DOMAIN BOARD.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14842, 6 December 1913, Page 6

DOMAIN BOARD.

ALIENATED LANDS. The secretary of the Christchurch Domain Board has sent the following reply to a correspondent, who enquires "the total area of Domain land either permanently or temporarily alienated since Hagley Park was set aside for public use." ' "1 beg to inform you that the area of land known as Hagley ParJi and the Gardens was described as originally containing 495 acres, and by the Canterbury Association Ordinance, 1855, the park was declared to be reserved for ever as a public park, 'and to bo open for the recreation and enjoyment of the pubKc. By the Provincial Council Ordinan-co, 1863, 5 acres 2 roods were taken out of the Park for the purposes of the Hospital, and subsequently by the Christchureh Hospital Act, 1877, an additional 8 acres were taken for the purposes of tho Hospital and grounds attached thereto, making a total of 13 acres 2 roods 18 perches. By the' Canterbury Association Ordinance, 1855, 10 acres were conveyed to Christ's College in exchange for the land owned by the College at that time in the centre of Cathedral square. This 10 ■acres is to revert to the King should the lands ever cease to be occupied for the purposes .of a college. There is a small piece of land occupied by the Museum taken out of the Gardens, but the Canterbury College has no tiue to this land. After deducting out of tho original 495 acres the 10 acres vested in Christ's College, the Hospital land ,and the small portion occupied by the Museum, and alter deducting the area occupied by the roads through the Park, the area of the Park and Domain now under the administration of the Domain Board is about 460 acres.

"As regards the temporary alienation of land in tho Park, such as cricket grounds, football grounds, tennis grounds, etc., such areas aro not alienated in any sense of the word, but the persons who use them are mere licensees, and the public have complete rights over the areas so licensed, the licensees having no better title to them than the public generally, and the use of these areas can be terminated at tho •will of the Board. The North and South Parks are leased for gracing, but the lessees have to allow the public to use tie Park, and land required for recreation purposes can be taken from the they being allowed a reduction in rent for any piece of land that is rendered unusable owinj; to recreation purposes."