GILL STREET EXTENSION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13966, 26 July 1909, Page 3

GILL STREET EXTENSION.

(To the Editor.) i Sir, — In your leading article on Saturday re Gill Street extension you itate that "the want of foresight oc curred twenty-five years ago, w hen an effort was made to induce the Borough Council to purchase Messrs. Berry and Co.'s property before the large twoktorejr building now standing upon it yas erected." Kindly allow me space io contradict this statement, and explain that the Borough Council was unanimous in recommending the pnrchrse at that time and called the statutory public meeting for the ptupo&e of giving effect to it ; but the scheme was ko fully condemned at the meeting, on the ground that the street never would he required, that it was quite useless to carry the matter to a poll. In fact, it ■was openly talked of as a fad of the late Mr. James Bellringer (who was then a councillor) and myself, and we lost largely in popularity in consequence or our persisted advocacy of the j.urchase; but I think wo are fully vindicated now by the almost unanimous opinion that the street must go through even at the necessarily enhanoed price, which I consider has now been reduced to about bedrock. Of the remainder of your article,*l consider it an able contribution to the question under consideration, particularly your advocacy of the straight street, us I would only feel justified in advocating a crooked street if a straight one »a^ not possible. — I am, etc., E. DOCK RILL,