Correspondence.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 2 April 1912, Page 3

Correspondence.

L Our correspondents' opinions iii-oir own; the responsibility ol vdrtonal ones make* sufficient L-ai-"uat tor the editor's shoulders.j LEVIN RECREATION GROUND. i To the Editor. Sir, -May I lie permitted ti add to the correspondence that hat recently been so prominent in yotu paper in connection with tho re creation ground? I do so with -much diffidence, but with the hope that my suggestions may be of tsomc help in bringing things to a definite head. 1 take it that wc are all agreed that- what we want for the town is an up-to- date recreation ground, (suitably or elaborately) equipped for the more usual forms of sport (football, hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics and cycling) and hl arranged that spectators may sec well. On this point I need not dilate how good it would be for the town. To moot those requirement. l , wo need the whole of the oval topdressed and levelled in places, surrounded by a cycle (rack inside, and a wide footpath outside the fence; provided with a grandstand which would contain a gymnasium and dressing rooms.

Beside these essentials, there arc several other matters that mirflu bo looked into. Could wo not make the grounds ornamental as well, with gardens and a neat- tea kiosk? It there room enough between the tennis courts and the Queen street entrance for hockey ground? Would it not bo well to separate the space 'or part of it at any rate) between the tnnis courts and Bath street fwhere now stands a desertedlooking tin shed) for a playground? Why should not tin tennis courts bo taken over by the Council, and hotter, accommodation provided for players and spectators.

Supposing the oval put in order, grandstand etc: erected, garden.-, laid out and so forth, a caretaker would be necessary. Could not a cuttage lie built for him in tho odd corner between tho baths and

Queen street? T suppose one iikiu could not attend to both baths and grounds, but if he could it would be a convenience and a saving of money. If two men were necessary. the ground man should Ik an old cricketer for preference, who would understand the preparation opitches and could teach the young idea how to bat. Xow we come to the difficulty— money. First the initial expense and second the upkeep. As to tin second, if the ground man could also be caretaker of the Baths and had a free cottage provided him on the grounds, probably there would be no difficulty in getting a suitable man for £2 or £2 1 Ok. a week. In spring and summer the oval would of course, have to be kept mown and for the purpose a horse-mower would he needed, as would a roller Feasibly, the caretaker might use his own horse, and if he could get the mowing and so on done earlv enough he could still see to the Maths. In winter there Mould be no difficulty as the Baths would probably he closed. All the various sport.s bodies--football, hockey, cricket, tennis, athletic and cycling clubs—-would pay ground fees, and of cour.se bathers would pay for the use of the Batli.s as now. ' file Bor ough Council would collect these and add to them such other revenue as might accrue—percentage of gate-money and possibly the gymnasium might be let to the military authorities tor drill purposes. 11 there were still a. deficiency, it surely would not be so great but that it might be a charge upon the general hinds of the Council. A more 1 serious difficulty perhaps is the initial cost, hut that too seems to mo ,siinnouutnblo. 1 iindei'stfiTic! the King s Theatre • pictures have offered to give a benefit night, for which kindly thought I wish them full'houses every night. Then tlu sports bodies could and would "in'te to get up a carnival on the grounds, and [ have no doubt that lor such an object the public would give generous support. Lastly finite a good deal of the work might be done by moans of « series of working bees. .Supply the topdressing and the roller and I think the cricket club would attend to getting a patch of ground ready for pitches. Possibly some of the grandstand carpentering could he done by '"hoes. ' Much of the garden work, as well as a supply of shrubs and plants, might bo loft to the same agency. I believe there ■a re occasionally floated rumour;, that the Borough Council is to take over the racecourse. Personally, T. can give no credence to them. How any body ot sensible men could entertain such an idea, when thc-re is a far more suitable ground so much more suitably situated, I cannot conceive. "Why on earth saddle the town with a debt of some thousands. (7 suppose the price of the racecourse would run well into thouamis) when considerably under one thousand Mould supply an excellent ground right in the town! One last suggestion to finish up with: "\\ ould it bo worth the Council'#! while to offer a small prize—say .Co—for the best design for laying out the ground. Thanking von for allowing nio so much of your valuable space.—T am etc., C. F. ROCKELL.