CORPORATION ELECTRICAL WORKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 53

CORPORATION ELECTRICAL WORKS.

PURCHASE OF LAND AT OUTRAM

At Wednesday night's meeting of the City Council the Town Clerk read the following minute by the Mayor on the abov© subject: — "This matter was referred to me to negotiate with Mr Snow, and I have to re-_ port as follows : — As councillors- are aware, Mr Snow olaimed compensation for wayleave or that the towers and wires be removed from • his property, stating they had! been placed' there without his sanction. Mr Snow made two offers, one beng that, he' would accept £150 by way of compensation and a yearly rental of £15, or he would sell the piece of Jand -affected (about' five acres) for -£400t In company with the city electrical engineer, I inspeoted the property, and it is in evecy way suitable for a sub-station site in lieu of the* one proposed at Gurries farm. The price appears high, but it i^ only _ a few hundred yards from. Outram township, and «wing to the fact that the high-tension wires pass through the centre of the section it would be very difficult to sell for building purposes. There is pleny of space to erect linemen's cottages if so desired, and I would recommend that the council purohaee right out in preference to contesting a compensation, case for way-leave and annual rental. I was in hopes that Mr Snow would rediuoe the price, but this is the lowest he will accept, and says he would prefer that the towers and wires should be removed from his property. The matter is being brought before the council in this form with the consent of the committee, to avoid delay, as it is essential to get on with the sub-station at once, to carry ouit our agreement with the Taieri Cbuntv Council." >.

The Mayor said that, as councillors were aware, he was instructed to negotiate with Mr Snow, and he" had thought that they would be able to obtain some reduction in price. Mr Snow, however, , would /not reduce the price further. It was a splendid site for the purpose mentioned. If the area was 'bought, they might, perhaps, be able to sell or lease the portion they did not require for their own purposes. For these reasons he 1 thought they should purchase the land at the price named. It was no use tryng to get a reduction, as the amount 6tated was Mr Snow's irreducible minimum. He might also state tihat the corporation was under agreement with, the Taeri County Council to have this sub-station erected by the end of March, so that it was necessary that the work should be proceeded with as soon as possible. - ' Cr Cole moved that the Mayor's minute be adopted, and that the land offeiyKMSy Mr Snow be purchased at the price of £400. Cr Scott seconded the motion. Cr Wilson asked how much the council had lost by the way-leaye not being fixed up properly in the first place. They were practically being forced now. The Mayor: If we were forced to remove our tower -'and poles it would cost us much snore than that. Cr Wilson: Bungling The motion was agreed to unanimously.