New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5107, 6 August 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 1877.

The importance of the Te Aro reclamation scheme will excuse.us in.reverting, to the subject. In the interests of all, it is advisable that civic bodies should be placed in a flourishing .financial condition, and it is satisfactory to think that this object can be obtained in Wellington without overtaxing thepeople. Attention has been directed in the old country to local bodies carrying on works at a profit, and lately Mr. C. Chamberlain, Mayor of Birmingham, said that it was hoped by the Corporation of that town undertaking the supply of, water, ;gas, and other works of a reproductive character, to do away in a great measure with direct local taxation. It is to be feared that many years will elapse before Such a consummation takes place in this city, there being so much improvement; to be effected in a new country. Still a good deal may be done to lighten, the burden by the intelligent action of the City .Council; backed by the opinion: of, the ratepayers. It is open to question whether such; works .as water and gas supply be net better left to private enterprise ; but' there can be no hesitation in asserting that the work of reclaiming the harbor, thereby increasing the area of the city, is one which properly belongs to the public body.- The subject- now resolves itself into—Will the work pay, has the time■ arrived for. carrying, it out, and will it be conducive to the beauty .and favorable to the maritime and commercial interests of this city? Those who will answer J any one of the above questions in the negative at the polling booth will find it-a difficult matter to show adequate grounds for their votes. Let no paltry fear of a 'tax stand in the way of citizens recording their votes on the side of progress, for if such a tax is necessary during the time the work is in course of construction, no; matter when, the reclamation takes place, ratepayers will stand in the same position, and a tax will have to.be incurred, and that perhaps at a time when the people of Wellington may be less able to bear taxation than at present. It should also be borne in mind that almost every fraction of the capital sum will be spent in the . city, and the gain from such' an expenditure will surely more than counterbalance any tax that may- be levied to pay , interest for a year or so. Ah attempt was made at the recent meeting to instruct the City Council how far and in what manner the relamation should be carried out. Of course this much concerns ratepayers, but it can scarcely be expected that the mass of the citizens are possessed of sufficient information on the subject to ex-, press an opinion.. In this case , there is no necessity for such action oh the part of the people, for it may be relied upon, as there are so many interests involved, that the City .Council will have competent advice before bringing the scheme into execution. For instance, it is highlydesirable - that every . facility should be afforded for extending the railway to Te Aro, which would not only be a great,; convenience:; to the. residents of that part of the city, but would largely increase the revenue derived from tho railway. Nature l has endowed Wellington with a splendid harbor, but she has not been lavish ip bestowing,building ground'round that portion : best adapted for maritime purposes, and if the town were to possess a centre to which the various arteries of communication would tend, it is obvious that a portion of the hills would have; to be levelled into tho harbor. And here let us remark that in the shallowness of a portion of the Water: and the close proximity of high lands, nature has given man easy facilities to make room for himself. In most cases where hills fringe the sea the water is deep; but'. Port Nicholson differs, from other places in this respect. Though the- grdiind • in many .places, rises abruptly, -the . harbor for some distance out is comparatively shallow, but beyond a certain point it, deepens rapidly. “ Under these circumstances it was obvious that as the city .advanced in trade and .population reclamation would have to be undertaken. Much has already been done, and in furtherance of this object the City Council is about to accomplish a large work if it be the will of the majority of citizens. It has been the boast of corporations and public-spirited men in tho Homo country and America that they have added suburbs

to cities, but the burgesses of,Wellington, by a progressive and enlightened vote given to-day, will be conferring upon themselves a larger boon—they will be adding several streets to the centre of th'e.'city, which no doubt ere long will be filled with stately edifices. We trust the ratepayers will be almost unanimous in their decision, for in an important matter like this should complications arise it would be well for the -corporate body to have at its back the hearty approval of citizens.