THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 112, 17 February 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1872.

The report of tlio joint -committee appointed to take steps for securing a recreation ground at the Thames, published in our issue of Thursday, cannot be regarded as a satisfactory document. The committee state that “ as it docs not appear that they can

take any further action in furtherance of tlic object for which they were appointed,” they therefore “ report progress” and give it as their opinion that i: any negotiations with the natives for the purchase of the site approved by the committee would have greater chances of success if the co operation and assistance of Messrs James Mackay pm. and Daniel Tookev can be obtained,” The report concludes with urging the importance of immediate action in the matter, and is signed by Messrs Dowclen, Lipscy, Scott, Allom and Spencer, and would .also have had Mr WarmolPs sanction but for that gentleman’s absence in Wellington. We cordially agree with the statement that immediate action is necessary in this matter, and we arc sorry that the committee have not been able to arrive at a more definite conclusion. Wc do not think that they are at all to blame in the matter, but, on the contrary, they deserve the thanks of the community for the trouble they have taken in the matter, and a very proper compliment was passed to them by the Waiotahi Board in moving a vote of thanks to them. At the same time wc arc as far oil' from getting a recreation ground as ever. Whether Messrs Mackay and Tookev will be able to arrange matters satisfactorily with the native owners of the site wc cannot- say, but they arc as likely a pair as any in the country to eil'ect the object in view, and wc hope they will take the matter in hand and bring it to a successful issue if possible. All arc agreed that a recreation ground here is a necessity, and it is one of the very few subjecte on which there is a unamity of opinion. Most people too will pronounce Parawai the most eligible site, as it has already been pronounced by the joint committee appointed by three local Highway Boards. As population increases suburban land will become more valuable, and a site which may be procurable now on easy terms may not be so readily obtainable at a future day. The present cemetery accommodation is very inadequate and inconveniently situated; a much more eligable place presents itself in connection with intended site of the recreation ground at Parawai near tlic river. There are few more beautiful bits of sccncby in this neighbourhood than are there presented, and that is saying a great deal, and where nature lias done so much a very little of art and cultivation would suffice to make the Thames recreation grounds second to none in the colonies. A sum of money was placed on the estimates last session for this most desirable undertaking which, however, has not been advanced any further, and we fear that the summer will again pass away before anything is done, llis Honor the Superintendent is away on a visit to Whangarei for the next three weeks, and when the Gold field s’ Secretary is going to pay us another of his long promised and very brief calls we don’t know, nor do we exactly understand how far these gentlemen can or will assist us in the matter. We must therefore be content for the present to unite our hopes in this matter with those of Messrs Mackay and Tookev, and if they can make satisfactory arrangements with the natives they will have earned an additional debt of gratitude to the many which the people of the Thames owe them for their exertions at all times to advance the interest and prosperity of the district. Their influence with the native is well known, and has often been exerted to the benefit of the locality, and we trust it may be so in the matter of the Thames recreation ground.