MOSGIEL BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19203, 20 June 1924, Page 6

MOSGIEL BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting ct (ho Mosgicl Borough Council was held on Wednesday evening. The Mayor (Mr J. P. Walls) presided, and Crs Frew, Wright,, Smeaton, and Henderson wore present. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Crs Garrett and M'Leod. . . The Mayor explained that, lie bad called ■the meeting to discuss two matters that, could scarcely be allowed to stand over till the monthly meeting in July—(l) the ,0 " quest, of some ratepayers that more outlet for flood waters be provided under the Oulram railway lino in the vicinity of Dye Orcok; and (2) the proposed purchase of tho Church Board property lying alongside the Silverstream. In connection with the former matter he had been in communication with the railway engineer, who had sent a reply (hat if tho authority responsible for (ho repair of the breaks in the Silverstream banks would keep these m order, the provision for water under the railway would bo qu’te sufficient. This was communicated to the ratepayers interested, and their reply was to tho oi.eel that if tho request was not "ranted higher authorities than tho railway engineer would he approached, as these ratepayers were not going to allow their properties to be damaged by flood when there was a simple remedy. The Mayor said he again interviewed Mr Benzoin, and as a result it was arranged that Mr T. K. Sidcy, M.P., and (ho engineer inspect the locality and meet the ratepayers. Tho council briefly discussed the nosition. The same matter had come before a previous council, and Inspector Mitchell had reported thereon. The Mayor pointed out that the interests of those ratepayers 'on, tho south side of Gordon road must bo watched, in case an enlarged waterway would throw tho flood waters more rapidly on them. Tho councillors had practically agreed that the flood waters complained of had been augmented by lire waters from the Silverstream and (hat this was further evidence of the necessity to have the banks repaired. At the same time the matter largely rested with the ratepayers mentioned and the Railway Department, it was eventually agreed to obtain Inspector Mitchell’s report and await the visit of the railway engineer, and as many of the council as possible to attend the interview. The Mayor explained that tho second matter was that concerning the Cnurcti Board property. If all that was being circulated m tho borough was true, many ratepayers wore under, a misapprehension as to the true stare of affairs. The council and himself ; n particular, had' been blamed for being dibit oiy in the matter, and he thought it was time he had spoken publicly. s\s the council was well aware, such matters must of necessity proceed slowly—one public body waiting on replies from another which met monthly. He had taken it upon himself to invite one of the ->nncipals to the town clerk’s office and had recounted to him all that had been done during tho past 12 months, and that genileinan appeared to bo satisfied that all had been done that was reasonably possible. It had bean slated that cue of the interested parties in the proposed nurchase had ottered to pay the expense of the arbitration to have the price fixed. As the Councillors knew no such offer had ever been made to the council. It was possible tho offer to tho council had been misunderstood. A man had offered to purchase tho land at a given. figure net, and in doing so he intended that figure to cover all costs as well as the price of the land. But who could toll what price the land/would bo obtained for, and u it, happened to be the same as the tiguio offered, then where was the money to pay preliminary and transfer expenses to come from. The Mayor said bo had held out against arbitration until he had an assurance from the Church 13oard as to its intentions regarding the amount of evidence it proposed calling. If the Church Board would agree to one expert on each side and an umpire, he would agree, because the cost would lie small • bur, lie would not encroach on the slender funds of the council for a costly arbitration. Ho asked the clerk to read the latest letter from the Church Board on the matter. This letter contained the information that if the council would net call finther evidence the board would agree to. a valuer for each party and an umpire. A general discussion followed, and the terms of the letter from the proposed buyer submitted to .the This letter clearly showed that the offer at a fixed price was conditional on (ho requirement of the council as 't o reading, water, and drainage service, etc., being agreed upon between the council and himself. Some members of the council did not favour one penny being spent on arbitration, while others considered it should be done so that anv buyer would know what tho land could be obtained for. ■ The Mayor said that he favoured the arbitration" now that, (ho cost was to be reasonable. Many years ago the residents considered that this block of land being held as it , had been for so many yeais retarded the progress of the borough, and advocated that steps bo taken to get control of it. After due deliberations, * .former council had succeeded in getting a Bill through Parliament, enabling the council to purchase. They bad now reached the stage whore —after the offer to purchase at a. given figure had first been refused by the Church Board—a settlement had been agreed noon as to tho arbitration. 1 ' It therefore appeared to him that the council might ho acting wrongly to stop at that stage anil refuse to let. the matter of price go to arbitration. However, there was not a full attendance, and he suggested delaying a vole on tho matter till the .next meeting on Juno 25. Councillors would then have a few days to think ever the discussion that had taken place. It was problematical whether the cutting up of the property would over do any trood to tho town, but; he felt the council should not stand in the way of allowing the matter to be tested when the preliminary outlay was not a largo one. Tho veto was accordingly delayed till the full number of councillors was present.