HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4050, 18 February 1876, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

At yesterday’s meeting the following report by the' engineer in reference to a siding to the gasworks was read; — ■ , Gespecting a resolution of the Board that X should report upon a proposal made by the City Corporation to construct a branch railway from the mainline to the Gas Works, I presume that it is the intention to take it through the Board's property. . • I have prepared a tracing of the Dunedin and Peninsula Ocean Beach Gauwav relatively to the Anderson’s Bay Goad—the Board's boundary in that direction—as lam given te understand that the Corporation desires to take advantage of the embankment already formed of this line as fax as they can utilize it. Believing, therefore, that what the Board requires of me is to advise as to whether or not the, arrangement will prejudicially interfere with its interests, I have to express my opinion that it will not, as it will he apparent that the strip of land, varying in width from $ to 2 chains lying between the D. P. and O. B. Line and the road, will be of more Value on account of its double frontage than were this line made to skirt the road. The same holds good in respect of the extension of the railway beyond the Corporation's proposed sub-branch; and I may advance tide additional reason in support of the present course in preference to that of one coursing closer to it, or skirting the rood—that the more the line is taken centrally through that part of the Board's property proposed to be devoted to foundries, iron works, sc. the better it will suit the fntnre lessees of the ground, and as a consequence it is reasonable to assume that there will be a proportionate increase in the value of the rentals.

There is also this other view of the question, viz., that the railway embankmest having been formed, and there remaining little additional work to that of laying the permanent way in order to accomplish the Corporation requirements, an element of . consideration is suggested, which nothing short of absolute injury to the property of the Board can fairly cause to bo overlooked. (Signed). D. 8. Simpson, Engineer

Mr M'NbUi thought it would be bad policy to consent tc cut up the Board's property before they had decided what they wou'd do with this land, and when it was possible to carry the line through private pronerty. Mr Rbevxs said the Corporation only wanted a sidiog, which was quite a different thing from a branch railway. He moved, “ That the permission of the Board be given to the. .Corporation of Dunedin to construct a s ding to the gasworks through their property, subject to such terms and conditions as may be agreed Upon.” It was a great pity that members; of the Board should .be disinclined to displiy a little liberality by endeavoring to cony out their duties without injuring alarge body like the ratepayers of the City. ‘By constructing this siding over some ground at present unoccupied, ari l which was likely to' remain unoccupied for a number of years, the Corporation would bo hbloto (tfmo ivviog of about

L7OO or LBOO per annum. The permission could be in anyway thought neci ssary, and if it were desired to alter the posi tion of the line at any future time the Board would have power to do so, Mr Tdbnboll did not think the Board should tvke up the position of the dog inAhe manger. If they did so the whole be disgusted. They had here a Ujjllgngßimeat which they got oy a kind of riimwmjpiy the i force of circumstances, and he thoUgSlft was o'onstrous to refuse to give a few y|m|bf it for the railway. The Oorp< iratifmJwopro heedd to come to the Board, except asaSlnatter o* courtesy, because they could j.et what they wanted through the General Government. Mr M'Kinnon would be inclined to give the permission if the Corporation would agree to remove the line if it were ever found necessary to do so ing .he permission seeing if was to" be hedged round with safeguards, and that it would confer large public benefits. Mr Tewslet objected to the permission being giywrwith'undue’hastegsmd'dihoughirthemaTter ■ might at least be referred to -a committee. \ . The motion was earned', Messrs M Neil and 1 Tewsley only voting again-t it... , ; .The foUo wing letter from the Secretary of; the Penm-ula add Ocean. Beach Bailway Com- i pany was read:— 1 ‘ i lam instructed by py directors to ask your .opinion in reference to the proposed line of taihriiy. through the Harbour Board’s property adjoin-. ing the Anderson’s Bay road, which this; Company is arranging to construct to the Ocean Beach and ■ Portobello. In an interview the Directors had with the Hon. the Minister of Public Works a few days ago, that gentleman expressed his belief that it would be better +Vt the line should be removed from its present positfonto close alongside the Anderson’s Hay road, on the ground that it has been assumed that the alterationi ■ would be approved of by the Harbor Board and 1 the public. As it is believed that the Harbor Board will consider its property much more enhanced in value.il theproposed railway is retained in the position where it has already been partly ’ formed, lam directed, if such should be the case,to, ask if the Board will be good enough to state sodn' writing as this would no doubt tend to modify the Hon. Mr Richardson's opinion, and be the numnn of, saving the Company the loss of the cost it has already incurred on the present tine, whiohrVOß ; approved of and sanctioned by the Provincial Government. An early reply wul much oblige.—l • am, *c., >■; . ■, I ' - ... ' QkOBOS L. Asnxa. ' February 14th. ! After some discussion, Mr M 4 3Qnkor moved! —“ That in the opinion of the Harbor Boturd i the railway 1 line should be carried mar* the, Andei son’s Bay road, as recommended by the; Hon- Mr. Richardson.” This was met’byjtwo ’ amendments j the first by Mr Tob]todli£- % That, provided the line cannot be moved fur- • ! tber seaward, the Board is of opinion that its■ present position is preferable to movingdt! nearer the Antlers,nu Bay road-” and the! second by Mr Tewslbt—“ While admitting that the railway would be a great convenience ; to the lessees of the Board, the Board is net In; ■ a. position to exurt ss an opinion as to the direc-. tion in which the railway should run until the i street lines are more fully determined.** Mr Turnbull’s amendment was carried by the oast-! ing vote of the Chairman The voting was 1 — \ For: Nessra Reeves, Davie, Turnbull, and t(ie ■ Chairman (deliberative vote); * gainst: Messrs I Ritchie, M’Nei’. Tewsley, andM’Kinnon. The : voting on Mr TeWsleye amendment 1 was the same. The tender of Sparrow and Co. of L 7,657 for; the construction of an iron hull for the dredge ’ Ne .v Bra was accepted. „. { The Secretary' reprted that a person wAs desirous of t ddqg up L 5.000 worth of debentures, he could receive them in . London, he paying the. money into>the bank: here It was agreed to issue them as'pro-' poced. ■ ,