THE DOLORES ESTATE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 235, 29 June 1920, Page 5

THE DOLORES ESTATE

RECREATION GROUND FOR KELBURN PRACTICAL HELP SOUGHT FROM CITY COUNCIL Tho proposal to purchase an acre of the Dolores Estate, on Upland Road, Kelburn, for the purposes of a children's recreation-, ground, ,\vaa brought before the City Council last night by a deputation of Kelburn residents. Mr. F. Meadowcroft (chairman of tho Kelburn Ratepayers' Association) asked that the comical extend its practical financial help to acquire tho land. They (all knew tho urgent need there was to obtain the area for the. purposes of a recreation ground. There was only one section left on the estate and no timo should be lost in securing it. Between Kelburn Park and Karori there was no recreation ground for tho children and the Minister of Education (the Hon. C.: J. Parr) had promised recently that if the City Council would assist in acquiring a portion of tho estate tho Government would bo prepared' to help in financing the project. Kelburn residents were willing to bo specially rated in order to meet the cost of acquiring the area. •

Professor J. S.Tennant urged that it was not wholly the duty of tho Government Jo acquire playgrounds. The City Council should help in promoting the civic spirit and the'granting of the request of the deputation would bo one way in which that spirit could bo developed. Part of the instruction of tho students at the Training College was in how to teach school children to take part in sports, and to do this they must have sufficient playing space. At present, the students had to go to Karori for this.purpose because Kelburn Park was so.often congested. '. Tho Mayor,said he could not at that stage' indicate what the council would be prepared to' do. . The council would give the representations of the deputation its earnest consideration, and there, was no doubt that some'practical solution of the nroblem would be suggested. On the Mayor's proposal the request of the deputation was referred to tho Finance Committee for consideration.

■MINISTERIAL STATEMENT NO FUNDS FOR PURCHASE OF ■ WHOLE AEEA. . Some further reference to the proposal . for the acquisition iof the Dolores block was mado by the Minister of Education ■ (Mr; Parr) yesterday. It will be remembered that 6ome days ago, -when a deputation froim the district waited on the Minister, he said that he would be glad .to' acquire the whole block, but that funds ' at his disposal would not permit of this. He therefore appealed to the' residents themselves to come to his assistance, promising then that he would ro all in his power to assist them to -get the whole ■ of this! desirable piece of land. "I am anxious to do something here," said Mr. Parr yesterday. "If I had 1 the means I should like to acquire the wholu - of the two acres. , Unfortunately, however, I have to consider claims coming from at least one thousand other schools all over the Dominion for more playgrounds. The-Dolores Hill is an awkward proposition from my paint of view.. 'As a knoll, it is no use as a playground. :It needs to be levelled. To excavate the hill to the street-level and fill the gullv with the spoil will run easily into ..four figures. I mention this because this cost must he added to the cost of the land before the proposition is of any use to tho Department. There is, therefore, a .double-barrelled cost. Notwithstanding this, I propose to recommend Cabinet to acquire about one acre of the two-acre block. By excavation, whichwill be difficult, as the road has to be crossed with the spoil, we shall fill the present gully in (he Normal- School ground, and so -ultimately get nearly two 'acres instead of one for playing space. This is as much as the Government can reasonably be expected- to do,' and it will cost a very large sum of money,' I would welcome, the aid of the residents and the local authorities in the direction of ac•quiring the remaining acre. ' If they buy the acre now the Department might be disposed subsequently to consider the cost of excavation. :"