BASIN RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2497, 25 June 1915, Page 4

BASIN RESERVE

PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVEMENT MAJOJ.t SCHEME ADOPTED Schendes to improvo tho dangerous corners at the Basin Reserve were again th© su'/yj'ect of much discussion at last njght'sj meeting of the City Council. Tho discussiion arose in connection with Clans a 2of tho Reserve Committee's report, submitted to the council meeting '/i«l<l on June 10, and postponed until last night's meeting. The clause was 'as follows:— ".I'hat the resolution of tho council passed on October 9, 1914, as follows;— 'Tliat the amended scheme of proposed alterations to tho Basin Reserve as submitted in tho report of the city engineer bo adopted be given effect to at once, and that the Carnival funds which acre available, £725, be placed towards 'the cost." Dangerous Corners. Councillor G. Frost, chairman of the Reserves Committee, formally moved the resolution. He expressed a doubt as to whether money could be raised to , carry out the major scheme at the present time. Councillor T. Bush seconded the motion, pointing out that the street corners at the Basin Resorve were among tho most dangerous in the City. Councillor J. Godber condemned the amended schemo. There was, he contended, more chance of getting the major schemo approved by Parliament. If the minor scheme wero carried out, tho citizens of the future would condemn the present council for its shortsighted policy. Councillor M. F. Luckie said that the minor schemo was a distinct improvement on the present condition of the Reserve, and there was a possibility of carrying it out. On the other hand, the money required for the major scheine would not he available for ten or fifteen years. _ Councillor John Fuller, jun., considered that it was waste of time to discuss the schemo at all at the present juncture when money was wanted for repairing roads and other neceasary works. Councillor J. Hutcheson declared that the street curves could be improved at much lower cost than the expenditure involved in tlie minor schome. He was of opinion that it would be waste of money to carry out the minor scheme. Councillor W. T. Hildreth supported tho major scheme. Councillor W. H. P. Barber proposed that decision on tho matter should be deferred until it could bo ascertained if Parliament would approve tie major scheme. If approval were forthcoming, he was of opinion that sufficient money to carry out the major saheme could bo raised locally at the present time. Councillor L. M'Kenzie supported the resolution. He considered, that the council should not do away with tho spectacular portion of the reserve, which was an asset to tfho City. The Straight Road. Councillor J. E. Fitsgprald favoured the major scheme. Thore was, he said, an increasing demand l\y tlie people of South Wellington for a straight road through the Basin Reserve. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) did not think the council was justified in advising tho people to go on with tho minor scheme. The only opposition to the major scheme was from the people who thought that the removal of the bank on the west side would spoil the ground from tho spectator's point of view. He, however, favoured tho promotion of legislation to -carry out tlie major scheine, which should he regarded as a necessary work, as soon as the money was .available. 'In the meantime ar- , rangements couH be made to secure the Kent Terrace corner to case traffic there. Tho owner could be restored when tlie major schemo was carried out. Councillor Flrost, in reply, said that the resolution had been moved by the Reserves Committee in view of the voting of councillors, on a previous occasion. He accused i/overal of the councillors of changing their opinions since the occasion referred to.

Dafrated on Casting Vote. The voting was equal when the resolution was submitted to the council, and the Mayor gave his casting vote against it. The division was as follows Ayes —Couaoiillors Atkinson, Bennett, Bush, Frost, 'Luckie, M'Kenzie, and Thompson. Ij7oes—Councillors Barber, Fitzgerald,. Fuller, Godber,' Hildreth, Hutcheson, and Luke. Subsequently the Mayor, with the consent of the council, moved: "That the 'City Solicitor be instructed to at once, prepare a Bill for presentation to the "present session of Parliament empowering the City Council to give effect to what is known as the major scheme of improvement to the Basin Reserve, arjd that the Legislation Committee be tiguested to co-operate to give effect to the resolution." This was seconded, and, after brief discussion, was carried unanimously.