MUNICIPAL RESERVE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4929, 22 January 1926, Page 2

MUNICIPAL RESERVE.

DESIRABLE SITE ACQUIRED.

negotiations COMPLETED.

Advice has bee.n received by Paeroa Borough Council of the com-

pletion of negotiations for the acquisition as a municipal reserve of an area in the Rawhitiro I block adjoining the property owned by the Paer Lawn Tennis Club, on Te Aroha Road. This new reserve contains a little over three and a half acres. Two and a half years ago His Woiship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshal) ascertained that this property was aetuallv Crown land, having oeenpuichatsed by the Native Lands Purchase office. Application was immediate y made by the Borough Council for a grant of the land a municipal reserve, in view of the unsuitable areas that had been handed to posterity when the borough was formed. Inspections of the existing borough reserves were made by Ministers of the Crown, and also the'Commissioner of Crown Lands. At one stage there way every prospect of a grant being made, as the Minister for Lands yippea,red to be quite favourable, but the late Prime Minister refused his consent and insisted that the Native Lands: purchase office should be reimbursed to the ex-tent of the actual cost. Communications then passed between the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Borough Council, and .the council was duly advised that the property . would he transferred to it on payment e.f the sum of £230. This was certainly a very low figure, but the council had no funds at its disposal with which to purchase the area, and it looked'as if the proceedings would have to lapse. Fortunately, however, the Mayor in his resourcefulness found a. way out of the difficulty. Attending the last annua,l householders’ meeting for the election of the Paeroa District High School. Committee, he was impressed with the discussion which .took place relative ,to the serii ous shdrtage of playing' areas at the school The idea occurred ,to His Worship that it might be possible to sell, an a.rea of approximately 1% acres held as a municipal' reserve in Wood Street to the Education Department for schoolground extension purposes. The area in question adjoins Mr W. Moore'S' property, and has, frontages to Nahum, Wood, and Lewis streets. A gully runs through the property, but this is gradually being, piped and used as a dump, and even-, tuft,Uy the whole area will, be reclaimed. At tlie request of the School Committee Mr Marshall, when in Wellington on business connected with the borough, interviewed the Hon. Minister for Education on the matter. Being familiar with the growing need of; extended playing areas. Sir James Parr subsequently recommended that his department should purchase the area from the council at a cost of £230, and this was done. In stating that a sale was effected it is interesting to point out the legal position. The Borough Council' can only s,ell a reserve if the proceeds are to be applied -to the purchase of land to be held for a similar purpose. Tlie purchase of. the new <reserve, therefore, afforded an opportunity, which has long been desired by tjie School Committee, to acquire the additional area. This in itself will prove of lasting benefit to the public of Paeroa, affording as it does much-needed, playing grounds for the school. By the disposal of that piece of land the council has been enabled to obtain the Rawhi.tiroa reserve. The ; total cost of this acquisition to the ratepayers' was .the sum o£ £lfor the Crown grant fee. No legal expenses of any kind have been incurred, the whole of the negotiations ried out by the Borough Council, and possession of the la,nd was. formally taken last Saturday. The newly acquired reserve is a fine .piece of land, approximately' level, and laid down in good grass. It makes a very fine addition to public • property, and constitutes a valuable • asset belonging to .the people of Pae-. 104’,. Its future use will be a subject ; for discussion at the next meeting of the council. It may be of interest to remark, however, that a municipal reserve is held under distinctly different conditions from a recreation reserve, and is licit subject to the same restrictions. It can, for instance, be cut up and leased for buildiAg purposes, or otherwise used to produce revenue as the council decides. Interviewed on the matter yester-i day the Mayor expressed a hope that the a,rea would be kept intact, and that the benefit of its acquisition would be enjoyed for ever by the people of Paeroa in its, Ultimate use as an open space for recreation.

If Paerod develops—as it surely mus.t —it will certainly be found in the future th ( at more land for recreation purposes than is available a.t present wifi be required. The Mayor, his' colleagues, and the public generally are to lie congratulated on the epochmarking event that has recently been added .to the history and development of Paeroa.