PAPAKURA PROPOSED PARK.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 487, 5 December 1919, Page 2

PAPAKURA PROPOSED PARK.

Description of the Site POLL FOR LOANS. (Staff Representative] Favoured in respect to endowment lands to a degree beyond, perhaps, any other town in the Dominion, the township of Papakura, strange to relate, cannot yet boast of a public park and recreation ground, Realising this anomalous position, the Papakura Town Board has decided to take a poll of the ratepayers on Wednesday, asking for a loan of £2OOO for the purchase of a site, 22 acres in extent, for a park. This land is Board endowment, on Glasgow lease to Messrs Blank and Davis, who have immensely improved the property during their tenure, having cleared it, laid it down in grass, and erected a substantial dwelling and effeoted other improvements Of the financial aspect of the matter, and the merits or demiritß of other proposed sites, the writer refrains from expressing any opinion, his purpose being merely to describe the selected property. The pros and cons of the matter have been fairly exhaustively threshed out through the columns of the Times, and the writer understands that further literature on the subject is about to be disseminated.

Bounded by Green Street on the east, the land is composed for the most part of gently falling ground, sloping to the water's edge, the north west and east being margined by an arm of the Manukau-Pahurehure Inlet. It is suggested that a row of houses should be built on the southern end, and these would become highly remunerative ; and, like the pinus insignus trees on the western face would also act as a break-wind. This statement does not imply that the place is bleak. As a matter of fact, the lower-lying portion of the ground is already well sheltered by the higher ground of the park and the adjoining country. There is ample room on the site for tennis and croquet lawns, bowling green, football ground, cricket pitch, or for any other recreative purpose, and in regard to a green, the existing wind-mill on the site would prove a valuable adjunct. But it is the water frontage that attracts the eye especially the enclosing inlet at once suggesting to one the idea of swimming and boating facilities and a fine marine parade. As the town has yet no bathing resort worth speaking of the value of this inlet to both children and adults can easily be visualised. "Vere it considered to be desirable, there would be no difficulty in partitioning off a stretch of the shore and water for children only, which proposition has its advantages.

A feature ot tne site which is beyond question a very powerful factor in its favour is that, owing to the natural fall of the whole area towards the water Nature has solved the problem of drainage This happy condition renders the possessors, present and future, free of the nightmare of facing heavy and unproductive drainage expenditure, and must carry weight with anyone having an impartial mind on the matter. This is a fortune in an area of 22 acres, or excluding roads, 18 acres. 3 roods, 3.8 perches. The valuation of the land and house, and improvements, as given by Mr Alex D. Bell (Chairman of the Manukau County Council) and Mr Joseph Flanagan (ex-Chairman of the Franklin County Council) is £1962 10s.

In conclusion, the writer would repeat that he is not concerned with the controversy on the park question, and does not care two straws whether or not the various opposing factions make a " good old Donnybrook " out of it—though, to be sure, a housn divided against itself must fall, especially whea such aspiring townships as Manurewa are close handy. But, taking an unprejudiced view of Blank and Davis's pioperty as a proposed park and recreation ground site, it seems that this site, so finely favoured by Nature, and within a few minutes' walk of the centre of the town, will take a lot of beating. The rest may he left to the local financiers, and—to the ratepayers who hope to see Papakura take its rightful place as a substantial residential town within the suburban area of the Queen City. A poll for £4-500 for roading purposes is also being taken, and though the amount is small as compared with the loan of £17,000 the Waiuku Town Board raised some years ago for roading, still it is much better than nothing at all. It is a step in the right direction. It is anticipated that if the Great South Road is taken in hand machinery for the purpose will be available on easy terms, as discussed by the Good Roads Conference.

One of the most pressing needs is a water service, but we will recur to this later.