CAR GILL ROAD WIDENING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13035, 26 July 1904, Page 6

CAR GILL ROAD WIDENING

THE POSITION AT BROWN'S CORNER. The residents of the Plat who have taken an interest in street-widening questions ■oxpress surprise at the position disclosed by tho progress of building operations on the opposite side of Cargill road to what is popularly known as Ogg's Comer. The narrowness of hcth Cargill road and Hillside :oad, 011 both of which there is n largo amount of traffic, rendered that corner somewhat dangerous. This was long ago recognised, and to meet tfco difficulty tho old Tramways Company purchased a triangular strip of frontage to permit of a better view being obtained by drivers of tramcar; and vehicles of ears or vehicles approaching from oppesile directions, eo that it was always possible to pull up before starting to negotiate the comer if danger was apprehended. When the tramways were taken ever by llio Oitv Corporal ion n further strip of land forming the angle was purchased, atrl thus a still better view was obtained by 1 hose approaching the corner, whether driving 011 the Hillside or Cargill roads. When tho widening of Cargill road was undertaken by the Cavershum, South Diiiicdin, and City' Councils there was a. general impression that this angular strip would still remain the properly of the City Corporation, and that any building put up 011 the, earner would have to bo 'built back at the nngle in question. With tho progress of Mr lirown's new buildings, however, it became evident that the structure was to hav'i. a. square frontage to both Cavgill road and Hillside road. Wo learn on inquiry that ill tho negotiations with .Jlr Brown to secure a si rip of land for tho widening of Cargill road it was decided to give hint as much as would remain of (lie triangular piece of ground acquired by the City Corporation after Cargill road had been widened to the extent agreed upon. Cr Seott, who atf Mayor of the city was conversant with tho whole matter, and took part in the negotiations for tho purchase ol land required lo widen Cargill road, was 'waited upon by one of our stalf to ascertain how tho land caino to bo parted with, Cr Seott stated that tho City Corporation originally purchased the triangular strip of land from" Mr Brown for £100. When negotiations wero recently entered upon lo secure a strip of the remainder of the property 'fronting Cargill road one of tho conditions mado by Mr Brown 111 agreeing to sell at the prict, lie did was that what would remain of flic triangular piece of land at the corner after llio street had lieen widened should be restored to him, so that ho would have square frontages lo bis promises. Asked as to whether laud unco purchased and dedicated to the public could be parted with in this mnnuer, Cr Scott replied that the si rip was nover dedicated to the public. The City Council purchased the strip conditio nnlly on using it for road purposes, but in tho transfer 110 conditions were mentioned. Mr Brown's solicitors gave notice that they would apply to the Supreme Court to have tho strip dedicated' for public purposes, hut in tho meantime tho Cargill road widening arrangement came up, and the agreement already mention :d to restore part of fclio land to Mi' Bi'Oivd in exohango for portion of his frontage to Cargil' road was arrivod at. Thcro ivus disappointment on tho Flat wheii it became known that tho building lino in Cargill road was not to bo set back so as lo be in lino with the fcncc around the Government workshops, but this new discovery will in. many Quarters oiuiso still kconer disappointment.