THE RESERVOIR SITE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 104, 24 June 1913, Page 2

THE RESERVOIR SITE.

Question of Area.

Council Adhere to , Resolution.

During the past fortnight there has been considerable discussion over the question as to what area of land the Council were entitled to at the sita of ihe reservoir. It wili be remembered that about month ago the C'wUnc.l were approached hy Messrs Barter and Phillipps, the preseLt owners cf the property, to Eetllj this matter. the agreement with ftir Hart the Town Board Were entitled to take "up to" 1\ acres. A certain area was taken, ar.d the Council, § actirg largely on the advica of their solicitor, htld that the action of the Town Board had determined the area required, and instructed their solicitors to attend to the legal forrmlitiae.

Cr Patter on opposed tho course taken, and at the following meeting gave notice to move:—"That the resolution dealing with ihe reservoir site, as recorded in minute 3 of the meeting held on Wednesday, May 21st, be rescinded, and that the borough solicitors be requested to stay proceedings in respect to registration of titla, etc." At Wtdnesday night's meeting of the Council he moved this resolution. Cr Hurley seconded it. Cr Patterson, in rising to spjak, said he proposed to read to the Council the agreement between the Town Poard and Mr Hart.

The Mayor: What? The whole agreement? Cr Patterson: Yes. I am perfectly entitled to read it. The Mayor: You're perfectly entitled to read it, but the Council don't want to stay here all night. Cr Patterson: They'll stay here till I have had my say, at any rate.

The Mayor: They may. That is for them to say. Cr Patterson then proceeded to read the agreement, which was a lengthy document. Just as te w.-s nearing tha end tha door was quietly opened, and a head intruded. The Council looked round and it was noticed that one of the representatives of peace and order in the Borough was standing at the entrance.

"Come in," said Cr Comrie. "We are glad to sre a man in blue," added the Mayor. "Yes," remarked another Councillor, amid laughter, "by the way things are going you may be wanted."

After Cf Patterson had finished the agreement, he proceded to urge the adoption of his motion. He contended that tha agreement specifically e't out three sites not to exceed 21 acres. He dealt with the past history of t h e affair, and contended that the final survey was made in 1913, Tho Mayor: You mist not make mis-statements like that, Cr Patterson. You know Mr Kelly told us tc-dav that tha survey was made on September stb, 1911. Cr Patterson adhered to his statement, and claimed in support of this that the pegs were not put in until 1913. The last Council had nu right to fence the reserve. If the •Council had taken all they were entitled to, why did Messrs Barter anil Phillipps come to the Council and ask to be released from their agreement? It showed that the Council had not exercised iti full right?. If the vendors wanted to be relieved of their rights they should relieve the Council of its responsibility in connection with the water. On several occasions during Cr Patterson's speech, whicn lasted over a quarter of an hour, there wera clashes between he and the Mayor, Cr Patterson objecting to the Mayor interjecting and the Mayor contending that Cr Patterson had no right to mis-state tha facts.

The Mayor said he had neei) Mr Kelly, who had made the survey, that day. Cr Patterson was present during the interview. Mr Kelly told them that the survey was mada in 1911, and that Mr Webster and Mr Suggate told him where to survey. After Messrs Suggate and Webster had defined the boundaries what was the good of bringing the question up again? It W3s simply ridiculous.

Cr Hurley thought that Cr Patterson had supplied the Council with a great deal of information. It was a great pity that all this information and the agreement had not been forthcoming at the meeting at which they had passed the resolution. The new Councillors had been largely in the dark and had voted, only knowing half the case. Cr Bilkey: Anyway, it's poor business to take 1J acres of land when you can get 21 acres. Cr Beatty. Who took it? Tha Mayor: That's the point.

Cr Hamilton: It was settled befure the Council took offce. Tha Mayor: That's so. Cr Patterson: The Town Board did not take the land. My reason for bringing the matter up is that the Council are trjiag to blame the l'own Board, of which I was the responsible official, for their mistake.

A Councillor: Ah; to that's the only reason, is it? r Cr Hamilton said that a man before he built a house secured a site. He did not build the house before he got the land, and the Town Board had secured the site before they Duilt. the reservoir. The extra land was of no practical good to the Council, Hey could not build a house on it, they could cot crop it, they could not lease it; they could only build reservoirs on it, for the very simple reason that the grazing rights were reserved to the owners. Supposirg the Council had taken the land it would have remained idle and brought in no revenue. By leaving it the Borough was securing rates, They had more room now than they wanted for a reservoir, and it was a certainty they weie not going to build any more reservoirs on the top of the hill. He did not think they could take tha land if they wanted to. Mr Hart had said: "Take what land you want up to 2\ acres." The Tuwn Board had made their choice and that concluded the matter. If they had not enough land for the reservoir it would be different. Anyway by now, probably, the lard was transferred. Cr Pollock took exception to Cr Hurley's remarks. Why did not Cr Hurley ask for information if he did not understand the position? He was thoroughly satisfied the Town Boa d had taken what they thought was sufficient land. Anyway there was enough land for all the reservoirs j Pukekohe would ever wsnt.

Cr Hamilton suggested that Cr Hurley ehould take half a day and go through all the old contracts of the Town Board and obtain information. Cr Hurley: That's a good idea. He eonterd.d it was the Mayor's duty to have given the new Councillors the fullest infjrmation on the matter. During the previous meeting there had been no mention of this agreement, which tltercd the position from what he understood it was.

Cr Comrie said Cr Hurby was entirely in error in saying the agreement had not te;n mentioned* It had been referred to hcth by the solicitor and himself, and it was no use Councillors coming and saying it was not men'ioned. Cr Hurley was enly condemning himself. "We have detin°d the area and we can't come back and ask for more," concluded Cr Comrie. Cr Patterson then rose. The Mayor: Sit down.

Cr Patterson: I have the right of reply. I want to answer the criticisms.

The Mayor: Sit down and be quiet. Cr Patterson: But 1 demand the right of reply. The Mayor (rising): If you won't obey the chair I'll close the meeting. Cr Patterson: I'm going to speak. The Mayor: Are you going to sit. dow-i? You've already spoken twice and interjected about twenty times Cr Patterson: Do you refuse to let me speak? The Mayor: I do.

Cr Patterson: I want it recorded. This is not going to end here; it's going before a public meeting. The Mayor: Alright. Cr Patterson: You're biased. The Mayor: No, I am Lot. Cr Patterson: Yes, you are.

Several Councillors at this stage poured the oil of coccilatory remarks upon the troubled wat.rs and both parties cooled down. The Mayor: Well, I'll give you all the latitude I can. You can have live minutes to gay what you want to. Cr Patterson: No, I won't speak now.

7he Mayor: Very well, we'll take the vote.

The motion waß put and lost, a division showing:—Ayes: Cr Potterson and Hurley. Noes: The Mayor, Crs Hamilton, Pollack, Beatty and Comrie.

Cr Bilkey abstained frcm voting.