RAILWAY PASSENGER STATION SITE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 747, 2 September 1878, Page 2

RAILWAY PASSENGER STATION SITE.

A special meeting of the Municipal Council was held this morning for the purpose !•? considering the proposal of the Commissioner of Railways to place the passenger station near the Gasworks, between Eden and Ribble-streets. There were present ;—His Worship the Mayor and Councillors Mainland, Gibbs, Procter, Humphrey, and Spence. The Mayor explained that he had called the meeting at the request of two Councillors, and called upon those gentlemen to explain their reasons for making the request. Councillor Procter said that no sooner had the fact leaked out that it was intended to have the station near the Gasworks, than he was asked in all directions why he did not move in the matter. He had afterwards interviewed Councillor Mainland, and after talking the matter over, they had asked the Mayor to call a meeting of the Council. Councillor Mainland said his reason for wishing a meeting to be called was, in order that the matter might be discussed by the Council, and action taken, if the Council had any power to move in the matter. The Mayor remarked that he thought Councillors had acted properly in having the meeting called. Unquestionably it was of importance to every ratepayer in the town that the passenger station should be in the most central and most convenient position. Having explained the action he had taken in regard to the matter during the recent visit of Mr. Conyers, he said that it would be a nuueer of regret if a central position could noT be obtained. Mr. Conyers had rightly pointed out that the whole of the present site would be required for the goods traffic, for instead of Oamaru being, as some thought, a mere wayside station, it would undoubtedly be the most important on the line. The question then arose as to where was the best position for the inssencer station. In his opinion the very best position for the station would be the Lagoon site, and he had suggested this to Mr Conyers, who purposed putting the station between Eden and Ribble-streets, up a portion of the Esplanade,

diveniag number-street, and taking several sections between the streets named, M*. Conyei's had favorably entertained the suggestion, bnt.Jiad afterwards stated that ■lie thought the expense would be too great. He (the Mayor) thought those .persons who had spent L 35.000 in erecting buildings on the Harbor. Board block, in consequence of the station being in that part of the town,' were entitled to some .consideration ;'and that the whole town should not be re-created by placing the station so far from the present one. He thought the Harbor Board would be prepared to meet Mr. Conyers more liberally than it had done. If he would reclaim the whole of the Lagoon and give the Board as much of the land as he did not require, the Board would probably be satisfied. It was for the Council to decide whether or not it would contribute a portion of the cost of reclaiming the Lagoon and connecting Tyne and Humber-streets. Councillor Mainland could not conscientiously say that the Lagoon site was the best. He thought the Government should endeavor to obtain a portion of the Harbor Board block adjoining the present station, together with the buildings, which might be utilised for the purposes of the station. He. thought the Lagoon site was too cramped for a good station. Councillor Humphrey said that, looking upon the matter as representatives of the whole of the ratepayers, they could not come to any other conclusion than that tho Lagoon site was the best, and seeing that the reclamation of the Lagoon, the connecting of Tyne and Humber streets, and the abatement of a great nuisance would become necessary before long, he thought the Council might offer j to'bear some portion of the expense. j Councillor Gibbs took the same view, I and said that it would be necessary before lonji to fill tip the Lagoon for the sake of health, and if the Council could get the Government to Garry out the work, a very considerable benefit would be conferred upon the town, and the Council might fairly contribute towards the cost. It was a work that would have to be done some time, and if the Corporation had to do the work with the Harbor Board it would cost the town infinitely more than would be the case if the Government aid in carrying out the work. In reply to a question from Councillor T'Viuhrev, •; no May r said that he thought the Cuuiicil might fairly undertake to guarantee to contribute'L2ooo or even L3OOO, payable in three or five years, as its share of the cost of the work. It would cost between L2OOO and L3OOO to bridge the Lagoon and connect Tyne and Humberstreets, leaving out of consideration the abatement of the nuisance. After some little further discussion, the following resolution, proposed by Councillor Procter and seconded by Councillor Humphrey, was carried unanimously, "That the Harbor Board be requested to receive a deputation from this Council not later than Wednesday, with a view to endeavoring to take joint action to secure the adoption of the Lagoon site for the railway station ; the deputation to consist of the whole Council ; that the deputation be empowered to offer the sum of L3OOO, payable in five years, and_ to pay interest to the Government in the interim at the rate of 5i per cent, in aid of the work ; and to endeavor to secure the cooperation of the Board by granting the Liyoon site or. such terms as will enable the scheme to be carried out. The Council shortly afterwards rose.