PERRY-STREET WIDENING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5192, 27 November 1895, Page 3

PERRY-STREET WIDENING.

OFFICIAL JEMJUIItY. , An enquiry with rcßard to the proposals to widen Pony-street, was opeuedon Monday in the Masterton Borough Council Chambers, before MrW, S.Shortt, special (■ Commissioner, on behalf of tlu Lands Department. Mr A. It, Bunny, Borough Solicitor, ap-' Mid lot tlwßotoU'-'h Co ncil, niul Mr W, jmsaid for tho oljeciots -Messrs S. F. Beard, H. Wilsons nail!!. Cole. Tho proceedings were, opened hy the Commissionerreading the proclamation. The objections of tho objectors, to tho proposed taking of the land tot widening Perry-street, w.tre also re.id. Tho Commissioner pointed out that there were allegations paintinc in tho direction that the land was being taken as much to benefit private individuals as for public njcossity, An inspection of the et.tf t ,md the properties ailccted, was tin io before any evidence was taken. Mr Buuny, in opening ilii case lor the Borough Council, sai l the portion of the street on tho eastern s'd-j of Perry-street, was originally proposed to be made a chain wide in 1877. Mr H. Colo, when he cut up the land, bad shown ou his plans, that he intended the strcot to be one chain wido. Mr J, Wrigley, in leasing a property next Mr W, H. Beetham'?. understood from tho conditions of his lease that the necessary quantity of landiraa i (.'served (or the express parposo of widiminj; Perry-slrcel, and ho had erected his fenee iu accordance with these conditions- t'c ry-street was never a half-chain strecUs laid off by the Masterton Small Farm Settlements Association between Qncen-strca awl Chapel-street, and the remaining portion was a private street, Efforts had been made, at different 'i jg, since 1876, to have the street made s Wf" l A j,ctiiion was presented to thTliorough Council in 18111, prajing that this street be widened. Henry Cole, on examination, said he originally owned small farm settlement No 31. Ho out it up about the year 18711, and mado a street called Cole-street. Gave a portion of bis land to widen Perry-street and Chapel-street, His plans showed this land to be given, and wero deposited in the Land Transfer Otlice. He expected to get something for tbe lard he gave in l'envatreet, He soli near.; the whole of the land in Porry-street. He Eo | | the land on which the Club stands, ml the two adjoin ing sections to Mr Schroder. The icction now owned by Dr Beard he sold to Mr Qower. He was not aware tiiat any steps were h'iiij; taken at that time. Subsequently he made efforts to get the street widened himself, Mr Woodroofe assisting him, Ho told all tho front<igc to Perrystreet fronting l)r Bearn's piopcrty, also that in front of Mr f chruler's section for £75. He found he iould not sell the land to Dr Dtard so he cave the purchase money back. Tbis occurred about teu years ago, To Mr Beard: The iand in question was not fenced in at that time, was not aware at tho time that is was public property. He offered it to the Council, but the Council 1 would not purchase it. He considered it bis property. He lmd been in Masterton 31 ! years. It was intended to widen tbe stieet from the time lie cut up the property. siftWrigloy stated that in the year .878 1 lflP&d a piece ol his property to Mrs Colini, now in tho occupation cf Mr W, H. Beetham, Sometime prior to tbis Mr Woodroofe came to hiui with a petition to widen streets. Perry-Etrcct was included, lie agreed to give the iand to widfti i'c ry- i strcot, Albert-street and Chapel-street. The 1 plan of the proper:; he leased to Mrs Collins 1 showed a reservation of tbe land necessary 1 for widening Perry-street, The lane facing ' Mr W. U. Beetham's properly had been : given by l.iui originally. The half-chain 1 fenco was standing at that time. Perry- 1 ' street was not laid off when Masterton was ' laid off, but was subsequently laid off by tbe ' late Mr B.F. Ferry. His proposal to cut a ' road through his property to the llailway 1 Station was not influenced at all by any- 1 thing that might be done to Perry-street. 1 Did not tell Dr Beard when he sold him the ' property that he bad reserved a piece of ' frontage to widen Perry-street. He gave a ' piece of land next to Dr Beam's to the ' Council about two years ago. He sold the ! land now in Dr Beard's possession to him ' (Dr Beard), and did not give the frontage of ' that land to tbo Council, ns the Council ' would not buy it at half its value. A plan of 1 Masterton, compiled in 1885, showed Perry- ( street to be half a chain wide. The main 1 entrance to the property lie intended cutting ' up would be from Porry-street. There has ' tKCSgpbjectionsto tbe widening of Perry- ' some time. Did not think it was 1 ol more importance to widen Bannister- 1 street, near Queen-street. To widen s Perry-street, would be o! more importance, ' because when Mr Iteuall put a road through his land, it would be the main road to the s Railway Station. I! he had given the land 1 to widen the street, Dr Beard would still 1 have had to buy land from him for a frontage r to Perry-street, lie had received no money 6 from the Borough Council for land for ' street widening. 