WAR MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1922, Page 4

WAR MEMORIAL.

THE MOUNT ELIOT RESERVE. SITE NOT AVAILABLE. Messrs. Govett, Quilliam and Hutchen, borough solicitors, have communicated with the New Plymouth Borough Council in reference to the legal position regarding Mount Eliot Reserve, opposite the railway station, which a deputation recently asked the council to grant as the site for the war memorial, and they advise that in their opinion it would not be safe for the council to appropriate any part of the reserve to any purpose other than a site for a town hall and publip lecture rooms without further legislative sanction. By an Act of 1898 land described as Lot 1, of Section No. 4B and Section No. 8B was declared to be held by the council as a reserve for the site of a town hall and public lecture rooms. The old town hall (now Soldiers’ Club) was removed to the site. By the Act of 1918 the same land with other land was vested in the New Plymouth Harbor Board in exchange for sections in Mount Eliot Reserve, which becomes vested in the Borough Council upon the like trusts and for the same purposes as the lands held by the council previous to the exchange. The effect of the Act of 1918 was that part at all events of Mount Eliot Reserve sections were held by the council as a reserve for the site of a town hall and public lecture rooms. Asked last night as to what would be done, the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) said the matter is one for the Borough Council to deal with at next meeting. If the council desire to see the section set aside for the purpose of a war memorial, then special legislation will be necessary.