APPLICATION FOR LOAN

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20258, 29 July 1937, Page 11

APPLICATION FOR LOAN

COUNCIL’S FURTHER STEP. GARDEN PLACE HILL REMOVAL. DOMAIN PROJECT IMPRACTICABLE Following a deolslon arrived at last evening at the meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council, the oouncll Is to make application to the Local Government Loans Board for sanction to a loan of £77,600 for the purpose of removing Garden Place HIM. The decision was arrived at with the passing of a resolution moved by Mr J. E. Tidd and seconded by Mr H. M. Hammond. Messrs H. D. Caro and C. Lafferty voted against the motion and Mr F. Findlay abstained from voting. The motion was supported by the Mayor. Mr J. R. Fow, and Messrs A. M. Bisley, R. Me Caw, J. E. Tidd, H. M. Hammond, W. Bourne and W. A. Curteis. Mr Tidd's motion was as follows: ** That the council make application to the Local Government Loans Board Tor •anctlon to a loan or £77,500 Tor the purposes of the levelling - and formation of the street known as Garden Place, acquiring of certain properties adjacent thereto and levelling and improving certain lands in Garden Place already vested In the corporation, removing buildings on the lands to be acquired, renovating and reerecting the same on other lands vested In the corporation, Oiling In and levelling certain lands vested in the corporation or under the control of the Hamilton Domain Board, and levelling, pipe-draining and Improving certain lands vested in the corporation, the construction and formation or new streets and footways, Including any necessary retaining walls, paving, kerblng and channelling, and, the provision of stormwater and sewer drainage in Garden Place and such new streets, Including the purchase of all necessary land, buildings, material, plant, and tools, and all payments for labour, engineers and legal fees, valuation fees, advertising, Survey charges, plans and supervision, and for compensation to owners of property In respect of such works; the security for the payment or interest and sinking fund to be the revenues to be derived from the properties to he acquired or Improved by the corporation and a special rate of ijd In the pound on the unimproved value of ail rateable property appearing In the valuation roll of the Garden Place Special Rating Aren, the term for yhlch the loan is borrowed not to exceed 35 years, provision to be made for a sinking fund or not less than £1 13s per cent, per annum but no sinking fund to be paid during the first two years; the cost or raising the loan but no part of the interest or sinking fund charges to be paid out of the loan.”

In seconding the motion Mr Hammond stated that he would like to the fact that the recent poll determined only one particular Issue—namely, the raising of a loan. The removal of Garden'Place Hill was not the issue before the ratepayers. The hill could be used as a publio road at '.ny time, without reference to ratepayers, and the ■suggestion that the question of the hill’s removal had been settled by the last poll was not eorreot.

"Practically the same scheme went before the whole of the ratepayers and was beaten,” said Mr Caro, in intimating his decision to vote against the motion. He said he felt that It was not for the council to press the matter further. If a second poll were allowed, and if the modified scheme were also defeated, it seemed quite possible that another poll might be held, as Mr Tidd’s motion might be taken as a precedent. He suggested that the whole question of the hill’s removal might well be left over during the term of the present council. Messrs Tidd and Lafferty also spoke. Objections Received. Formal notices of objection to the proposed action of the council were received from Miss K. Hunder and Messrs A. T. Maunder, W. Y. Kirkman, G. Lafferty, E. J. Davey and T. W. Davis. A petition (sponsored by tho Garden Place Preservation Society) opposing the modified scheme and asking that the hill he made a public domain was also received. Domain Suggestion Impracticable. Tn connection with the petition the town clerk, Mr W. 1,. Waddel, reported that a copy had been submitted to the borough solicitors. Messrs Swarbrlck and Swarbrlck, with a view to ascertaining whether it would be possible ’or the area to be made a domain. The borough solicitors advised that In their opinion any action to dose Garden Place woul,d be unsuccessful, either by special legislation or by the procedure laid down by the Municipal Corporations Act. It was true that the council could beautify a portion of the land, not at present required for street purposes, but any expenditure by the council would have to be with the dlstinot understanding that the adjoining property-owners were entitled to the convenience of a full r wldth street to tho frontago of their properties, and any erection or alteration of the soil which would interfere with that right could be resisted by such adjoining owners.