LYALL BAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 804, 29 April 1910, Page 4

LYALL BAY.

GFFEE TO THE COJTNCIL... . ' Half a mile of the foreshore of Lyall Bay at its eastern end, which does not now belong to the City Ceuncil, has been offered to the corporation by the trustees. of tho Crawford Estate at the price of the Government valuation—.£lßo per acre. The strip of land varies from three tochains in. width, and : contains nearly 20 acres. .It is expected that its acquisition would cost the city about .£3350. Ths foreshore from Happy .Valley through Island Bay and including two-thirds of the teach of Lyall Bay is already unVler the control of the council, and round the eastern corner of Lyall Bay is a Government reserve. .The retiring Mayor (Dr. Newman) strongly favours the acquisition of. this remaining strip of l Lyall Bay for several reasons. He argues, first of all, that ,if, this land is ' not secured, and there should be a change ol ownership, it might. be necessary to pay extensive compensation if the council desired to make a public right-of-way along the beach in future. On the other hand, if the council buys the land, it would probably be in a position' some, day to form a road round-the sea's edge from Lyall Bay to Seatoun, 'and such a road would doubtless be a very popular promenade and drive. 'Again, the Mayor states that the portion of the beach which is under offer is the safest-and best sheltered part for bathing, and its purchase' would ensure, also, that, there' would always be an area of sandhills-on. whict the bather -could luxuriate after his dip. Yesterday morning, the Mayor, Mr. Wilford (Mayor-elect), and mtmbers of the City Council'went out and'inspected the land under offer, and-a special.meet-' ing of. the-council is to be held next Monday'afternoon; "to decide whether or not it shall be purchased. . It is considered not at-all unlikely that the council will resolve to acquire the property. ' The council hopes also" to obtain twelve acres of, Government land at Lyall Bay. adjoining the corporation reserve, as compensation for the proposed closing of Sydney Street. No use is being mad* of the land by the Government, but, a» was stated in The' Dominion ' some days ago, it might, with contiguous property of the council, be-.made to form an.inviting sports and. recreation ground, by the corporation.