MOUNT ALBERT ROADS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 225, 20 September 1913, Page 9

MOUNT ALBERT ROADS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —With reference to a letter published in your columns on the 15th inst., under the heading of "'Mount Albert and Greater Auckland," and signed by Mx. J. L. Harrison, I would point out as follows: —Re Mornrugside Reserve: This clause is entirely misleading, as the reserve is let from year to. year onjy,.. and_ for grazing purposes alone,, which -lease expires - on the"3ffth msir " Thepublic have not at.any time been debarred by the Domain Board from, the free use of the ground. This reserve was acquired from the Government with a. view to meeting the future require; ments of the borough, and is conveniently situated with regard to both trams and trains. Asquith Avenue: The land referred to cannot be taken from the people under any circumstances, even should all the frontages be subdivided. Eden. Park: Your correspondent states that this is private property, and, therefore, likely to be sold and subdivided at any time. The actual facts are that the grounds are the property of the Auckland Cricket Association, and have been recently leased by such to thn Auckland Rugby Union for a term oi twenty-one years, with the option of a renewal for further term of same length. As the unions referred to are now engaged in spending some thousands of pounds upon permanent improvements on the grounds the absurdity of Mr. Harrison's Temarks is very evident. Railway reserves were termed "air spaces" only, inclusive of the railway rontes, and certainly form breathing spa.ces. With regard to school grounds, 1 merely mentioned such spaces in consequence of a recent deputation's remarks to Mr. Parr, and I drew ,-tttention in my report to the Council that the Education Board had not been remiss in safeguarding the children's interests by securing such comparatively large areas as playgrounds. Although it has been pointed out that such schoolgrounds are open only during school hours, these grounds can always be secured for school sports—open to all with the consent of the committees. I did not state that the Point Chevalier School was within the .borough, but said that it was upon the boundary. I did state, however, tha,t most oi the children attending such school do.live in j Mount Albert. Incidentally 1 may men- I tion that this school has a very fine swimming bath, presented by the Hon. George Fowlds, to which my Council I I supplies water free of charge. j Mr. Harrison, in referring to the Men- ' ! tal Hospital grounds, states that same I : are not in Mount Albert borough, and | that the same should not have been in- ' eluded in my statement. If he had first taken the trouble to refer to an un- I official map of Eden County before rushing into print he wouxd have seen that my statement regarding the block of | 56 J acres (on part of which Dr. Beattie'3 I house stands) is quite correct. Your correspondent also says he "only stated the bare truth, however unpalatable it may be"; it appears to mc, Sir, that the "unpalatableness" is on the other side, for after the great flourish of trumpets made in the formation oi the Mount Albert Ratepayers and Electors' Associa-1 tion—which was to act as a kind of I "guardian angel'" to the Borough Coun- I ; cil—it is only too apparent that the rate- j payers have not "taken the association I at all seriously. j ■ While the full details cannot be made : ' public at the present stage for several reasons, I propose shortly to submit to j the Council a scheme tor securing a large ! area of land situated in the heart of j • the borough, to be set apart for all ! time a? a recreation ground. Negotiations towards this desirable end have been in progress for some months past. A progressive scheme for the genPral im- j provement of the borough will be laid before the ratepayers at no very distant date, and I tniet this will have the j support of the Ratepayers' Association '' every little helps!-—I anj. etc., i M. J. CO"TLE, flayer of lit. Albert. I,