DISPOSAL OF PRESENT SHOWGROUNDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9088, 13 May 1908, Page 5

DISPOSAL OF PRESENT SHOWGROUNDS.

DISCUSSED BY THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. The question of whether the Borough should acquire the present Showgrounds as a public recreation reserve was brought up at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening. The Mayor (Mr P. L. Hollings) outlined the steps he had taken in writing to the A. and P. Association and procuring an offer from them (the offer being read). He.said it was a matter purely for the ratepajers, but at the same time he thought that the town should seize the opportunity to acquire a suitable/reserve for recreative purposes. H 3 instanced the loss which Wellington had suffered in losing Miramar, and thought Masterton should not have the same regret later on when it now ha'l the opportunity of acquiring a very suitable ground for the purposes mentioned. He asked the Council to support him in at least placing the matter before the ratepayers whatever opinion they might have in regard to the proposal itself. He suggested that before this was doneacommittee should be set up to discuss the offer of the A. and P. Association, going fully into details to see if the offer was a good enough bargain for the Council to recommend the public to adopt. Cr Haughey was the only dissentient to the Mayor's suggestion. He traversed His Worship's statements that the Borough would De acquiring a ground it needed, contending that the Park still had a large waste area which could be utilised. He'said Miramar furnished no parallel to what might occur at Masterton, as Wellington was circumscribed with hills and* Miramar was the last available flat area within easy access of the city.

The Mayor moved that a committee composed of Crs Hunter, Ewington, Yarr, Elliott, Pauling- and the mover be set up to inquire into and report upon the A. and P. Association's offer, the report to be made to the special meeting of the Borough Council next Wednesday night.

This was carried, Cr Haughey dissenting.