CLIFTON DOMAIN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 21, 9 February 1937, Page 7

CLIFTON DOMAIN

Further Negotiations With Mr F. L. Gordon SETTLEMENT HOPED FOR Further developments in the matter of setting aside an area at Clifton tes a public domain have now been reached with the announcement that the Hon. W. E. Barnard, M.P., has arranged an interview with the owner of the property, Mr. F. L„ Gordon, for this week. An amicable arrangement is expected from the discussion. The reault of the negotiations will be known this week. "Mr. Barnard is going out to Clifton this week," said the chairman of the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Sanctuary Board, Mr. P. W. Barlow, this morning. "He will discuss the matter with Mr. Gordon in a friendly manner to see if some definite arrangement can be arrived at to settle the present differences. il is hoped that as a result of this Mr. Gordon may alter his present attitude and again offer the land to the public. " There is no doubt that the area offers a great attraction to the numerous visitors to the sanctuary and if the original arrangement affecting the County Council cannot be made to work, then it is suggested that a composite board of enthusiastic citizens in Hastings and Napier should control the area. If the area is obtained, arrangements will be made to extend the tree-planting programme which is at present being provided for." Mr Barlow added that the offer of £100 by Mr Husheer, for improvements if the area is available to the the publio still held, and with that it was proposed to erect conveniences and to make the spot more attractive than it is at present was by providing shelter with trees. It was^in the interests of Mr Gordon to permit the land to ha used as a public domain, he continued, as a controlling board could provide for protection of Mr Gordon's neightbouring property from trespassers and vandals, who were at. present unchecked in the great amount of damage they were doing there. It will be rememhered that Mr Gordon originally offered an area at Clifton as a domain but subsequently withdrew - his offer. Following this, the suggestion was made that the area could be taken as a domain under the provisions of the Public Works Act, and it is understood that other moves were pending, but some agreement is confidently expected from tbe negotiations to be set in train by Mr Barnard.