THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 3342, 5 November 1873, Page 2

THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT.

This morning, a deputation from the City Council, consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Walter, Burt, and Woodland, waited upon the Superintendent, and brought under his notice several matters which were dealt with at the last meeting of the Council. The first subject touched upon was the FIRE IiiaOA.DE STATION SITE. The Mayor said a deputation had waited on him, and urged the desirability of the ground being kept open when the Fire Brigade Station was removed from its present site. The Council thought if it were built upon, traffic in a very busy part of the City would be much impeded. His Honor ; I was looking at it the other day, jest to see how it would be if a building were nut there, Ido not think it would affect traffic so much as you suppose. The street is 14 chains wide, and it is surrounded by streets on three sides, two of them being a chain wide. However, the matter has not been decided yet, and I will lay >our views before the Executive. If we were selling the land it would realise a few thousands. With regard to the removal of the station, 1 am expecting the Hon. Mr Richardson here in a day or turn, and when in Wellington I spoke about getting the vacant piece near the Cus-tom-house for the Fire Brigade station. I don’t think there would be much difficulty in getting it temporarily if it is considered desirable. WiDENINC OF CUMBERLAND STREET. The Mayor explained that the second object of their visit was to arrive at an understanding about the negotiations with the Church trustees as to the Cumberland street extension. The Council wished to know did thp Government intend to give to the Church the slip of laud referred to in the factor’s letter, or was it expected the Corporation was to pay for the land given up ? His Honor replied in tho negative to the second part of the question. The Council was simply asked to conduct the negotiations with the Church trustees, as they could deal with them more favorably than the Government. The Church asked for a quid pi o quo for the land they gave up, but Government were not disposed to give more than it had already agreed to do. He thought it a pity that a public body should take up such a position after the Government and the Corporation had relinquished their land for nothing. WIDENING OF PRINCES STREET RESERVE. The Mayor next referred to the letter from the Government, under date October 14, re land at the back of Princes street reserve. The Town Clerk’s letter, to which that of the Government was a reply, stated the matter very clearly, and the Council wished to know if the Government were satisfied with the explanation. Some time since au intimation was made to the Council that the Government would not consent to any lease being issued until the matter had been arranged. The Town Clerk stated that the land had been already conveyed to the Corporation. His Honor was understood to say that there was some error on that point, and the Government had decided not to consent to issue any leases until the matter was cleared up. He had no objection to make the reserve if it was assumed that the intention to widen Princes street was abandoned. The Mayor said, on the contrary, the Council was anxious tp carry thpt intention into effect. His Honor : I understand the position of it now—the Superintendent has declined to sign the leases until this is settled. I think the best plan will be to leave the question in abeyance until the question of widening the street is decided, and to issue the leases, which is all you want in the meantime. (Jr. Walter mentioned that the Council had suggested that the Church property tenants should go to arbitration; and if that were agreed to then? would be no difficulty in the way of widening the street. His Honor said that' as flic matter Lpd hitherto been the result of Executive action, he would lay it before the Executive. Personally lie had no objection to signing the leases, but the Government would still have power to refuse their assent to leasing this particular portion until the street line was settled. It was pointed out tliht tho Council had already agreed to give leases. His Honor: Oh,, I see. Then by issuing the leases the Government abandon all claims in respect to this block. Well, I cannot say whether you will obtain that, but 1 will submit the matter to the Executive.

WIDENING of princes street. ihe Mayor mentioned the action taken by the Council, and asked if the Government were disposed to assist ?

His Honor said there was little chance of the Corporation getting an advance of money. In the first place, there was no vote foi the purpose, and he questioned very much whether the Provincial Council would grant one. At one time a previous Gsvernment seemed disposed to contribute to the work. He lecoliected getting a valuation made, but the price was so much beyond what they could look at, that the thing was abandoned. L 17,000 was the sum then required. the Town Clerk said the valuation now came to about Ll 0,000. His Honor; There is no doubt about the importance or desirability of the work, if it could be managed, but there is very little chance of the Government giving any money towards it. It was incidentally mentioned that to carry out the work, the borrowing powers of the Council would have to be increased, and application made to the Assembly to give it that power ; also to arbitrate. His Honor said the Provincial Council could extend the Corporation borrowing power, but the Assembly would have to be applied to for power to compel the tenants to go to arbitration. A FOURTH SCHOOL. His Honor asked if anything had been done towards obtaining a site ? The Mayor replied that the City Solicitor’s opinion had been asked as to the power of the Council to grant a part of the reserve for the purpose. His Honor differed from the Council as to the object for which the reserves were set apart. No man was better acquainted with them, for the Corporation was indebted to no one to the same extent as to him for them. It was entirely through him that they were reserved from sale nearly twenty years ago, when he himself could have purchased the whole of the laud for L 25, if he had been so disposed. Or. Burt said the Council, as a body, was disposed to grant a site, but it was a question whether they had the power to do so. Be did not think they had. Mention was made by his Honor of a site on the Wharves and Quays Reserve, at the foot of Albany street; but the deputation was of opinion it was too far down. The Mayor said the School Committee had expressed themselves satisfied with two Corporation sections at the corner of Moray place and King street. The deputation then withdrew.