GIFT OF GRATITUDE

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 507, 20 February 1920, Page 2

GIFT OF GRATITUDE

TOWN HALL SITE. VALUED AT £3OOO. RESULT OF CHANCE REMARK. A most remarkable example of what may result from a chance remark occurred in Pukekohe a few days ago, in connection with proposed sites for a town hall and municipal buildings at Pukekohe. Chatting to a, prominent local 'business man (Mr. William Roulston) on the subject, the Mayor of Pukekohe (Mr. C. K. Lawrie) jestingly remarked that Mr. Roulston might give his private park and tennis court to the municipality for a hall site. The matter passed off at the time as a joke, but next day Mr. Roulston informed the Mayor that he had been thinking over the suggestion, and had decided to offer the site as a free gift to the borough, if so be they desired it. If not, then, no harm could be done by the offer. The matter came up before the Borough Council at the meeting on Wednesday night, but in committee, as Mr. Roulston war. rather diftiilent about bringing the matter into the. limelight. However, since the meeting, acting on the feeling of the councillors, the Mayor approached Mr Roulston and secured his permission to make the offer public. The land referred to contains approximately two acres, situated on the corner of East Street and Franklin Road, and comprises a private park, dotted with shrubbery that must have taken about ten years to grow; also a private tennis court alongside. This court would, in the event of the property passing over to the municipality, become a public court.

The site is central enough, being about half-way between the post office and the railway station, and the position is a splendidly commanding one. From a platform superimposed i>n a hall erected on this site, one could obtain a magnificent view of the whole district.

The motives inspiring Mr. Revision's action are extremely worthy ones: acknowledging the fact that he lias done well commercially in Pukekohe, the donor offers this splendid property (which is worth at least

£3OOO in the open market) as a gift of gratitude to the district wherein lie has prospered. A few weeks ago the "Times" bewailed the fact that so few men who had done well in ihis district had made provision ia their wills for any gift in return. Mr. Roulston has gone one better than this journal suggested, and, instead of waiting until after his demise to have his acknowledgments made to the district, he has taken time by the forelock and opportunely offered a handsome gift to the town ;md district, which, if accepted, will redound to his credit in the eyes of the present generation and of posterity.