DAY'S BAY PURCHASE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2005, 12 March 1914, Page 6

DAY'S BAY PURCHASE.

WHATTHE COMPANY CONCEDED.

THE MAYOR EXPLAINS.

One of the chief topics of town talk yesterday was tho acquisition of tho Day's Bay property as finally decided by the City Council on Tuesday evening. Opinions appeared to be evenly divided as to whether tho council had been wisoi'in coming in to shoulder the residue of the burden, after having promised to donate an equal amount with tho Government (£4200) towards the total of £14,000 asked by the Wellington' Steam Ferry Company for tho land. Several prominent citizens when approached stated that, in their opinion, tho City Council had dono the right thing in saving tho grpunda at the eleventh hour. Others thought that, having in view tho rise in the rates last year and tho ponding loan to face, tho City Council wont tho full limit when the £4000 was offered. These citizens are rather displeased to learn that tho ratepapers might havo to-find still another £2000 or £3000 to secure the land in question. The Mayor's Opinion. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) hardly felt inclined to express an opinion for publication until the land had been formally acquired, but he had no doubt that , tho citizens had got their money's worth in tho magnificent estate acquired. After Tuesday's visit to the bay the council knew precisely what land it was getting, and had no doubt that it would more than realise tho price that was being paid if •it were sold at any time in tho future. He stated that tho Steam Ferry- Company had gone a good way to meet tho purchasers.; They had thrown in two irregular pieces of land fronting the Day's Bay Road, which divided the entrances to Miss Somerville's property. Thesowere two valuable patches of land. They were at present overgrown with toitoi but could easily be turned into roadside plantations., Two sections of tho lawn tennis ground on tho south side of tho.pavilion had been sold privately, hut these had also been thrown into tho deal. The acquisition of these properties; meant that' there would bo no buildings fronting the main road between Ferry Road (to tho north of Day's Bay House) and Ferry Road (well to the south of the pavilion). That was a great advantage, as it left tho estate well open from tho beach. The council /had also thought that tho' private ownership of a number of sections at the back of tho pavilion and fronting Pitoiloi Road would spoil the environs of tho pavilion, and to meet the council tho company threw into the land Sections Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 on the sale plan. Still another concession had been mado in order to give additional access-to the bush. This ,was the surrender of Section 15 on Kotari Road. Pavilion as a Coins' Concern. Mr. Luko also explained fliat it wasprovided, that, tho. purchase 'should in-' elude not only the pavilion, but all the furniture, fittings, cutlery, crockery, nnpory, etc.—so that tho ' whole thing could be taken oyer as a going concern. Asked as to how he thought that the ostato would now ,ho the Mayor' ■ stated* th~at ho hoped Ithat the management would bo vestcd ! in the Wellington City Council, which ho thought could undertake it moro economically than any other .body that might be constituted.

As to the extra amount which the city had guaranteed;-Mr. Luke added that he had/high hopes of being given : . ■ ' material assistance'financially from another quarter,'• but, on that point, ho could not commit himself at present. Letter of Appreciation. . Yesterday morning the Town Clerk (Mr. J. R. Palmer) forwarded to Mrs. W. R. Williams a copy of the following resolution, passed by the City Coun"That this council place' on record its deep sense of the' public spirit manifested by. Mrs: W'.R. Williams : ' in-contributing a sum of £1500 towards the fund for the purchase of the Day's Bay grounds for public purposes, and in recognition of her generosity hereby resolves that the Teserve shall henceforth bo known as Williams Park." • Mrs. Williams has made two donations to the fund. When the movement for the purchase- of the grounds began she camo forward with a gift of £1000, «nd this week she donated £500 more. Further, Donations. Tho following is a list of additional , ■■ idonations received: — £ s. d. !A. E. Pcarco .;.' 5 5 0 ;Wclsbach/Light Co, of Austra- • lia :.'...■ 5 5 0 Yan Staveren Bros 2 2 0 F.. Holdswortu 1 10 ■Richardson and M'Cabe 3 3 0 fiundry small contributors 14 0