THE HONOUR OF ST. KILDA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15578, 7 October 1912, Page 2

THE HONOUR OF ST. KILDA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

TO TUB SUITOB. Slit,— My attention has been directed to a letter 111 your iss'io of the Stli inst., ! signed "Special Order" This is neither the time nor the place to discuss that letter in detail. 1 car. only say, however, that the action of the St. Kilda Council has not been dictated by any of the motives ascribed to it by the writer. Tlio fact that "Special Order" is in possession of tlio alleged facts which form tho lusis of his letter shows that there has been no coucealmeiit ou the part of the council. Tho position of these strtets was only looked into in 1909, and tha legal position came us a matter of surprise to all concerned. Paragraph c, sub section 1 of section 175 of "The Municipal Corporations Act, 1808." has been considered by the council, ami Lb:! proviso tlxit every private street. mentioned in tho soctk-in siiali first Ik> properly lorriicd by the owners thereof prevented the council from utilising that section. 'Hie point is that the corporation is not tlio owner of these streets. Now that the council lias knowledge of tho legal difficulty it would bo imprudent on its part to spend r money on the formation of tho streets. The property-owners have recently sold these sections, and the council was careful to give the buyers notice that iliesu streets were private streets; but, even so, the cour.ci! has always been of the opinion that it would bo lor the benefit of tho borough to take over theso streets if it could do so without putting the Ixmmgii to tho expense of epecial legislation. Since 1 have come into office I have, with the full approbation of my council, placed all the facts before the proper authorities, ami am hopeful that power will be given to tho council to take over three streets during the present session. It is very difficult, after a period of 25 years haii expired, to nrrivo at tho original intention of the parties with regard to these streets, and I suggest that that alone might have deterred "Special Order" from judging what he is pleased to call the " unssmptilousin'es of the St. Kilda Council."—l am, etc., S. B. M.icnoxAi.n, Mayor.