THE BASIN RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2485, 11 June 1915, Page 7

THE BASIN RESERVE

» SCHEMES OF ALTERATION. "That the resolution of the council passed on October 9,1914, as followsj 'That tho amended scheme of proposed alterations to the Basin Reserve as submitted in the report of the City Engineer, be adopted,' be given effect to at once, and that the Carnival Funds which are available, £725, be placed towards the cost," was a recommendation of the Reserves Committee to the City Council last night. Councillor Godber, who has had a notice of motion on the order paper for . some time, to the effect that the resolution should'be rescinded-in order to enable new councillors to express their views, wondered why the recommendation should be brought forward now. He . did not know whether it was to shelve hie motion or not. He entered into a general discussion on the matter, and held that they were just "tinkering" with the question, instead of looking ahead. The scheme was not adequate for the town planning they had in view. His Teason for giving his notice of motion was that the four new councillors were not conversant with the scheme, tie moved as ati amendment that the clause should be referred back for further consideration. Ho thought that the councillors might arrive at a decision to do a great deal more than was proposed by the minor scheme referred to by the Reserves Committee. If the major scheino was carried out a great deal of the expenditure under the proposed scheme would be unnecessary. He wanted to See the Basin Reserve so improved that n cricket ground would be formed that would be a credit to the City. Councillor J. Hutcheson seconded tho amendment. He was not so sure that a scheme for a tramway curve near the pavilion would not he better than an eastern curve. , He felt it would be a pity tq adopt any temporary scheme now, where a little delay might enable them to tinally settle the matter. Councillor W. T. Hildreth supported the proposal to refer the matter back. It was only justice to the new councillors to let them get a thorough understanding of the matter. Councillor W. H. P. Barber thought that ,if the minor scheme was only of value for five years it would more than compensate thsm for the work. The Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) said that tho major scheme was an attempt to make a reasonable roadway and tramway line through tho Basin Reserve, at the same time keeping over a sports area, sufficient to he used for representative sports sjames such as cricket. In view of the difficulty of getting that approved, and in view of tho danger to the ordinary traffic round the Basin Reserve, a modified Bcheme was prepared to make it perfectly safe for traffic. The saving of timo would not be as great to the tramways as the original scheme. Tho smaller scheme would cost from £2300 to £3000. After further discussion it was agreed to let the matter stand down for discussion at next meeting of the council.