POPULAR MOTUIHI

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 892, 8 February 1930, Page 1

POPULAR MOTUIHI

MINISTER OF HEALTH VISITS ISLAND DESIRE FOR FIXED TENURE For the purpose of viewing those portions of Motuihi Island which are used for recreation purposes and over which the Auckland City Council has been given provisional control, a visit to the island was made yesterday bv the Minister of Health, the Hon. A.' J. Stallworthy, in company with the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G, Baildon, and the Town Clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham. The Coates Government, informally gave the council possession of the land behind the two principal beaches in 1928 and the public was allowed access to these parts of the island and to the road connecting them. The quarantine station and the large area used by the Department of Agriculture remained out of bounds. Large crowds visited the island last summer, and again th'i summer, in spite of the bad weather conditions which have prevailed. To validate the expenditure incurred by the council, a clause was inserted in the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill last session, stating that the council had been “given possession” of portions of the island, and that it was intended to vest the control of the island, or a portion thereof, in the council, to be administered as a domain.

The previous expenditure incurred by the council in improving and managing the property was validated by the clause. The council had conferred upon it all the powers of a domain board pending the formal vesting of control in it as such a board. A proviso was inserted that the council might not carry out further works or improvements without the consent of the Minister of Lands.

It is the desire of the council to develop the island as a marine resort by erecting the necessary conveniences and buildings, and to this end it is hoped that a definite settlement will be reached regarding the permanent tenure and the exact area to be vested in the council.