THE NEW RAILWAY STATION AND THE HARBOR BOARD’S ENDOWMENT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2511, 7 April 1881, Page 2

THE NEW RAILWAY STATION AND THE HARBOR BOARD’S ENDOWMENT.

The following letter relating to the

above subject was read at the meeting of the Harbor Board to-day : “Public Works Office, “ Wellington, April 2, 1881. “ W, J. Tennant, Esq., Secretary to Titnaru Harbor Board. “ Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receiptof your letter dated March 23, containing a copy of the resolution passed at a meeting of your Board held on the day before the date of your letter. “ I am sorry that the terms of the resolution are not such as the Government can accept, but as I am very anxious that the improvements of the Timaru Railway Station should not be unnecessarily delayed but should as soon as possible be made adequate to the requirements of the district, 1 now make the following definite proposal ” : (1.) “ That the Board shall give up to the Government the area between the old lines of low and high water now required for railway station purposes as shown in the plan sent to you on March 5.”

(2.) “That the Government wi! i ndeavour to obtain the sanction of Parliament to the endowment of the Board with the area of the present or any future reclamation made by the sea eastward of the proposed station ground,”

“ I am glad to be able to assure the Board that there is no intention to occupy the space used for the landing service until it is absolutely required and I think it may be confidently expected that the transference of business from the landing service to the pier will obviate all inconvenience when eventually the Government takes possession.—l have &c.,

“R. Oliver.” The letter gave rise to some discussion.

Mr Evans thought that they should take a legal opinion on the matter and named Mr Stout, whose opinion, he said, he would as soon have as the Attorney General’s, if not sooner. Captain Sutter said that it was as well for the public to know that it was not the Government who forced this question about the foreshore on : they (the Board) wanted it. After some further discussion, Mr Barker proposed and Mr Sutter seconded the following resolution —“That the Board cannot agree to part with the area between the old lines of low and high water, except under the following conditions : (I.) That the Government agree not to interfere with the working of the Government Lauding Service until the Breakwater wharfage is able to do the work. (2.) That they endow the Board with all the land between the railway and the sea from the Breakwater to Whale’s Creek, except so much of it as included in their present plans for works in exchange for the land they are treating for. (3.) That they obtain the sanction of Parliament to the permanent endowment of the Board with the remainder of the reclaimed land and any land that may in the future be reclaimed.” Mr Evans proposed and Mr Moody seconded as an amendment—“ That the further consideration of the letter from the Public Works Office, Wellington, be allowed to stand over until the next meeting, and that meantime Mr Stout’s (late Attorney-General) opinion be asked as to the Board’s position with respect to foreshore endowment under Public Works Act.”

On being put to the vote the amendment was declared carried.