DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5131, 3 September 1877, Page 3

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

Councillors Allen and Greenfield, accompanied by Mr. Travers, the City Solicitor, waited upon the Minister for Public Works on Saturday, to lay before him the views of the Council in reference to the proposed land reclamation being carried up to the second T of the Queen’s wharf. Councillor Mills, who was one of the deputation appointed by the Council, was unavoidably absent through indisposition. Councillor Allen, addressing the Hon. Mr, Ormond, said that the attention of the Council had beenjdrawn to the matter by a proposal, emanating from the Chamber of Commerce, that the Government should carry out the reclamation to the second Tof the wharf. The Council did not at first suppose that any definite results would be arrived at without public discussion ; but they subequently heard that the Government had resolved to carry out the work, and were about to call for tenders. The City Council, as guardians and custodians of the wharf, considered it their duty to point out that if the reclamation were carried out to the second T, five berths now available for coasting steamers, and some' of them with water enough for vessels of 500 tons, would be taken away, and a portion of the work now under contract for, enlarging the wharf, and for which a large debt had been incurred, would be altogether useless. The Council considered that the rights and privileges acquired by their purchase of the wharf from the Provincial Government would be seriously infringed by the reclamation being carried out beyond the first T, and experts said the harbor would be injured if it were carried out to the second T.

The Hon. Mr. Ormond said it had been originally intended to construct a railway wharf, but the Government had abandoned this idea for the present. They found that until the lines were extended into the interior of the country the traffic would be very small. But they were desirous to connect the railway with the shipping, and should therefore recommend to Parliament to vote a sum of money for the purpose. At present the matter was not in a sufficiently advanced state for the Government to communicate with the City Council about it, but as soon as the House passed the vote required the Government would immediately communicate with the City Council, who had undoubtedly a large interest in the, matter, and consult with them as to what should be done. What the deputation told him of the Council desiring that the reclamation should not be carried beyond the first T materially altered the aspect of the affair. The expense of the undertaking would be j large; and although it was desirable to connect the railway with the shipping, it would not be advisable to expend a large sum in a mere temporary work, and the Government might at a future time build a railway wharf. The Government had made a calculation that if thelarger scheme of reclamation were carried out the sale of the land would fully recoup the outlay. It must also be taken into consideration that the strip of land in frqntylf the breastwork was not Grown granted. Mr. Travers said it had been granted to the late Provincial Government.

Mr. ORMOND said that was so, but the provincial property was now re vested in the Crown. It was a point which the Government had carefully considered. Mr. Travers said the Council were taken by surprise when they discovered after purchasing the wharf from the Provincial Government that the strip of land referred to was not included in the purchase. This had been carefully concealed until after the sale, and in his opinion this was not a nice or proper thing for the Provincial Government to have done, but suck was the case. Afterwards an arrangement was made between the Superintendent and Mr. Dranifield, who was then Mayor, for the purchase by the Corporation of this piece of land, but tins was all knocked on the head by Mr. Moorhouse when be was Mayor, as he considered that the laud would be granted to the Corporation by the Government. Councillors Greenfield said he was gratified at Mr. Ormond’s reply to the deputation. What the Council had been afraid of was that tenders would be called for and the work gone on with before the Council, who were deeply interested in the matter were consulted; but now they were assured by Mr. Ormond that such would not be the case.

In reply to Mr. Ormond, Councillor Greenfield said the Council had not passed any definite resolution on the subject. Councillor Allen pointed out that, the loss of the accommodation afforded by the present breastwork would be felt as a serious inconvenience.

Mr. Travers remarked that the Crown grant for the reclamation of the Te Aro foreshore extended to the south side of the first T; and if the Government reclamation were carried to the north side of it, the railway could run over it, and then be carried over the Te Aro reclamation, which would be a great convenience.

The deputation having thanked Mr. Ormond for the courtesy with which he had met their wishes on the matter, then withdrew.