THE WHARVES AND QUAYS RESERVES.

Evening Star, Issue 4241, 29 September 1876, Page 2

THE WHARVES AND QUAYS RESERVES.

After a hard fight Mr Eeid managed to get the Dunedin Wharves and Quays Eeserv.es Bill passed with his alterations, which p ace the control of the reserves in the hands of the Harbor Board. Messrs Reynolds, Pyke, and Hislop strenuously opposed tho alterations; but there was a large majority against them.

I rom the «Dail r Times'' telegrams we learn that on the second reading of the Bill being called on no one roso to move it. At last Mr Eeid stood up and said he uudaratood the Hon. Mr Reynolds was in charge of the Bill, but as Mr Reynolds did not seem disposed to go on with it he would willingly take charge of at. The Bill, ho said, was one to divert certain reserves from their original purpose, which was for the benefit of the whole Province, and to baud them over to the City of Dunedin in perpetuity. At this point, Mr Reynolds, seeing that Mrßeid was real'y speakiug strongly against the Bill, rose io object to his going on with it, and he moved that the second reading be postponed for a week. Several members objected to this, and tho proposal was negatived. Mr Eeid said ho was quite lulling to givo way to Mr Reynolds if the latter would move tho second reading. As Mr Reynolds would not, however, Mr Reid went to move the second reading, which he did iu a speech strongly opposed to handing the reserves over to the Corporation, nnd homtimatedhis intention of moving in Committee amendments which would veat the reswrves in the Harbor Board, Mr Pyke said nothing more dishonest than Mr Reid's action in reg rd (o the Bill could be conoeived. He said the Harbor Board was a close Corporation with an enormous estate, but still disposed to grasp «vU i* could pet. It was yet a moot poiat whether the Board would prpye a curse or a blessing to Dunedin.

The Bill would have been in chartre of Mr Stout, if that l'cm. gentleman had been iu Wellingtou. Ms Keynolds fousrbt very strongly for it; and in a telegram to the Mayor he says an unjust combination waa forjyed against it, and he Dromises to the citizens thereupon ou bio" return to Dunedin. The majority against the original Bill was 3ii. We brieve that, less tliau two years ago, the Harbor Hoard wero winjug to mako a compromise with the City Council, which would have Iprl $o tha Oily receiving some future beuelit fr>>ui the reserve: tut theory of tie majority of the' Council was J, the whole reserve or nothing.*' The result is that the Harbor Board will receive au immediate addition to }fs revenue of close upon L&00 a-year.