THE PEOPLE’S ESTATE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5050, 31 May 1877, Page 2

THE PEOPLE’S ESTATE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES,

Sir,— -In your issue of yesterday is a most admirable letter signed “ G.,” referring to the proposed sale, on the sth June, of the leases of the Town Belt. I propose to supplement the remarks of your correspondent, and, if possible, to strengthen the very proper conclusion he has come to iu the last paragraph of his letter.

The subject of protecting the people’s estate, i.e., the public reserves, against acts of vandalism audspoliation,iscoutinuallyengagirig the attention of the Legislature, and requires careful watching. I am not now going to refer to the disposal of the public reserves generally, though a great deal might be said upon that subject condemnatory of the action taken. I will confine myself to the people's reserve, the Town Belt, proposed to bo leased (according to a map published) on the sth of June next. I have before me an original map, IS-10, of the city of Wellington, upon which is delineated the Town Belt, an uninterrupted and magnificent estate, given by the New Zealand Company to the citizens of Wellington in perpetuity. A judicious management of this beautiful estate would have made Wellington, ns was originally intended, one of the finest cities iu the Southern Hemisphere. hi any of the old settlers, and there are still some left, will corroborate what I state upon this point. The first act of spoliation committed was that of Sir George Grey during Ins first Governorship, when he took out of the original Town Belt a large piece, now known as the Wesleyan Reserve, .and also a piece for the natives on the Ohiro boundary. Colonel Wakefield, as agent for the New Zealand Company, remonstrated with Sir George Grey. As the relations between the British Government and the New Zealand Company were not then of the most pacific nature. Colonel Wakefield’s remonstrances against these acts of vandalism were made iu vaxpftv After the surrender of the New Zealand fVihpany’s charter, and up to the time of the introduction of the Constitution Act, the Town Belt was denuded of the beautiful timber with which it was principally covered; in fact, it was a sort of “no'man’s laud.” At the same

time the citizens highly prized it, and looked with a jealous eye upon any one who*attempted ** to appropriate it.'* On the introduction, of representative institutions, the Provincial Government for several years had charge of the Town and the Town Belt, and on the 10th of June, 186*2, Session 0, No. 14, was passed the Act for the management of the city reserves. Under this Act, the Superintendent appointed a Board of Commissioners, who granted the Town Belt leases now expiring. The Town Board Act was then passed, and the Town Belt came under t e management of tiic city authorities. Afterwards the Municipal, Act came into operation, and the City Council became the managers. In 1371 1 protested against the action of the Provincial Council, who were applying to Parliament to grant powers to the Corporation to deal with the public reserves; and in order to make myself more fully understood 1 make an extract from a letter addressed to Mr. Kelham on the subject “at /Mistime time that X was one of the City 'Reserve Commissioners” with Mr, I 1 itzherbert arid others who, a few years ago, leased the Town Belt, under tie Management of the City Reserves Act, Session 9, No. 14: —“Ibelieve that the whole proceedings were illegal, and that the special reserves of the New Zealand Company of the Town Belt, &c., should not have been alienated from the original use for which they were intended ; and there is no doubt that when the New Zealand Company surrendered their charter, the original contract entered into by the purchasers of land was left in the hands of the Crown, to be carried out in its integrity.” Not only has the Town Belt been leased, but portions have been taken »ut for College, Hospital, and Education reserves, and various other acts of spoliation have been committed; and now it is proposed, if the inhabitants will tamely submit to it, to lease the belt for a further term of fourteen years, and deprive the inhabitants of the use of land originally left for the benefit of the health and recreation of the people. At all events, what there is left of the Town Belt should be planted, toads made to and through it, and more facilities afforded to the inhabitants for pleasant walks and drives than at present exist. I could say a great deal more on the subject, but do not wish to be wearisome, —I may return to the subject in a future letter.—l am, &c., J. Howard Wallace.