SUBURBAN SUBDIVISIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 517, 13 November 1912, Page 5

SUBURBAN SUBDIVISIONS.

TAKING OVER THE ROADS. ACTION OF BOROUGH COUNCIL. STRONG, REMARKS BY SOLICITOR. For some time past an application has been before the Te Kuiti Borough Council in respect to the taking oveof the roads on a subdivision of Mr R. H. Travers on the Eastern side of the river. It appears that the top road has been metalled, while the bottom road has been formed, but is not yet metalled. Some time ago it was decided by the council that in order to inflict no hardship on Mr Travers, who was anxious to transfer some of the sections to purchasers, the Council would take over the roads if Mr Travers would deposit his cheque or enter into a bond to metal the road when called upjn. This was deemed fair and reasonable, inasmuch as Mr Travers was prepared to metal the road at any time, but was induced to hold the work back, as the carting would cut up the borough roads. At Monday evening's meeting, Mr Finlay waited on the Council on behalf of Mr Travers, with the request that the bond be accepted and the roads taken over.

An opinion was read from the Borough solicitor advising against the taking over of any unformed road. Cr Julian said that Mr Travera was given to understand the roads would be taken over. The speaker and Cr Lusk had been appointed to deal with the matter. Subsequently the same performance Was repeated by the Council. The man was led on and given every assurance by the Council that the roads would be take over aa suggested, He considered the Council should carry out its agreement. If the agreement had not been made he did not think he would have supported it at the present time. Cr Somerville said, it was certainly agreed by'the Council to carry out the course suggested. It might not be quite regular, but there was no harm being done to the Council or ratepayers, and as the Council was com;mitted in the matter, he felt they should carry it into effect. Cr Walsh said he knew nothing of the merits or demerits of the case, but he did not think the Council should do anything irregular. The fact that the Council had committed itself irregularly should not weigh with the prseent Council. Mr Finlay explained that nothing irregular was intended, and the Council could look forward to finding it advisable to make similar arrangement in many other instances. At Hamilton during the last six months no less than 17 cases had been simiwith. At last meeting of the Taumarunui Council four similar applications had been arranged. It was entirely to the advantage of the borough to help sub-division, and increase the improvements. As a matter of fact it was at the request of the Council that the road in question had not been metalled long ago, as the carting would have cut up the Mangaorino road. Mr Travers was prepared to metal at any time. As to the opinion of the Borough solicitor against the Council taking over an unformed road the opinion missed the point as the road in question had been formed and the metalling had been delayed to meet the wishes of the Council. He merely wanted the Coun • cil to carry out its promise. If that was not done they were not worthy of the position of councillors. The matter had been before, the Council for eight months and he was heartily sick of it.

The Mayor stated there was no desire to prejudice Mr Travers in the matter. Mr Finlay said that the quibbling with such things was wrong. The Council had dealt with the matter in a silly, ridiculous, effeminate manner. The Mayor said Mr Finlay should withdraw such expressions. There was no cause for them, and he declined to listen further. Cr Somerville suggested that as the road was tu be metalled the best way to arrange the matter was for the Council to get the engineer to estimate the cost of the work, and accept Mr Travers' cheque for the amount. The Council could then take over the roads. Mr Finlay intimated that such a course would be acceptable to his client, who wished to be in a position to give titles to purchasers as soon as possible. The borough solicitor was waiting with a writ against Mr Travers for non-fulfilment of contract in one hand, and advising the Council to adopt a course which would prevent the contract being fulfilled. On the motion of Cr Julian, seconded by Cr Somerville, it was decided to accept Mr Travers' cheque and take over the roads.