THE CORPORATION AND THE RATEPAYERS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 108, 22 May 1875, Page 10

THE CORPORATION AND THE RATEPAYERS.

The very unmistakable expression of public feeling exhibited at the meeting of ratepayers held on Monday evening last to protest against the awards made in the matter of widening Princes street, should be pretty conclusive evidence to the Corporation of the way in which the delicate negociations are regarded by the citizens. It is seldom, that there exists such perfect unanimity as prevailed at the meeting called for the ventilation, of the subject, and although a few of the speakers were'anxious, if possible, to keep faith with the Provincial Government, and that the honor of the citizens should be maintained by adhering to the compact of 1862, all were unanimous in denouncing the outrageous terms of the awards, and the manner in which they had been arrived at. To those who will view the matter in an impartial spirit, it does certainly seem strange that the citizens' money to the extent of £40,000 or £50,000 should be needlessly thrown away, when by the postponement of the contemplated improvements for another year, the object sought can be effected at less than oue-fifth the outlay ; and taking that and other facts into consideration, there would appear to be some grounds for the charge that the public money was sought to be recklessly squandered for the benefit of the few. In substantiation of this assertion it has been stated — and the publication of the terms of the awards has placed it beyond contradiction — that a tenant; in Princes street, who pays at the present time from £50 to £60 per year, the lease under which the tenancy is held expiring eleven months hence, has been allotted £8000 for his share of the compensation. "With facts such as these before us we must come to the conclusion, either that the arbitrators were totally unfit for the task for which they were appointed, or that the matters of dispute were not properly defined. During the evening Mr. E. B. Cargull took occasion to refer to"the complaint of many who live in the higher portions of the city, who naturally feel indignant that so much of the rates towards which they are called on to contribute, should be thus appropriated wholesale, wbile streets are unformed, without gas, and unprotected. Notwithstanding Mr. Cargilli seemed of a contrary opinion, we think it will be admitted there is much justice in the complaint. In many portions of the higher parts of the city, where ratepayers are called upon to pay a considerable quota to the municipal revenue, the conditions of the roadway — pathways there are none — is simply a disgrace, in many instances entry and exit having to be effected by the means of planking laid upon a bed of mud. It is but a few days since an unfortunate man came by his death under circumstances which left no doubt that, were the dangerous place sufficiently protected, the sad. accident never would have occurred. The unfortunate I victim was unknown and friendless, and further than the

recommendation to have a lamp to warn others of the danger, bo steps were taken. But if such were not the case, and the deceased had left those behind him who would seek to make the Council responsible for its carelessness, there can be little doubt that ten times the amount necessary for providing the protection could have been recovered. At the present time the scene of the accident is not the only place where a like occurrence might take place, as there are streets which are brought abruptly to an end by the delusive appearance of a few bushes, but which, if followed up, would be found to terminate in a precipice. It is to be hoped then that the expression of public feeling will carry weight with it, aud that, whether it be a matter of necessity that the ultimate widening of Princes 'Street should or should not take place, the Council will see the impolicy of squandering so much of the public money, when it is so clearly shown a delay would be so profitable.