SAVING THE RIVER BANK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17220, 11 December 1923, Page 6

SAVING THE RIVER BANK.

SUB STATION SITE TO GO ELSEWHERE. As the result of discussion at last evening’s meeting of the City Council, the proposal to erect an electricity sub-station on the river bank in the vicinity of the present municipal chambers was withdrawn. The sub-sta-tion will be erected within the building in rooms now tenanted by the city surveyor- - The organiser of the River Improvement Fund wrote pointing out that the Council had no authority either for a transformer station or for the wooden shed being erected on the river bank adjoining the City Council Chambers; also stating that the Council had no authority to use the Scott statu© site or to convert the present Council chamber or any portion of it into a transformer station. He gave formal notice for the removal of the wooden shed by March 31, 1924.

“THE FACTS OF THE MATTER.” The Mayor (Mr J. A. Flesher) said that in view of the letter it was necessary to place the facts of the matter before the public. In 1569 the' reserve was granted b3' an ordinance signed by the Superintendent of the Province and vested in the Mayor, councillors and citizens of the City of Christchurch in trust as and for sites for public buildings for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of the City of Christchurch and upon trust to use and occupy when and so long as the reserve shall not be built upon for general municipal purposes. The reserve consisted of two pieces of land, one on each side of Worcester Street, 06ft' square.

“Now regarding this communication from the River Improvement Fund,” added the Mayor, “no one seems to be able to find out who is on the River Improvement Fund Committee.” Councillor Eeadley: Mr R. B. Owen. Councillor E. H. Andrews: R. B. Oyrcn—“River Bank Owen.” QUITE COMPETENT. The Mayor went on to say that the council was quit© competent to look after the interests of the citizens and would not do anything illegal. If the council saw fit to put a transformer station there it could do so. There had been so much criticism that he thought it necessary that the public should know the position. Councillor E. J. Howard. M.P., remarked that he thought that the words in the ordinance. shall not be builc upon for general municipal purposes,” debarred the council from building a transformer station there.

The Mayor did nop agree with this view. He said tiiat the council proposed to put up a building for public utility—for general service. Councillor Howard: It’s for a trading department. The Mayor replied that that did not enter into the question. He suggested that if no alternative site was available they could use tlje old mill island. Councillor Eeadley: You’ll be shot at dawn if you do that. The Mayor : I don’t think Councillor Eeadley knows where the island is. Councillor Eeadley; Oh. yes I do. It’s the prettiest part of the river. The Mayor: And there’s plenty of foliage there that would conceal the building. COMMITTEE’S SOLUTION. The Electricity Committee reported that as a solution of the difficulty regarding the necessary sub-station in this locality, it suggested that it was possible to adapt a portion of the existing building for this purpose, the department to lease the required space on the same basis as any other lessee in the building. The necessary alterations would not affect the exterior of the. building on either frontage In reply to Councillor Eeadley, the Mayor said that Mr Owen, in his letter, had been talking without the hook. The council had full power to erect any buildings for the use of the public on either side of Worcester Street near the bridge on a site 66 feet square. That space had been fully utilised on the north side of the road, and on the south side there was the Scott statue. He would hare been prepared to rule that the council could not make any additions to the present building, except with the authority of Parliament. The council was not likely to agree to any building on the south side, but it could build round the Scott statue if it wished. He thought the proposal of the committee would solve the difficulty provided no disturbance was caused. “AN ABSURD PROPOSAL” Councillor H. T. Armstrong, M.P-, said it would be absurd to -use part of the present municipal building as a sub-station. It would depreciate the value of the building. It would be dangerous as well. Why should not the electricity department, as a trading department, pay rent for a site?

Councillor O. W. Anderson said there was a doubt whether the Council could rent part of the building to anyone or any firm carrying on business for a profit.

Councillor C. P. Agar said that unless a site was secured without delay there would be a breakdown in the supply of current for industrial purposes in the cit}*. It' the clause was not adopted, there would be serious results. They could not wait till March 31 next. The City Surveyor would have to move out of his offices almost at once, if the Council passed the clause. Councillor W. 11. Winsor said he would like to see the matter settled, because he knew the Electricity Committee was up against it. However, he believed the sub-station should be separate. If it were in the present building it would lower the valuesALTERNATIVES HARD TO FIND. Councillor E. H. Andrews said the council could not build any additions on the present site, and they would not get Parliamentary sanction for it. Why should the report not be referred to the By-laws Committee to go into the pros and cons and the legal aspect? Tf a room in the building could be made sound-proof and other precautions taken there would be no objection to the latest proposal. Alternatives were hard to find. If any building were put up near the Scott statue or on Mill Island, he would live to see some of them banged. The report was adopted on the voices. SITES IN GENERAL. Regarding sub-station sites in general, the electricity committee reported that, owing to the importance and difficulty of the question, it had decided that au endeavour should be

made to forecast the probable sites required in different parts of the city for some years to come. W hen endeavouring to make purchases for this purpose. it was usually found that if the nature of the inquiry was known, the price asked was excessive. Under the circumstances, the committee felt very strongly that in the interests of the city as a whole the council’s transactions in this matter should be given the same protection that would be exercised in any ordinary business dealings. It recommended that the purchase of the necessary sites be left m the hands of a sub-committee, consisting of the chairman of the .Finance Committe and the chairman of the Electricity Committee, with power to act, in consultation with the city valuer. The committee’s recommendation was adopted. PREVIOUS DECISION ULTRA VIRES. Later in the evening Councillor E. H. Andrews moved, in pursuance of notice:—“That in view of the fact that no additional buildings may be erected on the Council Chamber site without legislative authority, the resolution adopting clause 5 of the Electricity Committee’s report of November 26, 1923, be rescinded.’’ The Mayor said he would hold that the resolution passed at the jirovious meeting was ultra vires, and therefore there was »o need to rescind it.