A CONNECTING ROAD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16892, 8 February 1917, Page 4

A CONNECTING ROAD.

NECJIISSABY:OR^UNNECESSARY> j.

GONVJLLE; BC?A^i> kISCUSSIO^^

In accordance with notice of mo£in, • the question of. connecting Bigriell St. West with Queen's, Avenue was re^ opened by the Gonville Town Board lust evening. "The last Board would not deal with XW', said. the Chairman when the accuraulated correspbndence/ori the subject was read. ■ ■' ' ' Comr. Pearce said an offer of the land for tha connecting road hadjbeen ni ade, and the Board should accept it, prpvided the Caaileclitf Town Board accepted its part; Comr. Svenson considered the acceptance of the offer would enable the own. er to cut up more sections and increase the value of his property, and yet the Board was asked to form the road and do all the necessary: Work. It would cost hundreds of-pounds and would not be fair to the rest of the ratepayers. Ther.e would also b4 a demand tor water, and drainage. He did no* know where the; Board was going 'to obtain the money. He Jinew there were members going to support th« proposal. There had been sarcastic references to the old Board about open. ing up roads. • ■ ■ ■■'' Comr. Morgan: I rise to a point oi order..-..-■ ;. .. ■ ,-...- / _ ; ; ;; ■-,.., .■ ; :<; ■ Proceeding, Comr. Svenso* said tho old Board -had fought to abolish a system which some members were trying / to bring into force again. The owner ' - was going to be presented with the tin- • earned increment at'the expense of the other ratepayers. .- It would mean that other syndicates would have the same. " right. It would pay the owner to^ giv.e the road formed to the' Board's requirements. Other local bodies had a by-law that roads should be handed over free of cost. Comr. Bullock: That refers to % subdivision only. Comr. Svenson: Is not this a sub- - idivision 5 * ' Comr. Bullock considered with a proper town-planning scheme in vie»rl there should be connecting roads with, parallel streets at suitable distances., Ihe land was now offered for nothing and if they did nob accept it they might have to buy it later on. There was no obligation to form the road immediately. The Chairman: The owner will get material benefit, and should pay the cost of fencing and dedication^ • Comr. Hogg: I don't know who th« owner is. - The Chairman: It is not a question of who the owner is—it is a question or tha public good. Comr. Hogg said they could get th« road at little expense now. It was pos. ' sible the question of dedication! could be left over.. Comrs. Pearce and. Svenson looked at it from the speculator's viewpoint. The outlet was essential. A blind road was no good to ths district". Anything for the progress of the district must benefit somebody. Comr. Pepper: Why did the Board / pay £250 for Gunn St. ? - Comr. Svenson said population demanded .it in that case. = Comr. Morgan supported the proposal to accept the offer. It was agreed to accept the offer of the land for the road, conditionally on the Castlecliff Board accepting its part, and the owner agreeing to dedication at such time the Board was in a position to receive it.