GROUNDS AT DAY'S BAY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1887, 23 October 1913, Page 10

GROUNDS AT DAY'S BAY

t SCHEME TO BUY. I CITY FATHER'S APPROACHED. i, July's Bay Recreation Grounds were discussed yesterday at a conference between representatives of the city and a deputation Jrom Eastbourne. I'ho citv representatives were the Mayor (Mr. > n 11 am -l Councillors Barber, t Godbor, and .Frost (all members of the li i'lnanco Committee of-the .City Council;, wmio the deputation/ from Eastbourne consisted of the Mayor (Mr. W. Councillors. Kcllv and Folcv, and Mr. T. M. Wilford, Itf.P., represeating the IJutt electorate in which the grounds are situated. Apologies for absence were received from Mr. C. P. Skerrp.tc, K.C Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, ami' Mr. Harold Beauchamp, who were m sympathy with tho proposal to be subnntt-ed by the deputation.. Paying Proposition. Mr. Organ explained that the matter that concerned the deputation. was tho w V ir K ? 10 -Day's Li"»y grounds for Wellington. Day's Bay was tho only across-the-water excursion Wellington As indicating its importance as a resort for city people, he mentioned that last year 115,000 tickets had been sold on tho steamers (excluding those sold to residents of the bay), while the previous , 3 ear ■ tho number was even greater—■■ something like. 140,000. Those figures > clearly showed that Wellington people were even more interested in the grounds than tho people on the other side of-the harbour. The purchase of tho whole of tho grounds seemed impracticable, but the deputation' came with a proposal for the acquisition of 9 acres of tho existing recreation groundsincluding tennis conrts, oroquet lawn, cricket ground, and pavilion. Mr. Organ had ascertained that tho . company owning tho property would sell the land lie had jnentioned, and' tho pavilion, for £11,700. He thought that they wcro nil agreed about tho desirability of acquiring the property. The whole matter was one of finance. He had obtained an estimate of expenditure and revenue on the property, and tho ; figures were: Annual expenditure,' interest on purchase money (£11,700), at 5 per cent., £585; rates, £50; insurance, £10; upkeep (two men), £300; water and lighting, £15; total, £960. Against this there would be a considerable amount of revenue. Tho tennis courts, for instance, would yield £100, the pavilion (to put it at a reasonable figure) £250, croquet lawn £30, and : cricket ground £35. ,It woulil bo possible then to charge the _ 100,000 yearly visitors all admission fee to the grounds and estimating this at tho moderate figure of a penny the income would be £416. If the admissifon fee wero made 3d. it would' yield the handsome amount of £1250' and so there might even be a . profit on the undertaking. That, however, was a matter that could be arranged litter. What he suggested now ' was that Eastbourne and-the city might , eo-oporatc in this matter. He believed ; that £3000 could bo obtained by public subscription and Eastbourne and the city could bearstho balance of the cost. ■ It would be a hasting shame to Wellington if the land were allowed to bo cut up into building allotments. i | Common Interest. | Mr. Wilford, who was the next | speaker, read a letter from Mr. Harold Beauchamp expressing himself in favour of the acquisition of the Day's Bay grounds. Mr. Wilford contended that there was no reason why; a city should not' co-opcrato with a neighbouring borough in a scheme in which they had a common interest. In other parts of the world it had been recognised that lands across tho water were just as much the lungs of the city as recreation grounds right in the centre of the city itself. Ho personally thought it would bo a great mistake if 40 or 50 people were allowed to take up that land at Day's Bay to the exclusion of tho rest of tho people. Tho question was whether the City Council would consider a partnership proposition. The details of tho deal were quite apart from that /If tho City Council could not see its way clear to como in then Eastbourne''would have to . let the land go. _ From a purely commercial point of view it would be 110 doubt to the advantage of Eastbourne if the grounds wero out up into building allotments and brought within tho borough, but they wero not viewing it in that light. The actual purchase, Mr. Wilford suggested, might be made without cash and tho undertaking carried on so that . no call would be made on the city at all. Mr. Kelly wished the conference to understand that the matter had been brought , under tile notice of tho. Eastbourne Borough because of the proximity of the grounds to the borough. They were not actually in'tlie borough. He took it that they were agreed about the general principle and that tho question was one of ways and means. A public meeting might, he suggested, arouse interest in the matter. Mr. Foley added a few words in sup* port of the previous speakers. Mayor Must Consult Council. The Mayor said he was glad that the deputation had come along, but ho could not give them an expression on tho subject until he had -consulted the council. He thought the council ought to be fully informed on the question first. There could bo no doubt as to the community of interest between the City and Eastbourne in this matter, and he (personally) was as enthusiastic as anyone about it. The City Council, 'however, had first to develop grounds of its own at Lyall Bpy and other places, and 'when Miramar came in ' with tho City there would bo much more to be done. One of the firstthings he considered would bo tho completion of the road from Breaker Bay - to Lyall Bay. This would give tho ' City a magnificent drive 'right round from the City to. Seatoun, and on to Ohiro Bay. In regard to ways and means for the' Day's Bay proposal, Mr. Luke stated that ho had that day-been ' told that there was a gentleman in Wellington who would give £1000 if 1 they could get some others to give " £1000. Another method of raising tho required, amount would be to approach the Government. He thought they had as much claim for national ■ expenditure here as other parts of tho Dominion had, andj that tliey' had a right to go to the Government and say: The City is going to find so much, and Eastbourne so much, what will the Government give!* He promised the deputation that the matter bo carefully considered by the council. Mr. AVilford pointed out that'in connection with such grounds as Anderson 'Park, the City had been put- to heavy expenditure in formation, whereas the grounds at Day's Bay were ready made. Ho suggested that the Government should bn asked to buy tho bush, if the City and Eastbourne bought the grounds. Mr. Organ thanked the Mayor and councillors for hearing the deputation. If they desired to view the grounds at any time the Eastbourne Borough would c be glad to place u boat ut their disposal Guest—"Got any good roast beef?" Waiter—"Yes, sir." Guest—"Brill.; me ( one of your best cuts. I want it tender, juicy, not too well done, not 100 raw, and with very little gravy. Have the fnt and lean about equally' divided, and be parliculnr not to cut the slice thick. And don't forget tlie horseradish. Canyon rennmibpr all that?" Waiter—"Yes, sir. (Loudly)— Boast bec-f, one." - , l r pv Bronchial Cougln? nnd Coldii, ; .Woods' Great I'eDDomint Cure, Ij, Gd.*