1 0. W, Woodroofe stated ho was one of the v Cirly pioneers of Masterton, having been in 1 the district forty years, Ho was the first 1 to mako efforts to have Perry-street widened. ' This was in 1870, Ho thought street widen- 6 ing highly advantageous to tho progress of ( the town, but was of opinion that the Borough fundß could be better spent at I preient on other works. ' To Mr BunnyMr Beetham would gain 1 no more advantago by tho widening of ' Perry-street than any other person owning B property in the street. If ferry-street were made a chain wide right through, and built ! upon, it would become a very respectable ' street. Ho was ol opinion that the widen- 1 ipg of Perry-street would inorc-ase the value ' of Mr Wriglcy's property, but not seriously. 1 Mr Wrigley would not, he believed, get 1 , immediate benefits. i William H, Beetham stated that he 1 originally acquired portions of his property ' in Ferry-street, in 1881, Sixteen feet sir ' inches ,wbb then fenced off on the frontage, f afliAis ho looked upon as the boundary. 1 T9W was a rough fence outside. He I always considered that he had no right to 1 thi] portion, and alwayi advocated the ' making of tho street a chain wide, He 1 was aware that the land opposite the Club 1 > was dedicated to the public. Had spoken * to his neighbours several times on the 1 matter, believing it would improve the 1 street, Hid remonstrated with Dr, Beard I betoro ho put i:p hi. fence, and then told 1 him (Dr. Ut-an') that m-oner or later tbe 1 land would le required 11 widen the street, s Was of opinion he had acquired his lease ' from Mrs Collins, before Dr. Bcatd came to ' Masterton. Lit. Beard considered that his ' house would bo too near tho road, if he put ' the fence back to th» lino, The summer- ' . bouse had only been built by Dr. Beard ' within the last four or five years. At ' present tho street, instead of being one of 1 tbo prettiest io Masterton, was a disgrace. ' Some time ago, the residents of the street ' wanted a lamp, but were told that there was no proper causeway, and therefore they did 1 not know where to put a lamp, 110 had ' always advocated widening the streets, Tho fact of Perry-street being made wider and prettier, would benefit himself with all otllers, but he 'denied that he would in any f way gain a particular benefit apart from the public. The whole town would benefit by the widening of tho street. He had mentioned to Mr Brown that he was anxious to Sco the side of Ferry-street, opposite his property, straightened, as it was in a bad «t«te now, Ho had no wish to interfere ■, jfir, Beard. If Dr, Beard's piece were 'We road would not be so nice. TMr Beard; Becognised that halfchain roads were a mistake. Had not pado any effort to got other roads widened, , thought if ho had been in Dr. Beard's position, he should have met the public by giving up tho land required, Considered that the widening of Perry-street would, to soino extent, benefit Mr Wrigley, At this stage, the Court adjourned till Ttitaday morning, Mr B, Browh, on oath, said ho was the first Town Clerk appointed by the Masterton Borough Council,and was working indirectly for the old Town Board prior to that. In July, 1880, there was a resolution passed by the Borough Council that the Council tako thenocessary land for the purpose of widening Perry-street, and that the ownors of '■ proporty in that Btreet bo notified of the resolution, Tho negotiations fell through at that time as Mr Woodroofe required £l6 for his land, as d.d also Mr J. Wrigley, It was understood that they would give the land if all Interested would give, Subsequently in August, 1880, Mr 11, Colo wrote to the Council saying that he would require Io bo paid for his land, This was followed by a resolution of the Borough Council to the effect that the question of widening fcrry'Btreet be left in abeyance until property owners would deal more leniently with the CoiM. On a petition being presented to thewcncil to make the road paßsabio in ■ wrote to Messrs Wrigley and Cole asking them to give the necessary Jjlft Gin, from the Club fo the top of the street, to ifiden the street, and then tho (jdupoll itoqtd forjn and metal tho whole tireet. Mr Cole, in answer, wrote that he required £4 per chain for h's land, the money to be spent on the upper end of the e|reti. In July, 1881,itWaa resolved byttie .Council that {'ern-slree| be formed half a chain, wide, and thai a footpath bo mado on , . ono side only. Tenders wore to bo called (or the work) and ruidents were to bo

