CONTROL OF THE DOMAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4277, 8 February 1884, Page 2

CONTROL OF THE DOMAIN.

Proposal of tho City Council to Talco It Over.

Thih matter camo forward for consideration nt the mooting of tho City Council last night, on tho motion of His Worship the Mayor, " That this Council take into con - sidoration tho advisability of respectfully requesting His Excellency tho Govcrnor-in-Council to transfer the control of tho Auckland Public Domain to the Auckland City Council, pending the same being vested in tho burgesses by the Legislature. Having moved his resolution, tho Mayor read tho following telegram roceived from tho Colonial Secretary :—" In reply to your telegram re application for leoso to Auckland crickoters, application not yet recoived; when receivod it will be duly considered." His Worship proceeded to say that he had brought forward this resolution in the belief that it was tho proper courso to pursue, as none were so well qualified to look ufter tho interests of tho public as thoso answerable to them. With all due deference to tho present Domain Board, lie could not overlook tho fact that it was composed of nominees, while he was convinced that nominee institutions could not exist alongsido representative ones. Ho had conceived no antipathy objection or feeling against tho crickotors or the votaries of any other amusement, and his only object was to do tho best for tho benefit of tho public. It might be said that others had something to do with tho question, but ho felt that no other representative body had tho means to assist in its maintenance. Ho romeinborcd tho Domain for 35 years now, and ho believed that tho planting of a fow trce3 and tho cutting of a few paths had been tho only outcome of tho exertions of tho Domain Board and tho General Government during that time. On tho other hand, if control woro handed over to tho City Council, it would not bo long until a great deal would bo done in tho way of improvement. The grazing rights and garden had botli been let, while tho Acclimatisation Society had a portion of the reserve, its enclosure being a waste within a fence. At prcfiont, ho know thero was no power to transfer control to the Council, legislation being necessary to secure that object. Ho would bo willing to add to his motion t'..at tho Legal Committee draw up a request to bo forwarded to the-Qovernor. —Cr. Fleming suggested that thero wistfefc question of ways and means to be eonsidored, and hinted at tho possibility of another rato being imposed to maintain tho Domain. — Cr. Aickin said tho ultimate object of tho motion had his warmest sympathy. Ho had urged the samo idea in the Domain Board himself, and ho believed that Board would bo only too glad to hand ovor their trust to a body like tho City Council, which had means at its disposal, and could do justice to such an estate. Tho smallest sum necessary for maintenance and required improvements would bo £1,000 per annum, ana that would bo money well spent. Regarding tho form of tho motion, ho might say that ho did not think there was any intention to insult or snub tho Domain Board, but thoro wero always courtesies duo from one body to another, and even though tho Domain Board might have made -mistakes, they wero still a body of gentlemen, and should bo treated as such. Therefore, he thought it would bo better to put tho motion in tho form that tho Committee should confer with the Domain Board in some form. Simply to ask the Government to wipe them out of existence- '.»"« an arbitrary proceeding.— -Tho Mayor expressed his willingness to agree to the suggestion. Cr. Garratt thought something should bo adduced as to probable revonue, and suggosted that as tlioy were to confer with tho Domain Board thoy should also confer with Parnell, on which a largo portion of tho Domain frontago abutted. —Cr. Mackechnio said it would do better for the Legal Committee to consider tho best way of approaching His Excellency to secure tho object in view.— Cr. Aickin thought if thoy wero to ask Parnell and Newmarket anything, it should bo to contribute towards tho cost. — Cr, Dovore referred to tho revenue that might accrue by basing tho allotments outside the Domain, and pointed out that something must bo done to maintain the Cricket Ground for recreation purposes, or thoy would probably' not get it. They could take it that cricketers and footballers wero a stronger body than was generally supposed, and had their sympathisers as well as their workers, —Cr. Mackechnio said it had been suggested to tho Domain Board to let tho outer rim of the Domain, but that had been objected to.—His Worship said if they got the Cricket Ground the cricketers would have the use of it, but not tho oxclusivo uso.—Cr. Crowther: Do the cricketers ask for tho oxolusive use ? —Cr, Devore : They oniy ask for the right to charge four days in the year.—Cr. Aickin (to the Mayor): How can you say whether thoy shall havo the exclusive use or not 1 You can only speak for yoursolf, and not for tho Council.—Tho Mayor: I did not presume to say that I could. That was simply my own opinion. I tako it that the Council would be blinder than they seem if they were- to agree to such an intention. —Cr. Aickin: So I believe.—Cr. Masefiejd eajd ho and other members of the ijomain Board wero anxious that they should take tho control, and ho thought they should confer with that body first. Jf they were going to work against the Domain Board, they could depend upon it that tho Domain Board would also work against them. Unless tho Domain Board were consulted, the neglect might lead to opposition of a moro healthy character than they anticipated. — Cr. Crowther thought Parnell should be oonsulted. The Mayor had said that Parnell was handicapped and could not assist in maintenance, (Tho Mayor : No, I didn't), but were they not handicapped themselves, seeing they were responsible for £27,000 interest ? The Parnell Borough had oqual rights with the Council, and should be consulted, The Council had now as many endowments as they could afford to keep up, and they should havo something specific to tempt them before they undertook this. If they knew they could let the outer frc ntages and make it self'supporting, then there might be some encouragement. He thought they wero trying to drown a rat before It was in the water, soeing that the cricketers had not applied for tho lease at all yot. Cr. Holland pointed out that Parnell was sufficiently represented on the Domain Board to conserve its interests.—The motion was then carried, with the addition referring to the Legal Committee, and providing for that body to consult the Domain Board,