A STRIP OF LAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19843, 18 May 1927, Page 11

A STRIP OF LAND

WIDENING RIDGWAY STREET SYNDICATE’S OFFER ACCEPTED Au offer of a Serin of land for streejt widening purposes, running 165 fest up Ridgway Street from Victoria Avenue corner was accepted by the City Council last evening, although a section of the council opposed it. A letter was received from Mr E. M. Silk, on behalf of a syndicate of business men owning the Hash corner. The letter stated it was the desire of the syndicate to see the portion of Ridgway Street between Victoria Avenue and St. Hill Street widened ton feet, and, with a view to assisting in this project, the syndicate would hand over to the council, rrec of cost, a strip of five feet with a length of 165 feet.

The syndicate had endeavoured to induce the Bank of New South Wales to give it a strip of land five feet wide extending the full length of the back boundary, and it submitted a proposal that if the bank would give this strip of land the syndicate would give the council a strip ten feet wide. It was understood that the bank was not prepared to agree to this offer, but probably would consider an offer of a nominal sum for the five feet strip provided the syndicate was willing to grant it a right-of-way from Ridgway Street to give access to the back portion of the bank property. Conditions of the Offer. The syndicate proposed to make an offer to the bank of £2OO for the five feet strip, and the right-of-way would be granted. If this offer was accepted by the bank, the syndicate would be prepared to hand over to the Council a strip of land ten feet wide, subject to the Council paying the cost of acquiring the land from the bank, and all stamp duties and legal costs incurred thereby. Should the bank not accept the offer the syndicate was prepared to hand over a strip of land to enable Ridgway Street to be widened five feet. The only conditions made regarding the proposals were:—(l) That the offer be made subject to the consent of the mortgagors of the syndicate’s land; (2) that the Council would undertake to widen the balance of Ridgway Street between Victoria Avenue and St. Hill Street, and refuse a building permit in the present line of street; (3) that the setting back of the street would not take place until a new building scheme was matured. “A Handsome Offer.” Before the letter was considered there was considerable discussion as to whether the Council should go into committee, but it was decided to deal with the matter in open meeting. Councillor C. H. Burnett considered it regrettable that the matter had been made public while negotiations were going on. The syndicate was going to put up a block of buildings costing £40,000 or thereabouts and thi_s would be a fine addition to the city. Councillor J. W. M. Luxford agreed after hearing the letter that the fact should not have been made public. He thought the Press might be asked to use its discretion in the matter. ”It is a handsome offer, ’> said the Mayor (Mr W. J. Rogers), “and I will fight tooth and nail to get the land for the city. ’ ’ Councillor A. E. Halligan objected to gagging the Press. He considered that the facts of Council transactions should be made public. The matter would end in the Council having to buy the Broughton Estate which was a very narrow property and would not amount to a great value when the ten feet was taken from it. Councillor J. T. Werry was also against the Council’s action and he made use of a strong exprescion of iopinion which the Mayor required him Ito withdraw. I It was resolved to accept the offer.