DOMAIN LANDS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20495, 11 May 1938, Page 9

DOMAIN LANDS

| WORK DURING YEAR HAMILTON BOARD'S PROGRESS PROVISION OF SPORTS GROUNDS “During the past year the usual maintenance work has been carried out on the board's lands.” said Mr W. H. Paul, chairman, in his report at the annual meeting of the Hamilton Domain Board last evening. “New ! work at Hinemoa Park was completed during the year and this area now makes a valuable addition to the playing areas for sports bodies,” he 1 continued. "The Hamilton Amateur 1 Athletic and Cycle Club had the use of this ground during the summer months, and for the winter season the ground is being used by the primary school football clubs. The question of dressing sheds and conveniences is i under consideration, and it Is hoped that the incoming council will join the board in meeting the expense at least ! of the conveniences. | At the Lake reserve further im- ! provements have been carried out to the drive and pathways: additional seats provided. The golf links are | at present closed for improvements and are being put into first-class order and : top-dressed. The Lake reserve conI tinues to attract an increasing number j of citizens, and many outside schools and other bodies have utilised the picnic grounds for their annual picnic. The bathing area provided pleasure for thousands of bathers during the long summer. The formation of an ' additional bathing area at the Frankton end of the lake was considered by the board a few years ago, and it was . decided to defer any actual work in this direction until the road was permanently laid down by the council. Clearing of Sections I “During the past year the board j has had the use of extensive relief I labour for the clearing of noxious ! weeds, blackberry and gorse from the unlet sections of the board. The i blackberry, however, on some of the ■ sections is commencing to grow as > thick again as ever. The difficulty 1 with these sections is that they are i small areas scattered over different parts of the borough, and for most ; part During the year these lands were offered for lease in 1 building lots at low rentals, but only ! four sections were taken up. ; Improvements to Galloway Park at > Hamilton East have been practically | completed and the whole area has | been sown In grass and fenced. This i park comprises some 1G acres, pori tion of which, by levelling, could be { made into ideal sports areas, but the | cost of levelling will be fairly ex--1 pensive. ‘"The requirements of the sports bodies are increasing and more grounds are required for ladies' hockey and Association football. Rugby League football has been reformed, and is also seeking grounds. Unfortunately all the sports bodies naturally want central grounds, either Steele Park or round about Seddon Park, but as there are no large central areas available, sports bodies will in future have to go further out. The fencing of the cricket pitches at Seddon Park has somewhat restricted the Association footballers’ grounds, while the ladies hockey also would like grounds at present being used by the Association footballers. “The death of the late Mr E. Phil-lips-Turner during the year removed from the board a valuable member, whose knowledge of trees was of very great assistance. Mr F. W. Platts was appointed in his stead.” Mr W. H. Paul was re-elected chairman of the board and Mr F. A. Swarbrick was appointed deputy-