TOWN BELT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1692, 7 March 1913, Page 6

TOWN BELT.

AND CROQUET AND BOWLS. THE KELBURNE CLUB. REQUEST FOR LEASE GRANTED. The leasing of that aero of tho Town Holt to a croquet, and Ixnvls club at Kelbuvne, which was the cause of the sudden termination of a City Council meeting a fortnight ago, occupied tho attention of tho council fur two hours and a half again Jast evening. A special meeting had been called at 7.30 p.m. to deal with the business, but the proposal of the Reserves Committee that the land should be leased to the club as requested met with determined opposition, aud the business was not finally dealt with until 10 p.m. Councillor I'rost moved: "That bo much of the following resolution of the council passed on the 18th day of April, 1912, aa will admit of an area of said Section_4B (to bo selected) being leased to tho Kclburno' bowling Club for tho purpose of forming a bowling green and croquet lawn bo rescinded:—Unit with a viow of making a start with a comprehensive scheme to beautify tho Town Belt, tho City Engineer, acting under instructions from the Reserves Committee, lias submitted a? plan to include the block of ten acres lying to the West of Wellington Terrace known as Section JB, Town Belt, Tho committee have approved the plan, and recommend the immediate adoption of same so as to give the Department an opportunity of making n start with the work during the coining season. The estimated cost of the work, including fencing, planting, etc., is ,£3OO, The land has already been cleared of gorse, and tho unplanlod portion after fences are erected can be let for gras-.ing purposes in small blocks." ■ , . . •

Councillor Smith seconded the motion. Councillor Hindmarsh moved as' aa amendment that the question be postponed until the first meeting of tho new council ih May next. He desired, lie said, to warn the council against alienating any portion of the people's property. Councillor Atkinson seconded tho amendment. He was quito at a loss to understand tho indecent hhsto that had characterised the action of tho promoters of. the resolution before tho meeting. All the ordinary work of tho council—resolutions some of which had been standing lor weeks and months—everything could be postponed out of the usual rotation of'business,'but this matter was so urgent, was"of such vital importance, that a special meeting was called to deal with it. It was, he concluded, liothiiig short of indecent for a dying council to put through such a proposal in tho last hours of its life, and to make uso of 6uch a forih of procedure as to call a 6pccial . Councillor Shirtcliffo said Councillor Atkinson had referred to the indecent haste with which the matter had been, brought forward. In actual fact the matter had. been under discussion for some months, and opportunity had been afforded councillors of considering the business in all its aspects. For himself, he failed to see any objection to Iho proposal, which was merely to allow a small pieco of waste land—little more than an eyesore—to bo fenced for tennis and croquet. He heartily .supported the motion. 1 < Councillor Barber said ho also would vote for the motion. Already a great deal too much time had been spent in discussing the proposal. And there was nothing vicious in it.. If jthe proposal wore essentially bad, the real harm had been dona when the Bill was passed permitting tho council to lease these small areas. Tho leasing of this piece of ground would bo 110 disadvantage to anybody, and would be a source of pleasure to many people outside those taking part in the games. • Councillor Fletcher said he would support tho motion. The interests' of tho city wero being absolutely safeguarded, anil no harm would be done by leasing a little piece of gorse-grown ground. Tho council should lace the responsibility now. lie would like to see a number of applications for such small, pieces of ground, for the effect' would be to beautify the "Town Belt.

Councillor Smith said he could ece no objection to the motion, especially'as tho council would get a higher rent for -the land than they could if it were let for grazing. And the public would not bs excluded from the ground. Councillor Fitzgerald thought Councillor Frost had been thoroughly justified in acting as he had in calling a special meeting. The Reserves Committee had been treated, very shabbily by other members of the council. ' Councillor M'Kenzie, Councillor Cohen, and Councillor Frost all spoke in support of the motion. Tile Mayor did not speak to the question, but lie intimated that ho would move a further amendment.

Tho amendment was last by 9 vote to i. The Mayor then moved his amendment, which was as follows:—"That all tho words, after 'that' in tho motion be delete! with the view of inserting the following: 'It be An instruction to tho Reserves Committee to go into the whole matter and report in full to the council respecting the policy tx) bo adoplcd in tho treatment of the entire area of the Town Belt, and in particular to advise tho council with reference to tho following details:—(l) As to what was the total area of land comprised in tho Town Belt under the original conveyance to the corporation in 1873. (2) What is .the present available total area of said land. (3) How the total area originally held by tho corporation lias been reduced. (4) What are the best methods of utilising and developing tho remaining areas' of tho Town Belt. (5) As to what portions can best be—(a) Planted and beautified, (b) Wliat roads, tracks, fences, or other formation works arc required, (c) What is a'vailablo for grazing cattle or for cultivation in the w.iv of market gardening, '(d) What can be set apart for sports, games, and recreation, and the conditions of utilising eauio in the general interest of tho public. Furtiler, any general advico which the committee may desire to give for the enhancement of the value, utility, and general service derivable from this endowment towards the public benefit.'" Councillor Fletcher raised a point of order, which was that the amendment was to rescind a motion standing on the books of the council. . The Mayor' ruled that his amendment was in order. Councillor Fletcher:. I never heard such an extraordinary , Tho Jlayor : That's my ruling, and you cannot discuss jny ruling. Councillor E. Tregcar; seconded th# amendment, and complained (until he was interrupted by. a point of order) that ,the procedure of tho council was conducted ill such an unfair manner as to preclude the passngu of ccrtain motions which ho had introduced. ■ Tho amendment was lost by nine votes to four, the votes for the amendment be[ing: Tho Mayor and Councillors Hindmarsh, Atkinson, and Tregcar. Tho motion was also carried by nino votes t'o four. Councillor Frost then moved: "That tin. area of one acre of Section 43, Town Belt, bo leased to tho ICelburne Bowling Club for tho purpose of forming a bowling green and croquet lawn, on the following conditions:—The rental to bo fixed by the city valuer, the conditions of tho lease to be drawn up by the city solicitor under tho terms of the Act, the si to to bo selected by the city engineer, and tho whole of the work (o bo cai'ricd out to his satisfaction." Councillor Smith seconded the motion. Thero was some discussion on it, and (lien at shortly before 9 p.m. Councillor Hindmarsh rose to speak, intimating that he would go on till "four in tho morning." He relented, however, and sal down at 9.W p.m.

• At 9.55 p.m. Councillor Smith moved that the question be How put. | Councillor Trepear: Sir, I object to the gas. I wish to speak—another injustice. : Tho motion was put in spite of his protest, and it was carried by nine votes to four. Councillor Tregear gavo notico Inter of his intention to inovo that the motion bo rescinded.