DAY'S BUSH AND GROUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1996, 2 March 1914, Page 8

DAY'S BUSH AND GROUNDS.

Sir,—l think enough belated senti" inont has been expended on the question of the acquisition of the Day's .Bay grounds and bush, and it is time the matter was faced - sq-u-afely. The fffovmds arc already too much cut up by rece-ut purchasers to bo considered seriously as a Government or municipal venture. It may still bo possible, 1 grant, to purchase the two eritkot and hockey grounds between tho hoyso a-iH-1 pavi« Ikui, and also tho pa.vi!ioli and lawn in trout at a p'rieo, but usi-less theso arc acquired, very quickly, they will bo gridiroiied by purchasers long- before the sale day nest,mo-nth. There is a koen demand for la-nd in the district (in Eastbourne as well as Uay's'Bay). Six of tho t-oimis courts were bought hy a local syudicato this Week, and -will be avaikiblo for tenuis. I believe a seventh was said as a residential site. The school (late Day's Bay House) owns the bowling green and hockey ground in front. Tlio top hockey ground has been roaded, subdivided, and partly sold._ Am tlie pavilion and grounds roeii'tioncd worth consideration as a municipal or Government routuro at tho price? I 'don't think tho company will abate a jot of their price a sleet}, owing, as I said before, to tho fcoen demand for. land. ; AYovvld it not hi? more easy of accomplishiuent and, in tlio long run, more beneficial for the public if a movement were started amongst business men to buy the pavilion and gro-uttds indicated, and rail then* as a business venture, the possibilities are many and tempting enough? It fs rfeht that those enjoying tho benefits from the grounds should pay for admission, and wrong that ratopayers indiscriminately should be asked to bear tho whole brunt of the _ cost of acquisition and upkeep. A private company can turn over money in so many ways that tho cost of admission should only Iro trifling. ,

Jf .tho present owners had a spark of public spirit in thorn_ they would dedicate tho adjoining irkge of bush as a park, or else make it passible «£ acquirement as a public park. New, in regard to the balance of the property, tho bush, I admit I am not in t/m----paihv with the movement to have it" acquired as a close reserve. 1 cannot see how tho G-ovcrilmeat, if they do reserve tho bush,' are going to preserve ' it. I feel that tire <Mtly safe means of ftrotcction frenn fin? is .to suitably road it, for a road is generally a fi.iily. safe «hecfc in case of firo spreading; and would the Government do this, .or could a local body? The busli without. means of access is only valuable- as a background, and as background scenery would bo vastly improved if rod- . roofed and picturesque cottages peepod out hero and there, and broke, up the otherwise sombre" and at times monotonous fircen, I say the best thing that can happen to the bush, the district, ami. to Wellington, is for tbo' present owners Ito roiid tho hush hy continuing tho existing roads up to the- leading spur iit the centre of the property and then .continue on either side,, a gentle grade rouic-1 easily be obtained to tho top ol tlie hill. A chain road with a. 14 feet formation would give ample bush pit eitbe.- side or the road for the'public ; to wander in, oiid the full beauty of ; the. btish wefcld be made ina-nifesi with a minimum of exertion. A road cleared only the necessary wis® requited i'fij? • formation would scarcely., be decernaHij from the Imrhotir,, anC'.wonld hot stite-te a disfigurement. in' itself. Nowthe poii.it is this, that' cutting up tlio level does not mean cutting down' oto timber, tho present 'settlement along the I'ringo guarantees that. If the property is cut lip into fivo and ten-acre ■ sections wety f«lufc6 owner oT : '"iWe' five aijd ten acres would virtually be ■11. protector of the whole, and judging ; by the inany ardent advocates for tlio protection of the hush I think the question of the sections falling into the. ■right hands is. assured. No more enjoyable and healthy way of spending oiirs wflek-onds cor.ld be possible than tho quiet of a hush cottage sheltered itfom all winds and,-lying to tho sun as the hillside does. The highest point of the hill is very little more- inaccessible tlian, say, Victoria College. » 1 would- like to add that a;s a-rt additional -security from firo a clause could bo inserted in the building by-laws .making it compulsory for all buildings to be erected of non-iiifjammabln material (asbestos, i'o:f instance!.). ' As a resilient -of some years' standing -I consider that the shutting up of such a large area- as tho bush is against the best interests of ilip district. Id the vallev at the back lie some thousands of a ores ■of forest reserve easily, pjada accessible. If the directors- of. tho company owning tli.e Day's Bay bush w®uld only show st ■little of the public- spirit that.they expert from others and road tiie bush in such a way as to make this larger area : accessible, &t ■ the same, time possibly paving the way towards opening up at ; some future time tho finest motor drive in new Zealand. I write from an intimate- knowledge.of the country. The directors havo_ invited the public to buy discussion. Uliis, then, ls' ms' excuse "for wrifog in tho above strain. Trusting that my suggestion may bo acted or. in part it not in whole, —1 am, etc., PRO BONO PUBLICO.