WIDENING OF PRINCES STREET SOUTH.
To the Editor.
Sir, —It appears I was slightly wrong in the statement I made the other day through your columns with reference to the arrangement between the Government and the Corporation for the widening of Princes street south. About four years ago the Corporation did enter into an agreement with the Provincial Government to widen that street, and, in consideration of the Corporation doing so, the lands I referred to were to be givento them. Well, these lands were shortly after conveyed by the Government to the Corporation upon the understanding that the street should be forthwith widened. Mr Fish, who to all appearances is the prime mover in this matter, now savs the Corporation is not bound to widen the street, because there was no written agreement with the Government to that effect. Although there may be nothing in writing, still the Corporation is in equity bound to carry it out. lo meet this difficulty, however, some of the members of the City Council say—“ Let us pay for the land then.” Now, even supposing the Corporation does pay for this land, it has failed to carry out the agreement which it is morally bound to do. But probably Municipal Corporations, like Mr Dick’s joint stock companies, “ have no consciences” ; and in that event there will be no moral obligation on the part of the Corporation to carrv out th.ir agreement. At the time the agreement was ma le with the Government, the rtreeb proposed to be widened could have bee r done at a cost of at least one-fifth of what it would cost now. At that time buildings were worth one-half their present value, and several new brick and stone ones have been erected in the interval, which will greativ increase the cost of carrying out the undertaking. It is almost needless for me to say that Mr Fish was Mayor of the City at the time of this agreement, aud that this matter has been totally mismanaged,—l am, &c , _ C. R. Chapman', Dunedin, August 3.
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Evening Star, Issue 3573, 5 August 1874, Page 3
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345WIDENING OF PRINCES STREET SOUTH. Evening Star, Issue 3573, 5 August 1874, Page 3
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