THE WIDENING OF PRINCES

Evening Star, Issue 3568, 30 July 1874, Page 2

THE WIDENING OF PRINCES

STREET.

A special meeting of the City Council, with reference to the proposed widening of Princes street, was held at the Corporation offices yesterday ; present—the Mayor (in the chair) and Councillors Walter, Prosser, Reeves, Burt, Beck, and Woodland. The following memorial was read : Dunedin, July 29, 1871, To his Worship the Mayor and Members of the City Council. Gentlemen.—We, the undersigned ratepayers of the City of Dunedin, haviue heard that a special meeting of the City Council is to be held this morning, for the purpose of considering and ratifying the agreement relative to widening Princes street south, and also to order the deed to be executed, beg most respectfully to suggest that the final consideration of this matter should be deferred until the new Council is elected, which event will occur in three days from now, for the following reasons Ist. That there is a strong feeling existing in the minds of the citizens against the expenditure of money on the proposed work, 2nd. That if the woik is to be done at all, it should be proceeded with forthwith. 3rd. That through the delay thathas already taken place, and the doubt and uncertainty prevailing as to whether the work will ever be executed, building operations m the locality have been, and will be in the future, entirely stayed, to the permanent injury of the south of the City. 4tb. That it is believed the proposed agreement will inflict a grievous wrong upon those ratepayers whose properties are situated on this lino of street sth. That no possible injury to the Corporation cun ensue by allowing the matter to stand over for a few days, so that it may be debated by a full Council.

For these reasons your petitioners earnestly hope you will accede to their prayer Edmond, Korsytb, and M'Neil, H. Bielfeld James Winter, Joseph Parra, D. M. Sbeddin* Margaret Martin, Guthrie and Larnach, pro C.’ M. H., Anderson and Mowat, George Adams R. and T. Haworth, D. H. Miller, H. S. Fish jun. ’

The Mayor said that the meeting bad been called to hear the opinion of the solicitors, as the Church Trustees were very anxious to have the matter settled. The Town Clerk iniormed him that the Solicitors were just then preparing the draft agreement, as it had been necessary to alter it. Perhaps those present would prefer to accede to the prayer of the memorial, and leave the matter over until the next meeting, when the new Councillors would be in their places. Cr. Walter said that he had not the slightest desire to go against a petition such as the one that bad just been presented. At the same time, he would say that oue-half the persons whose names were signed to the pc-titilum were quite well aware when they purchased their property or leased it from the Corporation, that the street was to be widened. The Corporation had now gone so far that he did not see any way out of the difficulty, Cr. Beck thought that as the new members of toe Council were to he elected on -aturday next, they shouldpo tponethe consideration of this important question. The ui abitants generally were agai. so the. expenditure of money ou tue work, when it should be spent on the improvement of the streets.

Cr. Burt said that from what he understood, unless the widening of Princes street were carried out the Government were not

prepared to give tlie Corporation a title for the reserves la Princes street south. If they were to go on with the work, let it be done at once.

Mr Reeves said that, to bring the question to an issue, he would move—“ That this matter be de erred until the next meeting of the City Council.” From the first moment he understood this matter he had opposed it as a waste of money, while so many necessary works required to be done. At the time it was deoi led to widen Princes street, the street was blocked with waggons and the traffic was very great, but now this was not the case, as the railway had been opened and there was an excellent street within a short distance of it. Cr. Woodland said that he had much pleasure in seconding Mr Reeves’s motion, as he bad always opposed this work. Mr Smith, the Corporation Solicitor, said the Superintendent declined to grant a title for a portion of the reserve, and Mr Stout had informed him that the Government would not grant a title until a contract for widening the street had been entered into.

Cr. Burt said that this was clearly one of the conditions to be fulfilled with the Government. Princes street would be the main street of Dunedin, and if the City went ahead at the same rate it had progressed during the last twelve years, he had no doubt that Princes street would have to be widened as far as the Octagon. Cr. Walter considered the arguments that had been used by Messrs Reeves and Woodland very weak in substance. The Corporation should keep faith with the Government. He would oppose the motion. Cr. Prosser said it was now some six mouths since the matter was under discussion ; and surely there was time for it to have been settled.

.The Mayor said there had been some slight difference of opinion on the park of the solicitors. The Corporation solicitor tried to protect the Corporation interest, and the Church Trustees’ solicitor tried to protect that of the Church Trustees. Mr Pros er said that to decide the matter at the present time would look like undue haste, and he thonght it might be sub’ mitted to the deliberation of the new Council.

After more discussion, the motion was put. an( l carried, Mr Walter alone voting against it.