FUNDS FOR CITY RESERVES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12608, 19 November 1926, Page 7

FUNDS FOR CITY RESERVES

COMPENSATION FOR THORNDON ESPLANADE NOT YET SETTLED LARGE PORTION SPENT AT TE ARO SPORTS BODIES DESIRE ITS RETURN FOR RECREATION PURPOSES Considerable pressure is to be brought, to bear upon the City Council on th'e subject of extensions and improvements to various reserves, and a deputation representing all sports and athletic bodies is to wait upon the City Council on December 2nd to support proposals which it is anticipated that the Reserves Committee will include in the forthcoming estimates. -They also d'esire that the sum allocated from the Thoradon Esplanade compensation fund to road widening, etc., on Te Aro reclamation shall be restored to the fund and ’expended on Reserves, for which purpose the compensation was earmarked by legislation in 1921.

It will be within the memory of most residents that, some few years ago, the Thoradon Esplanade was requisitioned by the . Railway Department, which then had in mind plans for a new railway station for both the Manawatu and Hutt and Wairarapa lines. At one time Thoradon promenade was a popular resort in the city", having an avenue of trees, seats, and a bandstand among its attractions. Its scenic attractions iiave long been ex. tinguished by the development of commercial enterprise. The loss of the esplanade was not permitted without the city receiving compensation, which point has been under negotiation between the Railway Department, the City. Council and Wellington Harbour Board, whiclT is also interested in the matter. Even at this date the amount of compensation has not yet been settled, and the matter has been complicated or delayed owing to the construction and ’ widening of'roads on the Te Aro reclamation. A certain amount of land was required for this purpose, ! and here, also, the same three authorities were involved. It is understood that the compensation for the land required at Te Aro will be set off against the compensation ’ for giving up Thoradon Esplanade, but will still leave a considerable sum to come to the city. FOR RECREATION PURPOSES In the Washing-Up Bill the session before last provision was made allowing a certain gum—understood to be about £16,000 —to be taken from the Thoradon compensation fund for the work on Te Aro reclamation, although the legislation passed in 1921 provided that compensation for the loss of the Thoradon Esplanade shall be expended for the recreation of the inhabitants of the city of Wellington. Having that point in mind, the various spqrts and athletic bodies, through' the New Zealand Sports Protection League, is moving to Vive the amount expended on Te Aro to the Thoradon fund, so that the whole of the compensation, when a sum is agreed upon, shall be devoted to the purpose for which it was originally intended, namely,- recreation. / MONEY FOR RESERVES As the result., of a circular letter

which has been sent to thAa numerous athletic and sporting bodies affiliated to the Sports Protection League, it is probable that a large and representative deputation will wait upon the City Council at its meeting on December 2nd to prefer the request abovementioned.

Shortly after the last municipal election a list of the most urgent' works required in regard to playing areas and baths were brought befoi-e the notice of. the reserves committee, which, after considering them, approved of certain works, and made provision for them on the estimates. Having regard to other proposals which were laid before the finance committee, and which involved considerable expenditure, and would have meant an increase in the ra£es, the of the reserves committee were struck out of the estimates, with a view to placing a loan proposal for a sum approximating to £IOO,OOO for works on city reserves.

From time to time various proposals have been,, discussed by the committee, but none of the big works considered necessary two years ago have yet been sanctioned by the council. It is believed that the Deserves committee is now making a start on its estimates for next financial year, and that something like £50,000 may find its way into the estimates far some of the works which it is hoped to carry out. Some of the proposals are stated to include the acquisition of land at Kaiwarra and Miramar for playing grounds, the completion of Western Dark, Karori, the formation of grounds at Nairnville, increased dres-sing-shed accommodation at Wakefield Park, erection of golf-houses and increased financial provision for tepid swimming baths, as well as minor proposals.

Owing to the small amount of progress which has been made in any of these directions, although a few of the proposals have been before the committee and the council for years in some cases, and. have been the subjects of numerous deputations, the-special committee appointed by the qports bodies desire to support wtiatewer proposals the reserves committee has to make, and to that end will make reference to them when the deputation attends before the City Council.