GARDEN PLACE AGAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19909, 11 June 1936, Page 9

GARDEN PLACE AGAIN

FUTURE OF HILL. ' ‘ 1 Lo”. POLL ARRANGIMINTI. COUNCIL'S REPLY TO MINISTER. the future 0! Garden Place Hill was again the subject of discussion It a meeting or the Hamilton Borough Council last. evening. the matter arising from a request for a permit (or a new reinforced concrete buildins granting Garden Place, which was received on behalf of Mr M. A. Devcich. ‘ The Mayor, Mr J. R. Pow, movedthat the application should be referred to the works committee, but Mr C. Laflerty asked why the council was taking up this attitude regarding the applicant when the \\'aikato \Vinter Show Association had been allowed to excavate into the hill. Mr J. l-I. Tidd commented that this was a very important matter from the point of View of the removal of Garden Plac‘ Hill. lie pointed out that the Winter Show Association was not compelled to approach the council for permission to excavate. but had removed spoil from the Association‘s own property, and Mr Devclch could do the lame. Duty To Land Owners. “ However. he contended that the council had a duty towards the pro-‘ perty owners on the hill. and even if the loan proposal for the removal or the hill were rejected. he thought the‘ council would feel it. was its duty to: give access to Mr Devcich and ad-i Joining land owners. He stressed that the council was dealing with a public street on the hill. Ratepayers In other parts .ot the borough had been given access by the council. and‘ the people with properties on Garden‘ Elana were entitled nthe same facili-i es. . As an amendment. .\lr Tidd mored‘ “That the council recognises the reasonableness or .\lr Dercich's request. but regrets that it cannot give a deit—nlte answer until the ratepayers have voted on the removal of the whole of‘ Garden Place Hill. 1 The amendment was seconded bY Mr Lafi’erty. who saint he could see no reason for any further delay in tak-i lng a poll on the hill scheme. He thought the council should decide. and have the matter settled for all time. Mr W. W. Dillicar‘ supported .\lr low, and said Mr Tldd had spoiled his motion by saying that the council ”_l oosnised the reasonableness of the request. The speaker did not think it reasonable. Roads were already provided on either side of the hill, and it people liked to excavate below the level of the roads. he did not thinkl it reasonable to expect the council toi give access to that level. ‘ After brief discussion the amend-l ment was lost by '7 votes to 6, and the 1 Mayor‘s motion was carried. Report From committee. A report was also before the coun—cil. from the deputation which recently met the Postmaster-General.i the Hon F. Jones. in Hamilton, regard-l intr the site of the proposed new chiei’ post. office for Hamilton. After re-‘ viewing the Postmaster-General! com- ‘ ments on the question the special committee or the council recommended that. the Minister should'be advised as foliowaz—“Tha Council in suggesting that the Department. subject to the approval at the ratepayers to be expressed at a loan poll might agree to transfer its site on the eastern side of Victoria Street for an area measuring "0 feet by 300 feet between the proposed extension of Alexandra Street and Angelsea Street with 66 foot roads on either side believed that if adopted. its proopsals would prove to be to the advantage of both the Department and the people of Hamilton and distrlct. and it sees no reason for departing from that view. As increased accommodation and better facilities {or those who have business with the Department is urgently necessary and the .\linister has decided that no site other than one fronting Vic—toria Street would be acceptable. the Council regrets it has no practical alternative but to agree to the buildlng being erected on the site now or.cuplcd by the Telegraph Engineer's Department. and it trusts that the work will be put in hand as soon as possible.“ The recommcndation was approved. The committee also reported that it. was proveedinc with the. preparation of details preparatory to taking a loan poll. and the matter would be dealt. with as expeditiously as possible.