’WARE RUSSIANS!

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 41, 11 May 1927, Page 9

’WARE RUSSIANS!

NORTH HEAD “GRABBED”

DEVONPORT CITIZENS' GRIEVANCE WANT SITE FOR PARK “The Russians are coming!” The old scare cry of the ’Bo's has long since been forgotten in every part of New Zealand with the exception of Devonport. As a result of the war scare of those far-off days, the marine borough lost its most valuable park site.

A paternal Government imbued with the possibilities of North Head from a defence point of view compulsorily acquired it, and fortified this commanding postion in Auckland's harbour. NURSED A GRIEVANCE The Borough of Devonport, which was gazetted in 1896, the year of this acquisition, has ever since nursed a grievance. Devonport citizens claim that this area, formerly in the Waite-

mata County Council’s district, is their own.

“It is ours and we want it,” the de-puty-Mayor of Devonport, Mr. T. Hislop, told the director of town planning, Mr. Hammond, at a special meeting of the council to-day. / KITCHENER’S DECISION From a defence point of view, he declared, the North Head was useless. Lord Kitchener, when he inspected the area, condemned it for any such purpose.

North Head was in such a direct line of fire tliat it would be impossible to attempt its defence. “It is one of the finest park sites in the whole of New Zealand, if not in the world,” said Mr. Hislop, “and we want it back. It is ours, and does not, strictly speaking, belong to the Government.” NARROW NECK, TOO! Devonport also has a bone to pick with the Defence Department in con-

nection with Narrow Neck. Here, it is submitted is more parkland, the privileges of which should be enjoyed by the citizens. “On one of the most valuable sites for n park in the vicinity of Auckland,” declared Mr. Hislop, “there is nothing but in old stable.” The reply of the director was tactful in the extreme. Strictly speaking, he said, the question of the acquisition of these sites did not come within his jurisdiction. At the same time he promised to investigate the position when inspecting the borough.