THE PROPOSED WIDE. STREET THROUGH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 379, 9 March 1863, Page 5

THE PROPOSED WIDE. STREET THROUGH

THE TOWN. (To the Editor-of the Dailt Times.) Sir,—The following paragraph in the memorial ot the Town Board to the Government published in Tuesday's paper, and again alluded to in Saturday a issue, should not, I think be allowed to pass without comment, as the idea mentioned in it, it carried out, involves a considerable outlay of public money and might be made the occasion of a considerable amount of private jobbery. (I enclose the paragraph No. 3.) Now, sir, I am credibly informed, that the route proposed to be taken; is from the south end ot Prin-ces-street, northwirds as far as High-street, continuing the line along the proposed extension of that street, now nearly reclaimed from the waters of the harbor; thence by Castle -street, a portion of which is vet covered by every tide at its flood, while the remainder consists partly Si the river-bed of the Water of Leith. . i I get this information indirectly, for the project, thou-'h of such magnitude has never before been pub- | licly "announced or discussed. Now if the Town Board really desire to have a main line of thorough- < fare "through the entire length of the town," why not take Great King-street for the northern portion (a street already partially used for the purpose) continuing it along Moray-place rendered perfectly practicable by thi removal of Bell Hill and joining the street next to Princes-street and parallel to it; laid out in the " proposed extension of the town." This would give a route running directly from the Port road into the road already formed up to [the country and gold districts, and would not require any great additional outlay; as the northern part of the route is scarcely ait all built upon; and the cost of the south end would be included in the prime cost of the new extension. The whole of the southern frontages would no doubt be eagerly purchased at prices that would more than cover the co3t of the formation of the new street. This would secure a grand centra! thoroughfare a. mile and «, half or two miles long, from

one end of the town to the other—level all the way, and avoiding the natural difficulties and Inequalities that occur in the greater portion of the route proposed by the Town Board, and without paying large sums as compensation for the abandonment of sites already built upon in a populous part of the city. Indeed, it is not improbable that owners of land along the line would concefe half a chain of their ground, in consideration of having frontages to the main line of street throughout the town. Whether the line of route now proposed, or that of the Town Board, be most feasible, I think, upon examination, there can scaicely he a doubt. Sure lam that the one now proposed will be of immeasurably greater advantage to the general public; cost much less and be a greater ornament and credit to the town. The Southern portion would, I see by the map, run directly along the head of the new docks, thus affording a facility for loading and unloading goods which no other street possesses. In conclusion, Mr Editor, I wish to state distinctly that I have no pecuniary interest in the uuestion, (as I do not own a foot of land in any part of the town, nor do I intend purchasing any of the proposed frontages,) but have simply a desire to see a great improvement carried out in a style that shall be the least expensive, and the most effective, for all purposes of traffic and convenience, either now or in years to come. Lam, &c, Broadway. The following is the paragraph referred to :— " 3. The present juncture offers an opportunity for improving the width of a main line through Dunedin, which will not. recur. The Board desires to have the co-operation of the Government in obtaining the land required fur a street a chain and a half wide through the entire length' of the town, by a route marked on a map now handed in. This project, so valuable for the future, is at present feasible, and the desirability of making such. a correction in the design of the town neeil not be urged upon your Honor or the Executive, who are so well acquaiuted with the requirements of towns so large as Dunedin promises to become." . ~=