THE QUEEN STREET FIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3196, 24 May 1909, Page 3

THE QUEEN STREET FIRE.

QUESTION OF REBUILDING

I REPORT ADC P.ED BY THE LAND TLU3TEES.

The Masterton Trust Lai cte Trustees met again en Saturday morning in lefarence to he rebuUiding of the Queen Street premises destrcyid by fire last week. There was a full meeting of the Trust, Mr T. B. Mif hell presi ing. Mr Daniell stted that, in pirsunce of the resolu.ijn at the special meeting on Thursday, the committee composed of himself ar.d Messrs Michell and Caselberg, had drawn up the following report: —

"First: The premises let to ,"Ah Lop at an annual rental of £lO6 12s per year were totally destroyed and the secretary has made a claim on the London and Lancashire Assurance Company for the amount of insurance, £250. We recommend that the material now lying on the site be removed and the site cleared. Second: The four shops known as the Star Block were insured in the Northern Assurance Company £6OO, and in the Allliance Office for £2OO. The various shops were assured as follows:—No. l, the corner, £215. No. 2, 3, and 4, each £195. The damage was estimated yesterday by Mr Bedford, acting as assesor for the Insurance Company, and Mr O. E. Daniell, for Trustees, and the amount agreed upon to be paid for loss is £382 4s. Claims have been made by the Secretary in the usual form for the amount. The amount of insurance thus available is £632 4s. As to what shall be done with building, we report that of the 132 feet frontage to Queen Street, the property of the Trust, some 24 feet is let on Glasgow lease to Ah Lop, at £3l per year rental, leaving 108 feet to be dealt with, of this some 50 feet is occupied by shops 1, 2, and 3. We recommend that shop No. 4 be cleared away thus leaving 58 feet clear of buildings. We recommend that scheme plans be prepared for a brick building covering the whole 108 feet frontage to Queen Street and along Hall Street some 108 feet to the right-of-way which gives access to rear of each of these tenements. That the 58 feet cleared by removal of damaged buildings be now built upon in brick, that the three shops be repaired and the present tenants remain in occupation. The position of the various leases is No. 1 corner shop let for a "term of seven years expiring March 31st, 1912, with a right of a further term of seven years, if the tenants expend £2OO in buildings of a permanent character, the rent is £lO4 per year. No. 2 shop is let on seven years lease expiring 31st March, 1912, at a rental equal to £65. No. 3 shop is let for a term of seven years expiring July 31st, 1911, at a rental of £65 per year. In this case the tenant erected additions to the shop at some considerable cost and though the tenancy might be terminated, he has inequity a right to consideration for loss if lease is terminated. No. expires as a consequence of the damage by fire, otherwise it would have terminated March 31st, 1912, t'he;rent of this shop was equal to £7l 10s. The lease to Ah Lop and All Moon was for a term of seven years expiring August 31st, 1911, but a clause in this Uasc also operates to terminate the tenancy when building is destroyed by fire. Ths lofs of rents from the two tenancy actually destroyed is £l7B 2s per year. Believing that the necessary repairs to the three shops can hardly be so specified as to get satisfactory tenders, we recommend that a competent tradesman be employed to make necessary repairs by day labour. Further that tenders be called for purchase and removal of materials on tenancy's No. 4 and 5. Further that each of tliO three ! architects pl'tK'tiriitig in the town be asked to submit a scheme plan to utilise the ground as indicated above, the author of the plan adopted to|carry out the first portion of the* work or, receive other adequate renumeration." Mr Daniell paid a tribute to trie fair manner in which Mr Bedford, the fire insurence representative, had. treated the Trustees.

In anwser to inquiries from the Trustees, the members of the committee stated that in their opinion the three corner ',, shops are quite sound, and could be repaired sufficiently for use within a week. The total money available for rebuilding was £632. It would probably cost a small Eurn in comparison with the amount oi: the building.

At this stage Mr Pragnell suggested that Mr Robinson's motion re leasing the ground by Glasgow lease be taken.

This was agreed to by the meeting.

Mr Kabinson said be really wished to put the motion to have the. principle cither established or disaffirmed. He reo/ignixecl that the Majority of tlie TtUsfc were .against him, but he would, if the motion were lost work hand in hand with the Trustees to get the best results out of the course adopted. Mr W. H. Jackson seconded the motion. In the course oi : his remarks, Mr Jackson said he thought the Trust should not necessarily follow what might be good business lines for a private person. To use an extreme illustration of what speculative building by the Trustees meant, Mr Jackson eaid it might be compared to a totalisator investment. (Several Trustees objected to this comparison). He strongly favoured an assured incoire by the Glasgow lease system even if a reduced rental wfro obtained. He thoueht that the Trust investments m buildings had not so far been j the successes they were said to be, quoting the Town Hall as an example."

Mr R. Krahagea said he was in favour of the Trust itself building on tlio block. Mr E. G. Eton paid that while rotbeing opposed to theGlaFgow lease .system ho did not object to it in the saes-ent case. Leasing lands otherwise not reproductive by Glasgow lease might, tie a tksirable matter. Mr O. Fragnell favoured the rebuilding by the Trustees. He (0 precated the constant bringing up of past transactions by the Trust. As for the Trust building for itself on the "Star" block being a r'sky (■•peculation he contended that; .if a Lri'vk building costing £BOOO were built on the whojie of the block—a course which ha favoured—the Trustees could well afford to risk a fire

onct in 20 years. From every standpoint, Mr Pragneil said, it was I a better investment for the Trust to build than to lease. Mr Caselberg believed in the Glasgow lease principle being applied to the "Star" block, though it might be advisable if used in a discretionary way with other lands. Some discussion then ensued as to whether the motion applied only to the "Star - ' block, or of Trust land generally. The chairman said he took it to apply only to the "Star" block, other Trustees taking the opposite view. Mr Robinson then said he would withdraw the motion, a course approved of by his seconder. The report of the committee was then discussed and adopted, with the amendment that the committee make what arrangements they deem fit for carrying out tfie repair work by day labour or tender. Mr Pragneil said the Trustees were greatly indebted to the committee for the comprehensive arid able report they had drawn up. Other Trustees endorsed this view. On the motion of Mr Caselberg it give the lat« tenants first refusal of the new buildings to be erected.