THE AUCKLAND DOMAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 138, 13 June 1893, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND DOMAIN.

This morning a deputation consisting of bhe members.of the Auckland City Council waited on the Premier, with reference to the Auckland Domain and other questions. The deputation, which was introduced by Mr T. Thompson, M .11. R., consisted of: The Mayor (Mr Crowther), and Town Clerk, Messrs Atkin, A. Kidd, Courtney, Holland, Grey, Powley, Trenvvith and Garratb. The Mayor, acting: as spokesman, said that the first question he wished to bring under the Premier's notice was that of the Auckland "Domain. The charge of the Domain had hitherto been in fclio hands of the City Council on behalf of the Government. The Council found it quite impossible to kenp the ground in repair and make necessary improvements without over-running the revenue. At present they were in debt to tho extent of some £500. What he thought desirable, in the interests of tho Domain and bhe city, was that the Domain should be placed in the hands of the Auckland City Council with a view to its future management, so that tboy might expend money on id as they did on the Albert Park and the Western Park. ' Or. Holland also spoke to the same offoct. ~ . The Premier said that ho could give them a satisfactory answer. Tho Domain at Wellington had been handed over to tho City Council by special legislation last session, and he was prepared to do the samo in the case of Auckland. He.asked the Council to draft a Bill to bo brought forward next session, vesting the Domain in the Auckland City Council. If the Council did this, then be would be pleased to give id his next assistance in the Houae, as ho certainly thought that these parks should be handed over to the control of the local bodies. The Mayor said that a Bill would bo drafted by tho Council's solicitors, as suggested by tho Premier, The Mayor also brought under the notice of tho Premier the question of tho charges of doctors for reporting cases of measles to the City Council, and also the necessity for meat inspection. He said that a Bill dealing with meat inspection would be placed bofore Parliament. The Premier said ho would look into the matter of charges made on local bodies in connection with measles cases. With reference to meat inspection, he said he would be very pleased to fcako the matter in hand, and no doubb the Government would assist tho local body in tho matter. Tho Mayor also brought under tho notice of the Premier the question of tho polieo with reference to the enforcement of the city by-laws. The Premier said that the police force was limited, bub he had given instructions that as far as practicable the police were to give every assistance in tho matter of enforcing tho by-laws of local bodies. THE STRATFORD RAILWAY 7.

A deputation of representative citizens waited upon the Premier this morning to urgo upon him the advisability of the proposed railway from Wellington coming by the West Coast connection, and to inquire if the question would be taken up by the Government in the coming session. The deputation, which was introduced by Mr T. Thompson, M.H.R., was composed of :— his Worship the Mayor (Mr Cr,owbher), Messrs Shorn, M.X.X., Lawry, M.H.It., McMillan, Kidd, Waycnouth, Olipbant and i'eacocko. Mr llalos, Enginear-iu-Chief was also present. Mr McMillan said that tho wanh of this railway was a'matter of the greatest interest to the people of Auckland. Whilst tho other centres of the colony were connected by rail, Auckland was completely isolated. The object of the deputation was to urge that tho Government would take the matter strongly in hand, and make the question of route a matter for the House. I'ho Stratford route, or West Coast connection, was tho one looked upon moat favourably by Auekianders. It would increase settlement;, as tho line would run through vast areas of tho best of land ; it would increase commerce and export, and aUord benefit to all classes of the community. On the central route ho would make little comment. Tho Committee appointed to inquire into the respective merits of the two routes w«s composed of Southern men who were utterly without bias, and they had pronouncad the central route to be useless, and had expressed their opinion thab the additional expense .would bo thrown away. He hoped the Government would take the matter in hand, and settle the line of route. If Mr Seddon would champion tho Stratford route, ho would oarn the nudying regard of the citizens of Auckland. Mr Peacoeko endorsed what Mr McMillan had f.aid, and expressed the hope that the House would bo enabled to deal with tho matter in tho coming session. He was awaro that the Government had survey parties on the West Coasb connection route, and asked, if the 'reports of officers upon the line was favourable, would such report bo regarded as the final argument with tho Government to bring it forward as a Government measure ? Tho Premier stated thab the matter had received a great deal of the Government's attention. 'Survey parties wore now engaged on the proposed West Coast connection,'and hurry might probably mean thab the best line after all wouid bo chosen. Every oxpedipneo wouid be used to push *ho work on, but undue haste must bo avoided. So far for tho route. Tho next question was tho financial one. Tho Government had at present less than £100,000 in hand, which must be husbanded with care. The smallness of tho amount would no doubt miiitate against tho West Coast line. Again, interest was divided—Wellington wanted the central route, Auckland tho other ; it will be for tho Goverement to decide. At the present Lime the Government had no right to give any opinion one way or the other, as tho data upon which they would base their decision was nob yob complebe. Such an opinion would be premature, and might even destroy what the deputation hoped for. He, himself, was totally ucbias^eci, bub ho would answer for it thab the West Coast connection survey wouid be reasonably pushed on. Tho question then to bo considered when roporis were received would bo, what lino would be tho best for the colony as a whola? In comparison with other towns, Auckland had suffered very much in tho past, thore was no doubt of that, bub they were not to look backward, but forward. At tho present time tho Government had very little in hand. Mr McMillan said that as the time must : Boon come when borrowing would have to bo resorted to, what ho wanted to urge waa thab the question of route should be settled early, so that upon receipt of the necessary funda the money could bo applied to the work at once, and no time lost. Mr Seddon said ho disagreed entirely with Mi- McMillan upon the necessity oi borrowing, and therefore failed to recognise bho superstructure erected upon that fbundatioKi, Ho thought tho colony would have been much bettor in tho past with less borrowing, and he saw no immediate neces* shy for inducing in tweh a oonrso. Mr McMillan said ho sincerely wished that borrowing could, ba done without, but still large seams ef money had bsen paid out to Southern railways,

Mr Seddon acknowledged that the Otago Central had received a grant. Speaking generally, ho said it seemed a curious proceeding to lay down a railway fireo and then trust to luck for settlement; to follow; Groat care should be exercised in these matters, for whilst fcho railway was waiting for the settlement, it would be oatinjr ifcß head off with the cost. The Government, however, would loyally adhere to the report of tho Committee. His Worship the Mayor asked if tho Government could give any inkling aa to whether they would docide at an early date or not. Mr Kidd, following:, asked how far the two survey parties had got with their work, and getting the reply from tho Premier, "Nob far," said that tho survey was decided upon six or seven months belong tho parties commenced operation?. What Aucklanders foared was that another session would pass over before anything would be done if tho survey reports did not come bofore the House. Meanwhile, the money was being frittered away. If tho comum session was missed, Aucklandera would boffin to despair of tho work ovor being commenced. Ho would like to know if the matter would bo brought before the Houss this session. Mr Shera, W.H.R., said with respect to the financial aspect, he had a scheme, which he would unfold at a Inter period, by which all difficulties con Id bo overcome. He would not enlarge upon it at present. Mr Lawry said that whilst tno Government had only £100,000 in cash, they had capital assets in land. }Jr Seddon said that at the present ho waa not in a position to state anything definitely to the deputation with respect to the route—that would all depend upon t.io report of the survey. The delay of six or seven months spoken of by Mr Kidd waa unavoidably occasioned by the Government officer to whom tho work was to be entrusted accepting an engagement in Western Australia. Ho would push on the survey, and as soon as the Government had the report they would take the House into its confidence.