THE GLENBERVIE CUTTING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5014, 19 April 1877, Page 2

THE GLENBERVIE CUTTING.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES, Sir, —Agood dealhaslately been written aboul the proposed junction between Sydney-streel and the Tinakori-road by way of Glenbervieterrace. In order to serve political purposes it was made to appear by one journalist as il some mighty wrong in connection with the matter had been perpetrated by his Worship the Mayor, and, to justify personal animosity, a similar charge was made against him in another quarter. Under these circumstances it may be as well to place the public in possession of the real facts in connection with the work and its origin. The Public Works Committee of the City Council recommended in their report that tenders should be called for this work. They were called for accordingly, and the lowest tender accepted, the votes being—For: Councillors George, Greenfield, Eaiuie, Cleland, and the Mayor. Against : Councillors Allen and Mills, Councillor George Allen protesting on the ground that the amount, £1534, was excessive and extravagant ; that the work was unnecessary, and that the ratepayers were opposed to it. A meeting of ratepayers residing in the neighborhood had been called in Gillespie’s Shepherds Arms Hotel, Tinakoriroad. Councillors Cleland and Raiuie attended, but did not speak, not having been called upon to do so. The meeting resolved to apply to the surveyor for information, which was given to them, and another meeting was called, at which Councillor Eaiuie did not attend, and at which it was unanimously resolved to petition the Council to proceed with the formation of the street as laid down on the plan of the town, and not by the lane which is now the only passage for horses and foot passengers from Sydney-street to Tinakori-road. This lane is impassable for carts, and if the street were made on that line it would involve the buying up of several properties on either side of the lane at an expense of double the above-named sum, including, of course, the formation of the street. This petition, signed by fifty-three persons, was presented to the City Council, and formed the ground on which they decided to accept the tender at their meeting on 29th March. The opponents of the measure, headed by some journalists as fuglemen, immediately commenced a howl of disapprobation, accusing the members of the ward, Councillors Rainie and Cleland, of getting the resolution passed to improve their own property; that there was a ring in the Council, and that all sorts of wrong-doing existed. Mr. Gillespie and others who had property on each side of the lane, headed by the other member for the ward, Mr. George Allen, got up meetings on the other side of the question, at one of which

m Maginnity’s Royal Hotel, all the three Councillors for the ward attended, and gave their views, {rule the reports of said meeting in the Post and Argus), They passed a resolution condemning the measure by a majority of 26 to 21, and Councillor Allen has ever since been running about the ward getting signatures to a petition requesting the Council to rescind their resolution. This was laid on the table at last meeting of Council on the 12th inst. Councillor Allen, however, postponed his motion for rescinding the resolution, on account of the absence of his seconder, Councillor Mills, although Councillor George, who had previously voted for the resolution, offered to second the motion to rescind it. It will he decided on the 26th inst., at the meeting of the Council on that date, and from all present appearances the rescinding of the motion will be carried. Thus the matter stands at present. The arguments against the formation of the street have already been given ; those in favor of it are as follows : The present lane is steep and narrow. Mr. Brown (or his representative) who was the owner of one of the two sections through which the lane passes, offered the Provincial Council, long before it was built upon, a road through it of the full width of three-fourths of a chain for .£SO, but so little did they care for the interests of the town that they refused it, and instead of going over the saddle where it was originally intended to go, the proposed road is now far up the hill; hence the high cost. The width of the lane is in one part not more than 5 or 6 feet; but the numbers of passengers who use it are daily on the increase. Carriages and carts must go half a mile round by Hill-street, up which a wellladen cab, express, or cart cannot go without much difficulty, The steepness of the present lane is much complained of by females and weak people, and even workmen, coming home tired after a hard day’s work, complain of it. The opponents of the measure who occupy more than three-fourths of the ward, living for the most part north of Sydney-street, have no interest in the road whatever, but selfishly wish to prevent those who do use it from getting the benefit of it, on the ground that if so much is spent here less will he spent on the rest of the ward. This is a mistake, as it is a main thoroughfare leading to the south end of Tinakori-road, Lewisville, the suburb which is fast increasing on the native reserves opposite the Botanical Gardens, as well as the increasing population of Karori-Makara and Ohariu. Governors Grey, Ferguson, and Bowen and their families were always fond of this outlet from the town, as also the present Governor, as they can get out of town more quickly to the countryJn that direction than in any other. The road therefore is highly necessary to all the residents in the neighborhood, as well as to many in Lambton and Te Aro wards who have occasion to pass that way, and who do not like to go round by Hill-street when tired with a long walk. The main objection, however, is on the ground of expense ; but to this it can be answered that the Council are iu a better financial position now than they ever have been before. But it is needless to pursue the subject further. If those who have no interest in the improvement of a particular part of the town are to decide against those who have, then there will be an end to all improvements, because the latter will alwaysjbe in the minority from the very nature of the case. For example, great improvements have been made in Courtenay-plaqe, but the majority of the inhabitants of the ward do not pass that way, and might object. They have not, however. Much money has been spent on Wellingtonterrace. The residents in Lambton-quay and the rest of the ward might object and petition against it. They form a great majority. To Thorndonward and Councillor G. Allen belongs the distinction of making the first move in this direction, by setting one part—the greater part —of the residents of the ward against the other.—l am, &c., Ratepayer.