' charged two-thirds ol tho cost. This first meeting of tho Borough Council was on tbo 13th Aiuust, 1877, in tho tollowing year, Negotiations took placo with Mr B. P. Perry for tho widening of Pcrry-stfcct, Mr Perry 5 wanting £l5O for tlio land. Tho street was . laid off before tho Borough Council was in I oxistence, othorwiso it would have had to | bo a chain wide, Later Mr B. P. Perry sold , tho necessary land from Queen-street to Chapel-street for widening for £95. In con- . vocation with Dr, Beard, witness had been tol I on more than ono occasion that tho ' Doctor woul I not lot tho Council have tho land. The Couuoil had never refused to purchase land for strcot widening. Mesßra 'l'. If. oud W. D. SViisono signed a petition i for the widening of Ferry-street, but subseqtiently they wrote to tho Council with- ' drawing their names as they had signed , under a misapprehension. A letter was [ received by the Council from Mr Wilsono | this month, stating that he was willing to , part with his land if a fa ; r compensation could be made. L'lter Mr Wilsone wrote asking that his letter bo bold over. Siuco tli-:ii no further communication had been received from him. iliO was paid to the executor of Mrs MuKonzio for laud to widen Dixon-strcet, and £2OO was paid to Mr A. W. ltonall for land necessary for widening Bcnall-strcot. It is tho policy of tho Council to widen streets wherever possible. In a few years time, when further improvements hive been made, and the town has become more populous, it will cost the Council considerably moro, and possibly give more annoyance to propertyowners in acquiring the land than if taken now, Negotiations had been continuous since the formation of tbe Council for widening Perry-street. To Mr Beard Payments had been made to other property owners than Mr llenall and MrsMcKemio for street widening puipose■, It hnd not been necessary to go to oxtrcmes to acquire land for widening purposes, as the owners in other streets had not been persistent in their objections. The present action of the Council was the , result of the petition recently presented. ■ Mr Wrigley had promised to give twenty links for widening at the Timothy-start end. The Council had no definite nrrnr.gement to widen the inlet and outlet of the street. Tho Council had widened Colombo lioad, which was an important street compared with l'erry-ttrcct. Tho Council objected to putting up a street lamp in Perry-st eet until tho atrcot wus widened and frontages straightene.l The widening was practically stopped by two peopleMessrs Beard auil Wilsone. Dr H. 1-', Beard testified that ho purchased his property fifteen years ago, Atlbattimo he had no idea thero was any intention to widen the street. Tho street was fenced continuously with his fo .ee, from tho Club to the top end. He might not haiepurclnsed tbe property if lie had kuown that it ( was intended to widen the street. It was . never suggested to him by Mr Wrigley, . when ho purchased, tlmt n piece would be , token for widening. He did not put up his , present fcuce for some time after laying out the ground, Tbe portion of the garden ' proposed to lie taken was the bcit part of the I garden. The trees were valuable and ornamental ones. In nidition, tlie propose I s line would cut through the centre of his } summer house and would take away the j entrance to his surgery. It would not bo v possible to make satisfactory sontinuntal j compensation, as lie found a great deal of i pleasure in his gaiden. lie thought it was intended to widen tho street to beuelit Mr Wrigley and Mr Beetham. The latter had J been so persistent in hisemleavours that ho ' thought Mr Bectiiam was tho cause of the 0 present proceedings. He did negotiate for s the purchase of the sections next Io him, and ii also for the etrip of land belonging to Mr j Cole. He wanted to purchase Cole's because it would give him a frontage to Perry, 'j street. He arranged with tho Masterton j| Club that in case be purchased the sections ,i the Club was to have what portions they , might require. Had never bad any conversation with Mr Wrigley with reference to the widening ol Perry-street. Had had v no official communication from the Bor- v oogli Council on the question. The only k public mcnies spent on land acquired for a widening were for moving the fenco back to \\ the new fenco line. To Mr BunnyHemcmbered that Mr Wrigley came to his house to ask him to sign a peitition. 