COUNTY OFFICES AT TAIHAPE.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 September 1919, Page 4

COUNTY OFFICES AT TAIHAPE.

Dl£l’lT'J‘A'l‘lON FROM. go ‘N'I‘Y COUNCIL. .w

At the Borough Council meeting on 1 Friday night, when the deputation from ithe Rangitikei County Council waited [on the local Council to urge it to favounlbly consider the vesting of the qumtex-—:lcre section on the corner of Hautapu Street, adjoining Denncss’S ‘old bakery, Mr Mair, the County lEnginees, said it had been decided by his Council to have a pernnment assistlant engineer stationed in Taihape. Extensive work was to be undertaken by his Council‘ in the northern end of the district next. year, and ‘certain facilities would be necessary to enable this to be done to the best advantage. It had been decided to erect an oflice in Taihape, and they were looking for a. section on which to build_ At one time the County Council was looking for on ofl‘icc. but they never contemplated having an oflice here, otherwise. be---fore the Borough was formed the County Council would have I'e.~:el-ved a section for that purpose. Time went on, and Taihape grew apace, and it was decided to form :1 ~bol'ough. Mr Mair interestingly traced -the -growth of the town, mentioning that he, possibly more than any other individual, was closely connected with its progress, ’ At one time during the County (‘ouncil’s control of the town, it. was pro-

poSed to cl~o.se the road between the Bank of Australasia and the Gretna Hotel. This the Council diclimt do, but handed it over when the borough was ‘formed. But now the" County found I it necessary to have an otiiee here, and had its eyes on section 10, block‘ 1. This section is at. present leased to the, widow of the late Mr Richmond Davis. They had interviewed the ‘lessee, and asked her to forego the . lease. The County was prepared to pay the rent. in arrears, and they wanted to ‘know if the Borough Council would agree, under "the ci.rclnnstan«;-es’, to transfer the section to the_'County, and ask tlie‘ Govemo'r »_to7nl‘al:e this section a County reserve. The deputation felt justified in asking’ the Borough to facilitate the __ transfer. The Coiinty would erect substantial buildings.’ ‘lt ‘was possible in the near future that -a new County‘ would be formed at this end‘ of the district, and the building and section would be wanted bytho new County Council. The ratepayers: surrounding Taihape Were entitled to a. l certain amount of consideration, as the I interests of the town and country were identiceg and the section would be en--ltirely for the use of the public. The ‘County was prepared -to pay all exlpenses if the Borough would agree to having the section vested in them. ’ The Mayor said H 1" Mair had put ‘thecase very well, especially in referenceto the days gone by. The people of‘ Taihape would have‘ to pe considered first. The suggestion of the deputation. would have every consideration. I Cr. Cunninghame said the County" Council should send Mr Mair up hereinstead of the assistant. . I Mr Mair smilingly replied that the question was in the hands of the ’ County Council; at any rate it was not ‘ contemplated at present, though he could not answer as to what would happen in the future_ -Coming back to thesection, Mr Mair said the Rangitikei County Council could have disposed of the -block between the Gretna and theBank of Australasia; they would have‘ been quite within their rights in doing so, but they did not consider it from a monetary standpoint. He mentioned this matter as justification for the present request, and wanted the Borough to deal with the matter in the

same spirit. The County Council-could have, in days past, benefited the County at the expense of the town. "The Government was going at one time“co Close the road between the Bank and Wilsons’, and sell the la.nd,[but theCounty Council would not agree.

Cr. Reid: “Would the transfer on the [lines suggested by the deputation he , fair to the other -Borough lessees? « I C Mr Mair said it was not a. question of ‘private or personal gain. The County § Council were the representatives of the r people. ’ ' In answer to a question, Mr Mair Isaid the County would pay all rates, [and the deputation then. withdrew. E The Mayor said the Borough would receive £8 15 for the section for about. 15 years. Cr. Reid considered it was too much I for the Council to give away. Cr. Turnbull thought the County ’ should be. assisted in acquiring the sec- [ tion on ‘the terms outlined by Mfr % Mair. ’ Cr. Davies said it would be an advantage to have ‘County Oflices here, especially as Mr Mair said it would ultimately be -the headquarters of 3, new County, provided it could be done without. injustice to the ratepiiiers of‘ the town. Cr. Turnbull moved that, provided the County Council is 9.7310 to aeguire Mrs Davis’ interest, thg Beg’;-Bggh Council has no objection 1-oiitlhe dotxnty applying to the Governor for the section to be so vested _ Cr. Reid considered they were giving away £l6O for a teraa, and partingwith the people’s rights. 1

Cr. Fookes said, supposing‘ -the arrears were paid, -the lessee could dispose of the section. If the section was pl".f~U ~ the open market ‘it would fetch deal more '‘’than £8 15/ per annum. ' Cr. Cunningham-e said if-it was made a Glasgow lease the section would fetch considerably more’ ‘A-than £3 15/. If placed on the open market it would probably go up to £350. Cr. Reid moved that the present lessee be given notice that unless the rent is paid for-thwith the lease of -the section will be forfeiteid and the Council’ will reenter the said land.——~Carx‘ied.‘ After some further discussion it was decided to hold over the lifatter until‘ next meeting. ‘A