New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5103, 1 August 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1877.

The burgesses of Wellington will be called upon on Monday next to decide whether or not it is advisable to carry out the proposed scheme of reclamation at the Te Aro end of the city. We must confess to a feeling of surprise that there should be any opposition to the scheme. The project commends itself upon the strongest of all considerations in undertakings of this nature—namely, that it will be remunerative. There can no doubt upon this point. The city will not be taking a leap in the dark, for the experience of the past is a tolerably sure guide for the future. Already one scheme of reclamation has been fully carried out. When the Lambton project was first mooted it met with a far larger - amount of opposition than is likely to be encountered by the scheme now under consideration. However, the result has been such as to fulfil the most sanguine anticipations of its promoters, and the work remains a solid record of the foresight of Mr. Dkansfibid and others who were earnest in its advocacy. A considerable profit was and is accruing to the Corporation ; in fact, it is regarded on all sides as a valuable city endowment. And since the sections . of the reclaimed land were leased property has advanced enormouslyin value in Wellington. Were the Corporation to decide to wipe off the present debt on the reclamation, it could do so by parting with only a comparatively small portion of'the land; and Avere the leases now in the market, the rental of a few years would pay the entire cost of the work. Of course, the Council have no power to do any such thing, and the latter remark is only an assumption ; but it is one the truth of which Avill be apparent to anyone who has a fair idea of the value of property in this city. Now, as to the Thorndon reclamation. A good idea may be formed as to whether or not it will be a profitable speculation from data furnished by events which have taken place since the work was let by contract. It will be remembered that the scheme was projected by the late Provincial Government, and that some two years ago the City Council entered in an arrangement with the Provincial Executive for the .purchase of the land, the Corporation agreeing to give theprovince a considerable bonus, besides paying all charges. Outside the Council there was a feeling of opposition by a considerable portion of the ratepayers to the purchase; but that feeling did not find' much vent. The Press for once held its peace on mat-; ters municipal, doubtless thinking it better to let: well alone. An effort was made in the City Council to have the arrangement upsetj but the attempt failed, and very properly so, as it would have been a breach of faith. . However, the opposition to the purchase did not arise from any opinion ihat the bargain would not turn out a profitable one for the Corporation. This is how it arose. The knell of Provincial Governments had already been sounded, and-the time was drawing nigh when the Wellington Provincial Government would be a thing of the past. Then, it was not unnaturally thought that the land -would become the property of the Corporation, of course upon the city undertaking the entire charges for the. reclamation. The, oppositionists were in part gratified. „ What the City Council would not do as a gross breach of faith, one branch of the Legislature did as a matter of policy, and the Bill empowering the civic body to fulfil the terms of the purchase did not receive the sanction of Parliament. Those who secured the rejection of the Bill Avere no doubt well intentioned to the city. However, they, as well as the opponents of the purchase outside, were too wise in their generation. The Provincial Government of Wellington passed away, and the matter fell into the hands of the General Government. The City Council offered to take the burden off the shoulders of the Central Administration and pay all charges, but Ministers coolly replied that they regarded the reclamation as “ a valuable provincial asset.” This will show the value set upon the land by Ministers—very, independent testimony indeed. Now, with regard to the proposed reclamation at Te Are, there can be no reasonable doubt that it Avill bo equally as good a speculation as the Thorndon one ; and we think it will not be overshooting the mark to say that it will turn out fully as profitable as the Lambton reclamation. This may not be apparent at a first glance, but it will become quite palpable when a view is taken, bf the relative value, of property at the time the leases were disposed of and the value of property say, along Manners - street and Courtenay - place, at the present time. The question will be asked, Is the land immediately ■ required 1 It may not be a pressing necessity, as Wellington is not yet cramped for building space. But there is no doubt that before long the land will be much needed; and there are very weighty reasons for immediately carrying out the scheme. The reclamation will be a remunerative speculation from the first day of its completion ; it will also be a direct commercial convenience and a vast improvement to the appearance of the city. The last is not the least of the considerations, for it behoves Wellington, as the capital i of the colony, to' present a respectable appearance. The present aspect of the Te Aro foreshore is .anything but inviting.. It has been said that by reclaiming part of the harbor at Te Aro, the Corporation will be depreciating the value of the Thorndon reclamation by throwing so much land into the market at one time. Even if there were truth in this argument, it should not weigh much with the City

Council, for the simple reason that the Thorndon reclamation is not the property of the Corporation. However, ~no one desires-such an effect, for it would be . a sorry gratification to, the citizens of .Wellirigton if byian ; act of theirs jany portjqn of, the property of the country should be depreciated in value. But experience has proved the'fallacy of’this argument—and more especially experience in this city has shown it to be unsound. The Lambton reclamation has certainly not lowered the value of property along the old line of the foreshore ; it has rather enhanced it. The same .might be said of property in Thorndon, although a considerable amount of land will be thrown into the market when Mr. O’Malley completes his contract. Those who are frightened that a tax may be levied for interest during the time the work is going on, have the Mayor’s opinion that it is probable such a tax may not be raised. Of course the Mayor, from his position, has more data for his opinions than those outside the Council; nevertheless we are inclined to the belief that the event of such a tax is more than likely. Should the necessity really arise, it is to be hoped the Council will have no hesitation in imposing it; let there be no wriggling in the matter, or shifting of accounts. The opposition that the scheme will meet on this score is not worth taking into consideration. The men who will not expend one shilling to make two are incapable of being convinced by any argument. Happily they are so numerically weak in colonial communities that the influence they exorcise on the course of events is absolutely nil.