110 might have told Mr Wrigley that the Council should never have the land to widen i the street. He might have let the land go if sufficient inducement had been offered him, In fact he would sell the whole \ property, and had offered it to Mr W. H, Bcotham. He built his house in 1882, aud i had purchased one frontage in Ferry-street from Mr Wrigley prior to that. He knew ,j that the strip ot land which lio wished to purchase from Mr Colo was set apart (or '' Street widening, as Mr Cole hod promised tho purchasers of the sections in Colc-slreet frontages to Pci ry-street. Did not buy tho strip as Mr Cole could not give him the title of the land. I'ut up his fence about twelve months after tho house was built. Did not recollect having any conversation about street widening, when he was erecting his fence, with Mr Beetham, His valuable plants could not be transplanted, ns they were 100 large to be transplanted successfully. There was no other part ot his premises he could make into a pleasure ground. It would improve tho street if it was straightened. The projection o! his fenco might ho 1 considered dangerous to traffic. • J To the Commissioner:-Vehicle:! had to ai pass his property to turn round when visit- (, ing him professionally. Did not think it would bo any advantage to him or safety to those visiting him, to have the street made a chain wide. Mr T. 11. Wilsone on examination, said his father was in occupation of tho property in Perry-street about twenty years ago. By the death ol his lather the property fell to r, himself and his brother. He believed the land was offered to the Council by his father before it was planted. By taking the land in front of his house, It would practically r put the house next to the road. The planting consisted of fruit trees, ornamental r " trees, shrubs and flowers. The trees acted us a break-wind to the houso. Tho trees r,were too large to transplant. The strip proposed to be taken would tako away half tho flower garden. He would not erect a house nearer the road than his present residence. He concurred iu the evidence given by Dr Beard as to street traffic, Mr Wrigley would be tbe person to be hencfi'ted by tho Btreet being widened. Did not consider tho widening necessary. Thero arc nothing but private residenccsi n Perry-street. It would not benefit him to give the strip of loud in question. Could not sell his property to the same advantago if the strip were taken. Himself and brother signed a petition to have the street widened, but consequently ! withdrew their names. His mother was in P favor of having the street widened, and they v signed tho petition by her wish, On think- r ing the matter over they had decided that it n would depreciate tho value of the property to have tho piece taken off. It was as much a question of sentiment as depreciating the value of tbo property. By Jlr Bunny: Ilis-brother gave him sole control to manage their property, and was awaro of what lie was doing in mtking theso objections. Their property was i planted whilo his father was alive. Was t not awaro any efforts had been mudc to c widen Perry-street, till within tho last two years, Ho understood that if tho Council could get the necessary land from Dr. - Beard and himself, thoy would make the street a chain wido, throughout. If it was merely a matter of amount to be paid as l compensation, he would not have asked for this enquiry. Tho Council had offered to ' put up a good fenco and otherwise compensate him for the land. Did not think that Mr Beothom's plantation would act ns shelter to his proporty. It would Improva the town, to have tho street made a chain . wide. It would benefit Mr Wrigley, by giving him a straight street from the centre of the town through the property he proposed to cut up, He did not sign thj objections put in by Mr Beard, Would' take £SOO for the land, but would rather keep the land than take what would be considered a fair price, i To Mr Beard : Ho considered it improved ( property to have a uniform chain road running through it; thought it would benefit ' Mr Wrigley, if Perry-street was made a chain wido throughout, lie did not make any part of his living by selling the fruit off tho land required. Mr Wrigley, recalled, said in answer to tho Commissioner, that Mr Beetham did not own tho fee simple of tho land lie lived on, but had a -12 years' lease, Tbo fee I simple was owned by him (Mr Wrigley), When the lease expired, the property would ' revert to him or his heirs. This concluded the evidence taken. i 1