OUR ENDOWMENT AND RECREATION GROUND.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2900, 1 June 1878, Page 2

OUR ENDOWMENT AND RECREATION GROUND.

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.) ' Sib,—The thanks of this community are due to you for the manner in which you bare taken in hand the matter of our recreation ground. "In the multitude of Councillors there is much wisdom," ia a saying that is scarcely applicable in this instance. Iveitureto assert that there. - is not a single individual Councillor that | would give £50 per ac*e for that portion ! of the Parawai Gardens now under offer ! to the public as a private speculation, | and I fail o Jce that they should be more liberal with the public funds than i they would be from their own private purses. As a recreation ground, nature never inferidecl it for such; it requires .more than a limited area of a-dead flat to satisfy the public wants. " A cricket ground " it may be, but to spend so much lof the public monpy to gratify the tew - who may indulge in such, or a game at football, woufd be a reprehensible course of procedure. With all the sports hitherto held there, I am certain 50 per cent, of the people have returned dissatisfied because of its unsuitableness. No elevation from whonce on-look'era could obtain an uninf rrupted view of the proceedings; no shady nook where shelter from, tho bot summer's sum can be secured. Should our Councillors persist in securing this small spot, surround 1 as a wall by buildings and probably manufactories of which the bone mill is the beginning,. I hope they will vote another sum to have a monument erected in the centre, with their names engraven theiv on, so that posterity may look back and reflect on their wisdom and generosity. As an endowment, what will be the result P Will there be ' income commensurate with the outlay, so that our rates may be decreased and our taxes lessened P Would there be any guarantee that other grounds better adapted by nature may not be started by private enterprise, and decoy all pleasure-seekers in another direction; in that case, what would be the revenue? For the present wants .of the community ' Tararu Gardens are- far superior to Parawai as a recreation ground, but even, that has its shortcomings, being limited in area and at the wrong end of our district. Surely there is land to be' had , • within an < sy distance of town that might embrace race-course, cricket ground, gardens, <&c eminences and flats to suit the ' tastes and requirements of all, and from which a handsome revenue would accrue. - As this is a matter that ought to be considered, not only from the present wants, but that our future ought to be looked to, it is worthy of calm deliberation, and ought to be well ventilated,'before we are committed to what will either be permanent good, or a great mistake.—l am, &C, SUBUBBAN.