RECREATION GROUNDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 59, 8 March 1912, Page 9

RECREATION GROUNDS.

ADDING TO THE ftJtEA. A PROPOSKD EXCHANGE. The acquisition by the City Council ot that area known as the Chinese Gardens, involving flj acres in Stanley-street, lot •conversion into a Tecreation reserve, was considered by the Council at its meeting last night. A letter was received from the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, forwarding a <-opy of the Board's recent resolution, inviting the Council to discuss a proposal for an exchange ol the Domain Hill (owned by the municipal corporation) and the bH-anley-street reserve lowned by the Board).

Mr. Mackay said the Hospital Board, of which he wa-s President, was not prepared to entertain any proposition unless the Couneil wa,s prepared to pay at least £7OOO for the site.

Mr. Michaels said he thought there was plenty for the Works Committee to do without wasting its time over such a proposition. Mr. Condin said he was at a loss to understand the offer of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. , " Mr. John Court considered that had the offer been made seriously, the Council would have 'been pleased to consider the matter. The law wouM have been of nse to the Council for recreaMon purposes, but it was of no use whatever to the Hospital Board. Mr. J. C. (ileeson said he was sorry that the Board had not had a sensible offer to make to the Council. The Council could have made the area concerned one of the fincsit recreation grounds In the Dominion.

Mr..Mackay said he thought the offer of an exchange had been iiwited because it was uo doubt thought a monetary offer might come out of the negotiations. The Mayor: That is Scotch, if you like. Mr. Todehope considered there was nothing' practicable in the offer of the Board. The Mayor said he thought the mind of the Board was to suggest an exchange, The 6J acres involved would be a mosl valuable adjunct to the Domain, and hj« thought it would be worth while the Council inquiring as to whether the area involved could not be secured. Mr. Mackay said he would only be too pleased to see the City Council purchase the land. Mr. Nerheny: But you offer to exchange it. Mr; Mackay: If the Council...ja williag (to moke a serious offer, the Hospital Board may be willing to consider it from a civ ic point of view. Mr. J. S. Dickson said he knew the in> tentton of the Hospital Board wae to secure additional ground around the hospital as the result of this exchange. £ 20,000 had been paid for a park on the western side of the city. The Council should not lose an opportunity such as this to secure a recreation ground on the eastern boundary of the city. Mr. Mennie Baid that ever since ho had known the site in question th« Hospital Board had been'unable to find any good use for it, and it bad alway* been under lease to Chinese gardeners "The Council would be able to put it to good use as a recreation reserve. J"he matter was referred to the Endowment Committee for further consideration. A further letter was received from the secretary of the Education Board on the "subject of the temporary occupation of a portion of the Lower Domain for experimental purposes in connection with the instruction of the Training College students and Technical School pupils in the subject of elementary agriculture. The Board, wrote the secretary, re« quested the use of that portion of the Lower Domain situated at the toot of the hill rising from Stanley-street to the Hospital, and lying to the east of the road leading up from the domain eHtrance. The area in question total*! about an acre, and if the Council aeoeded to the request, it is the intention- 'of ths Board to erect a small building for toe* storage, shelter, etc, ran the letter. Tins matter was also referred to the Endowment Committee.