government. The Board then adjourned till four o'clock this afr temoon.