CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 845, 17 June 1910, Page 2

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

THE SYDNEY STREET SCHEME. APPROVED BY COUNCIL. In the report of the Finance and Property Committee, prosented to the City Council last evening, a recommendation, was included: "That the proposal of the Prime Minister in reference to the Charlotte Street improvement scheme be approved." When the recommendation came before the council, the Mayor read a letter from the Prime Minister incorporating the arrangements agreed to, which were pub- . lished in detail in yesterday's Dominion. The Mayor said, .it wa6 important to watch that Sydney Street was closed by the Government and not by the City Council, otherwise, as a previous case in another district showed, tho councilmight be troubled with possible claims for compensation.' The Government should bring down a special Act if necessary, aud the corporation should support the Government rather than, acquire the street itself .at tho risk of incurring actions fur compensation. "With regard to the council's taking Quinton's Corner for the Government, he thought that that was a right thing, since the council could take the corner for improvement purposes. The Government had undertaken to nay if the council took this corner. He thought that it should be taken at once. There should not be any chance of chopping and changing between owners, for 1 though the council would not have to pay for the land it would be their duty to get it as cheaply as possible for the Government. He thought that that would be only fair. Councillor Cohen said he hoped that the matter would be settled at once, i Councillor Lut*o endorsed the Mayor's remarks. He thought that the council should accept ithe Government's offer. Later on ho would like to see tho Government throw open the whole of their grounds to the public without an iron tence. In other countries public re-serves were left open to the people's view, and the public wore 50 educated to the custom that they refrained from doing damage. The council ought to appreciate the way ,in which tho "Government had treated the city in this respect. No doubt there would bo some objection to closing Sydney Street, but in tho interests of the city as a whole they must vote for tho scheme. Councillor Devinc agreed that action should bo taken at onc*> in regard to Quinton's corner. The Mayor said he thought that the Government's offer wag a very good one for the city, and should be accepted. He thought they could say that the Government had treated the city very fairly in this case. Ho moved: "That the offer of the Government bo accepted, subject to tho condition that, in regard • to the closing oi' Sydney Street, the City Council should co-operate with the Gov- ; ernment* but that it should not itself take action/' Councillor Luke stKJonded the 'motion. : Councillor Atkinson thought that the council wero proceeding at an extraordinary pace. The public first knew about the scheme tiie previous day, and it was going a little fast to tell them the next day that tho offer was accepted. He thought that the offer was a very good ono for tho city, but there might, be local interests which would desire , to make representations, and some opportunity should be given them. Tho Mayor said that one petition, signed by nine persons, had been presented, and one 01 the* leading signatories, a very prominent citizen, - had adduced as his chief reason for Opposing the shutting up of Sydney Street that he did nil his shopping in Molesworth Street Councillor Atkinson also urged that nothing "should be done, with regard to the closing t of Sydney Street which would deprive any citizen who might suffer injury of his right to compensation. Th® Mayor explained that, he had no intention of doing that.' He had merely . pointed , out . that the council did not want the liability. . "I don't believe thai, we are liable at all," said Mr. Wilford, "but I don't see why. wo should, take the 'risk of-even an action", .. : Councillor Fletcher supported the. motion. He thought that the offer waaone of the best that had been made to . the council for many years. The widening ■ of Molesworth Street had been hung up 1 till this scheme was settled.. There were ; no individuals resident along the part of ; Sydney Street that was to be closed, and ' .none could suffer "injury. Councillor Shirtcliffe stated that the i Government could have closed the street, if it had chosen, without consulting the , council at all. He thouglit that tho Gov- : ernment could be congratulated on the ; spirit of fairness with .which it, had met i the council in the matter. At the same . time he recognised that the bargain was probably a very good one for the Gov--1 ernment. i The motion was then put and adopted. 1 Councillor Device then moved that ; apart from the confirmation of the offer ; the Government should be asked to round 1 the corner of Molesworth' and Hill i Streets, and to allow tho accesb to pedes* trian • traffic by way of the Legislative Chambers into Hill Street to bo con- ; tinned. # § The motion was seconded by Council- , lor Ballinger and adopted.