WILLIAMS' PARK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2400, 4 March 1915, Page 7

WILLIAMS' PARK

AN UNSATISFACTORY POSITION

WHERE STANDS THE CITY?

Almost a year ago there was sn agitation in the City for the purchase of the Day's Bay estate, now known as Williams Park, the arguments put forward being that this picturesque spot should not be allowed to be sold piecemeal under the hammer (as was intended), hut should! be preserved in all its pristine loveliness for posterity. It will be recalled that a Citizens' Committee, was set up to canvas the City for subscriptions, and means were taken in various ways to induce the public to save the Bay. Government aid was sought and obtaiuad, and the original owner of the estate (Mrs. M. A. Williams) came forward with a handsome donation. As the result of this wellorganised ' activity, the City Council was induced to father the purchase scheme, and eventually, did- so, saving the estate from the auctioneer's hammer by paying over a, cheque of £14,000 to the owners.

Towards that amount the , Government : promised to contribute £4000, Bubject to certain conditions; the Eastbourne Borough Council (which has acquired the ferry steamers which ply between the City and the Bay), promised to contribute £1 for £1 up to £500, with any money contributed by Day's Bay residents, with the guarantee of a donation of £250 in any case, and other money,'it was thought, would be forthcoming, to help the City to finance the deal. That tne present position of the City Council is anything but satisfactory will be shown by a brief resume of the situation as it is to-day. The City Council paid over a cheque for £14,000 months ago. So far, however, the City Treasury has ■ not' been compensated .to extent that .was anticipated, with the result that in interest alone a good deal of money is being lost. • what moneys the City has received are as follow:—. £ s. d. From the Government _.... 1000 0 0 From public ! subscriptions 1201 611 Prom #Mrs. Williams — 1500 0 0 Total £3701 611 This means that the City is at present £10,299 13s. Id. out of pocket, in addition to which there is an annual drain on the upkeep of the grounds of something in the vicinity of £500 a year. It is understood that the Government is quite prepared to make good 'its donation of £4000' (£IOOO only of which has been paid), when the condition set out is fulfilled, that is, that Williams' Park should be proclaimed a scenic reserve. That process is now under wei' V and subject to any fresh development, will in the course of time 'be completed. _ The Eastbourno Borough Council, which has a commercial interest in-'the estate through its ferry- step pers; has not yet contributed anything the fund, though. assurances ha: been given that it will. This matter as probably_ been hung up through the negotiations which have been .c.' ,'ried on for soi7ie months past respecting a charge for passengers carried to' Day's Bay on the council's steamers, which charge the Borough Council has' not so far seen ite way to entertain.' As by charging admittanco to the grounds in some way is the only means of deriving any revenue towards the expense of upkeep and interost on the capital expended, there are members of; the City Council who' entertain the fear that Williams Park is likely to be a drain oh the City for all timo. The whole business appears to be complicated to some extent that by Williams Park a Government scenic reserve it throws the estate (or at . least that part ,of it that is ■ still in ;bush) open: to :the public free'for all time. Councillors are very v- much divided as to which' is oourse .to pro T ceed in order to involve the City in the least cost, _ •

One position is.that the Eastbourne Borough Council's steamship passengers to Day's Bay should pay a toll through,the steamer ticket (which the Borough Council has already refused to agree to). Another proposal put.forward is to charge an entrance fee at the gates of the grounds. Another, and a more ambitious idea, which has been spoken of "out of council," is that Wellington City is so seriously involved :that it, should secure the freehold of the property, and either sell it, as the previous owners intended to do, or. to "go the whole hog" and purchase an up-to-date ferry -steamer, whose passengers' alone shall have the right of'entry , into the grounds. As the pub lie subscribed privately and is subscribing now through the rates, a satisfactory settlement of the Day's Bay problem is highly desirable. /"'lt is possible that the matter may ) i referred to at to-night's meeting of 16 City Council.