St. Michael's Square

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 84, 13 April 1904, Page 2

St. Michael's Square

FOli EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, I'ItOTEST BY TUB BO HOUGH COUNCIL, On Monday evoning the matter of St. Michael's Square caiuo before the Borough Council, when Mr K. (J. Allswortli, Chairman of the Tarannlii Education Hoard; Air N. K. MajclJtarmid, Chairman of the Hiigli School Board of (iovernors ; and Mr W. J'-. Spencer, Chief inspector under tlie Tarynaki Education Board ; attended to make representations on the subject. llr Allswortli wan the first speaker and explained that the deputation wished the council lo enter a protest against the. attempt that was bow being made to devoto part of Si. Michael's Square to revenue-pro-ducing purposes. lie had understood when the exchange of Western Park lor the square was contemplated that tlie council's intention was to .secure tlie squiare,, or Poverty Plat us it was termed, for educational purposes, pure and simple, the scheme including an extended plavgiound lor the Central School, and museum, reading-room, and technical school sites. This was the tenor of the resolution recently passu! by i the School Commissioners, when the reserve was vested in the Education Hoard. J»ow an attempt was being I made to rescind that resolution",' with a view to leasing the land for building purposes.

Mr MacDiarmid followed, referring to the fact that when the transfer of the reserves was lirst nnoolut the matter was taken up not only by townspeople, but by representatives of different parts of the province" A number of delegates of various public bodies Waited on the bfrough council in the interests of education, and at that time particular stress was laid, especially by the late Mr •James Bellriuger, on the retention of the ground lor school purposes, l.'nless this had been done the transfer would never have been sanctioned. He earnestly appealed now to the council to protest against any scheme lie would make Poverty Plat a revenue-producing reserve. f^ii 0 I £ u> , ul '' who is "'so chairman 01 tile School Commissioners, referled the meeting back a great many years to the time when the sections were secured by the late Mr .James Boilringor and himself for the borough from Mr liaise. There was no school on tlie flat than, The Government would not give up the whole of tlie sections to the council, averring that they required a portion for military purposes. Eventually the council appointed tho mayor fMiJlockrill) and Crs. Connett, Brooking and Collis a committeo to deal with tho matter. Thin committee's recommendation was adopted aft follows In October, 3802 J'hat the council agi l ?(i to the proposed exchange) of sections 098, 1003 and 1014 to 1021 (St. Michael's Sqtiaro) for education reserves ottered in the west end of (he town, subject, fo a site in St. Michael's Square for a museum and readingM-oom at the comer of Jjiardet and Lemon streets and tho remainder of the ground b-e used for school purposes. Mr Cock reviewed all phases of the matter up to the meeting when tho Commissioners resolved to vest the square in the Education Board. Now Mr Mackenzie was anxious to have the resolution rescinded, and portions of the ieserves leased. This was ridiculous. Mr Mackenzie said lie would only lease for a short term. What was the .use of that ? No one would build a house on a section If the tenure was for a few years only. And as for grazing the sections, tile trass wouhl break a horse's mouth All that they could be utilised for on short lease was Chinese Hardens H had been further suggested bv I lie Commissioner of Crown Lands'that the sections might, be leased on the lease in perpetuity svsiem. Take two acres olf the flat for a technical school site, and what would be left for the school ground? Jle hoped that the council would appoint a committeo to see that tho 1892 resolution was still adhered to. With regard to the impression that Mr Mackenzie held that the square was obtained for revenue-producing purposes in exchange for tho revemieearning sections in Westown, he emphatically declared that tilers never had been such an intention. Jn conclusion, tho mayor eulogised Mr Allswortli s energy hi this connec-

Cr. Collis agreed with tho remarks winch had ['alien front previous speakers. Ilm had intended bringing the matter belore tho council that evening, a,ml mis gl«d that it had Iveen l|roug|ht up. The .scheme t„ derive revenue from the reserve was a -distinct breach, if not of tlm letter, certainly of the spirit of the negotiations. Ho had no doubt in his mind that this was tho point on which tho whole of the transfer had hinged, ami it would never have been secured lor any other purpose than to secure Poverty Flat for educational purposes, and more especially as n site for a technical school. Them was some excuse for the action now being taken, as Sir Mackenzie was comparatively a stranger and unucqjunintcd with tho earlier stages of the movement. He could mot support or excuse any of the oM members who were now giving their liiiii'al support -U\ a b'reach oI tho agreement, or the spirit of it.. Ho moved that althoug'li it may not havo been expressly stated in' the Exchange Hill, it was certainly understood, and tho preliminary' negotiations proceeded 011 tho, IJisis that this council agreed to the introduction and passing of the Taranaki School Commissioners and Borough Exchange Act, ItJOTi, only on condition that the land described in the second schedule ot the. Act, known as St. Michael's S<(uaro, would as soon.as possible be vested in the Tiiruuuki Education Board solely for educational purposes, more especially a» a site for a 'technical school, museum and library. This council, therefore, earnestly* and emphatically protests against any of the sections in the atrove bf, 1 - ing reserved for building and re-venue-producing purposes ns u distinct breach of faith with this council, and that a copy of this resolution bo forwarded to the TaVaualfi School Commissioners), the Minister for Education, and the members for Taranaki and Etymon t. Cr. Brooking seconded. Ho was in perfect accord with tho renmrUs made by tho preceding speakers, it 1 was thoroughly understood that I lie square wan to Im used (or educational purposes only, and a great, consideration was that a large purl 01 the ground would be mailable for a playground for Ihe Central School. Cr. Clin that a committee be sel up to consider 1 lie mailer, lie was not aware of the circumstances, ami the matter had been sprung on the council. Cr. Carter thought that, if the School Commissioners persisted in breaking tho spirit of the nefipotiutions, tho mayor might call a public meeting to protest. Mr Allsworth said that Mr Mackenzie was present when the resolution was carried agreeing to the exchange Cr. Aliier said that although he was a new councillor ho was quite conversant with the facts, having read the newspapers. lie had 110 sympathy with the suggested aimndinenl to appoint, a committee, as councillors oujjht to know alfluul the exchange. Cr. CI ill' wanted to know what ail the trouble was about. Itewas entirely ignorant of the circumstances, and he believed other councillors were likewise ignorant. The motion was carried.