SHELLY BEACH RESERVE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 April 1920, Page 3

SHELLY BEACH RESERVE.

QUESTION OF TRANSFER.

In connection with the above reserve, comprising 30H acres, which in 1913 was handed over to the Government as a public reserve by Mr James McLeod, the following correspondence has 'been handed to us by Mr McLeod for publication :— Takapuna, April 22nd, 1920. Dear Mr MgLeod. When in Wellington last week the Minister for Lands asked me to be good enough to get the Shelly Beach Park gift completed. The Crown Solicitor has prepared the transfer from you to H.M. the King and this I have awaiting j your signature. The Minister is anxious that you shall accept the Chairmanship of the Domain Board which will conthe Park and I have told him there no doubt you will be willing to accept the position. I presume you will be in daring the next few days in which Qk case will you kindly meet me at time Nfcid place it suits your convenience.— Very sincerely yours (Signed) . -4* ALEX. HARRIS •^ • (M. P. for Waitemata.) Helensville, April 27th, 1920. Mr A. Harris, Dear Sir, —I am in receipt of yours of 22nd inst, re the dedication of Shelly Beach Park. In reply I may state that I cannot understand why this matter has ' stood so long. In 1913 1 forwarded to the Prime Minister, the then Minister for Lands, an authority for him to take and proclaim the 30 acres at Shelly Beach (Aotearoa) a Park Reserve and I concluded it had been done, but later I discovered it had not been tafcen. lam quite prepared, nnd always have been, to sign the transfer to His Majesty the King. In the meantime I would be pleased if the Minister for Lands would inform me how he proposes to constitute the proposed Board of Control. —I remain yours respectfully JAMES McLEOD. Following upon a visit to Wellington by Messrs H. Aitkenhead (chairman of the Waitemata County County Council), G. Jackson (County Engineer) and Mr A. Harris, M. P., the following report in respect to the above matter was submitted to the Council at its last meeting by the Engineer : — In 1913 Mr McLeod wrote to the Minister of Lands offering a piece of land containing 30 acres 2 roods and 15 perches, for the purpose of a Public Domain. This piece of land did not go to high water mark along the wharf frontage. Mr McLeod's request would have been given effect to, but for a telegram from the Council asking foi proceedings to be stayed. bo Mr McLeod placed no restrictions upon this gift further than nominating the Domain Board. Subsequently Mr McLeod wrote offering a portion of the strip of land betweer the P;ark and high water mark as a marine reserve, with a reservation that power was to be reserved to make a • * charge fqr crossing the land on certair days in the year, Mr McLeod proposec •till to hold a piece of the water frontag< between the Park and the high wate mark- There is no legal way of doinj as Mr McLeod asked with this piece o: laud, and I understand letters from tin Department to Mr McLeod were not re plied to.

J suggested that the Lands Department should act upon Mr McLeod's original letter, and forward a deed of transfer to the King of the Park, bat the Department was not favourably disposed to this proposal, being of opinion that it was desirable that the whole of the land should be created a Public Domain. After much discussion it was decided that the Lands Department should tender to Mr McLeod a deed of transfer of all the land, and mi^gest th >t the Domain Board should make by-laws fixing a charge on certain days in the year. Mr Harris undertook to interview Mr MeLeod in the matter.

A shire council recently advertised for a surveyor and sanitary inspector at a ■alary of £100 per year. Among the applications the alderman got this : "Dear sirs—Herewith receive my appli- ;' . cation tor the dual position of surveyor and sanitary inspector. lam good looking, speak three languages, and am learning others. In addition to performing the duties in your advt., lam willing, withput extra remuneration, to act as care- • taker of municipal buildings, and fireman, and assist in cleaning the streets and collecting house refuse. Should the Boil b.e clayey I will naake bricks in my spaj-e • time. I attach only one conditiqnto this application, viz. , that permission be granted me to keep fowls and a cow, so ■vw^ that I might provide the poor of the diswith eggs and milk free." Some'ijow vr other the council didn't appoint '■him.