UNDEDICATED STREETS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 730, 16 December 1914, Page 4

UNDEDICATED STREETS.

POSITION OP TE KUITI 2 B,

DISCUSSED IN BOROUGH

COUNCIL,

Tiio position of certain streets in that portion of the borough known as Te Kuiti 2 B has been unsatisfactory ever since that block cf land waa subdivided, from the fact that no provision was made by the native owners to j form and metal the Mtreots in order 4 for thum to bo taken over by the borough.

The taatter vvus brought up at the Borough Council meeting on Monday evening when Cr Elliott moved the adoption of the following motion of which notice hud been given:—

"That thts Council instruct the Borongh Solicitor to take the sary steps for the immediate legalisation of Errul and other streets in a similar poßitirn in the Te Kuiti 2 B JA subdivision." In proposing the motion Cr Elliott ' said he was deeply conscious of the fact that a great principla was involved. He was also conscious that the ™ holders of the sections were aIBO -Buffering injustice. He did not know how the se'ctioiia were sold to the preeent European holders, but the position was that tho section holders were unable to build in concequence of the streets not having been dedicated. Cs Martin seconded tho motion pro forma, and in explaining the position, said if the motion was carried the Council would have to form and metal four streets. Some of the Europflana had got their titles; some 51 had not. To thtiflo there was a particular hardship. The council was being asked to adjust a matter between private people and accept a responsibility which really belonged to the owners. Some of the owners had been able to get titles-under the Native Land Act, and so dodge the provisions of the Punlic Works Act, but the onus of tho slreet dedication really fv 11 on the ownerß. He would suggest the native owners should be informed th« Council was willing to meet them if they did a certain amount. The natives would receive a considerable benefit f rom anything which was done.

Cr Somerville said he agreed it was for tho people to work out their own. salvation. Some of the Europeans had been exploited, anil he was afraid they would have to pay the piper. There was no reason why the general taxpayer should be called upon to pay for roading the sections. He thought tho only way was to have thß work done by special loanß. Cr M. J. Jones agreed with Cr Somerville. Cr Howarth said there were only two streets affected. He was inclined 'to agree with the mover though with reluctance. The matte was at a deadlock and he thought the only way to get anything done was by the Council taking the responsiuili Cr iMostyn Jones said he thought the bpst way was to include tho . whole thing in n special rating loan ""T" , for the purpose of putting the Btreets right and of putting a bridge over the river at the end of Sheridan street. Ho though this method would be welcomed by the people affected.

The Mayor said the Council was aB much in the dark as over. It seemed impossible to him that the Council could adopt the motion. They would be going outside the functions of the Council to adjust a matter between private ownerß of land. It was for the people themselves to take the initiative and place a proposition before the council. They would then probably be justified in going somo distance to meet the people. The Council would certainly not be justiiied in instructing the Council's solicitor to spend ratepayers' money in doing private people's work. Cr Elliott, in reply, said he' had proposed the motion for the purpose of having tho matter discussed and the position disclosed. The motion on being put was lost, only the mover voting for it.