THE KAIKOURA STAR. KAIKOURA, MAY 18, 1894.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 739, 18 May 1894, Page 4

THE KAIKOURA STAR. KAIKOURA, MAY 18, 1894.

Tomorrow the County Council will have under consideration the letting of the South Bay Reserve for a period of three years. Before determining to so lease it. Councillors should satisfy themselves regarding the conditions of occupation, and, more particularly, whether a charge cannot be made for admission on a given number of days

during the year. The Council has several times been informed that any body demanding a fee for entrance to the ground (assuming that it were fenced) would be doing so illegally. That would be so without the permission of the body having control thereover. The reserve is vested in the Kaikoura County Council as a Domain Board, and,as a Domain Board, the Council has certain powers, giving it authority to deal with the land in accordance with specified Statutes. The Council has already received something as rent of the reserve—about £s—and, through the use of the reserve for racing purposes, the County funds have benefitted to the extent of over £5O during the past ten years, yet the Council has not done a thing to assist racing in any way, while it has spent money in another place without deriving one penny of revenne therefrom, either directly or indirectly. All we ask is that before the Reserve in the South Bay is re-.'eaeed for a further terra that the Council thoroughly satisfies itself that it has not the power to grant authority to make a charge. Let the Council examine the position closely, particularly the terms under which the Governor has delegated his powers to the Council as the Kaikoura Domain Board, and invested that Board with the control of the reserve. Were the land only to be let for one year we would not urge the Council to stay its hand, because within twelve months time the position could be determined, and steps taken to put matters on a proper footing. As, however, the term of lease is for three years it is imperative that the Council should be assured of its position ere determining the occupancy and use of the land for another period of time. This, we trust, the Council will see is not an unreasonable request. A month’s delay is not of material moment, immediate action would be of an irrevocable order.