DEPUTATION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4137, 24 June 1874, Page 2

DEPUTATION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.

A deputation from the City Council, consisting of His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Dransfield, McKirdy, Greenfield, and Eaiuie, waited upon His Honor the Superintendent yesterday morning to urge upon the Provincial Executive the advisability of furthering the interests of the City and port by the construction of a dry dock in, connection with the To Aro foreshore reclamation works, and also to obtain the sanction of the Government to the erection of a platform along the breastwork for the purpose of increasing the wharfage accommodation of the port. His Worship the Mayor having read the resolutions passed at the special meeting of the City Council, the subjects embraced were discussed in an exhaustive manner. His Honor said in reply, that, anticipating the nature of the representation of the deputation in reference to the dry dock, the Executive had held a meeting, at which the opinion prevailed that before the subject could ho approached in anything like a business-like way the deputation and the Government should have before them a wellconsidered report as to the best site or sites in the harbor for a dock. If the object of

the deputation was simply to secure the construction of a dry dock in connection with the proposed reclamation works at Te Aro it could not he expected that the Government would lend their aid to such a scheme. The Government were bound to have a careful regard for the interests of the general body of the citizens, which duty they would carry out fairly and justly to the best of their ability by obtaining professional advice as to which would be the best site for the whole harbor. If the deputation concurred in the view that the common good should be consulted by the selection of the best site, the first step to be taken would be to obtain a properly prepared report upon the subject from practical men. Tie deputation having expressed their agreement with His Honor, it was understood that steps should be immediately taken by the Provincial Government to obtain such a report, upon the completion of which tlie deputation and the Provincial Executive should again confer and, in the event of their agreement as to the suitability of any one site suggested, the next step would be to obtain an accurate professional estimate as to the cost of constructing the dock. It was considered premature to discuss the question as to who should bear the ultimate cost, but His Honor carefully guarded himself against any acknowledgment on the part of the Provincial Government of their liability to construct the dock at the cost of the Province. In reference to increased wharf accommodation, the Superintendent said the Government fully recognised the importance of increased wharf accommodation, but having regard to the valuable estate conceded to the Corporation without cost, and the excellent bargain they had made in the purchase of the reclaimed land and wharf, it could not be expected that the Government, without forgetting their duty to the rest of the Province, should make any further concession. If the Council required a larger grant of laud they must be prepared to pay a reasonable sum for it. The deputation asked whether the Government would make inquiry as to what would be a reasonable sum for the land wanted, to which His Honor gave an affirmative reply, and at the same time expressed a hope that in all these matters there would be a unanimity of effort which would be productive of the best results to both sides. The deputation cordially endorsed this view, and, having thanked His Honor for his courtesy, withdrew.