THE THAMES FORESHORE

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1847, 2 September 1874, Page 3

THE THAMES FORESHORE

Feoji Hansard we quote the following reply by Mr Yogel to Mr Charles O'Neill's question re the foreshore. Mr O'Neill said he might inform the Premier that he had received a telegram to the following effect, from Mr F. 0. Dean, the Town Clerk of the Thames Municipality:

—" Borough Council are anxious to know what steps the General Government have taken to hand foreshore over to this municipality district, in accordance with their promise."

Mr Vogel replied that it would hav* been better if the honorable member had postponed this question until after the resolutions as to provincial changes was decided, for this was just one of those questions which hung the matter- in the balance. The Government desired to hand over this foreshore, and indeed felt bound to do so. He had spoken to the late Superintendent upon the matter, and it was intended that the foreshore should bo handed over to the Thames Municipality upon certain terms; but the present Superintendent was averse to the propo-. sition, and the Government were placed in a difficulty in consequence. On the one hand they were pledged to hand it over to the Municipality, and on the other there was the opinion of the present Superintendent that it should be given over to the Provincial Council. He would read the last letter from the Superintendent, which would show the honorable member how much this matter depended upon the proposals contained in the resolution now before the House:— "Wellington, 18th August, 1874. " Sir,—Adverting to your letters of Juno Ist and 15th inst,, referring to ap-

plications made to you by the Mayor and Corporation of the Thames Municipality for portions of the foreshore land at

Shortland and Grahamstown to be conveyed to them in trust for the purposes of the borough, and requesting to be furnished with any remarks I might desire to make thereon, I have the honor to inform you that a deputation from the Borough Council, headed by the Mayor, waited on rae at Auckland shortly before I left to attend the Assembly at Wellington, when I informed them that it was

lie intention of the Government to iatro

luco some measure during the present lession to enable them to deal with fore-

shore lands generally, and that such racasuro would have my concurrence provided it were framed on the principle of conveying such lands under' The Public Hcserves Act, 1854/ so as these lands miglit be subsequently dealt with by the Superintendent and Provincial Council. lam of opinion that this is the safest mode of dealing with valuable property belonging to the public estate, and I

have no hesitation in expressing to you my strong disapproval of such property being handed over to Local Boards for disposal, unless undor provisions ot' the Act already mentioned. " This question of disposing of the Thames foreshore was submitted by me for the consideration of the Provincial Council at its last session, and the con-

elusions come to almost unanimously by

them are embodied in Council \ddress No. —, of which I enclose a copy. You will observe that the conclusions of the Council are identical with the views already expressed by me.—f have, &c,, " J. Williamson, " Superintendent. "*