CONSERVING BEAUTY SPOTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 14, 16 January 1914, Page 6

CONSERVING BEAUTY SPOTS.

PARBTEIX PARK PROPOSALS. PURCHASE OF KILBRYDE. As the City Council visited Judge's Bay yesterday afternoon in connection wath park proposals, tke Mayor was seen thie morning by a representative of the Auckland '"Star," who asked if anything definite had been decided upon. "We had two separate proposals to consider yesterday afternoon,' , said tie Mayor. The first was in regard to the proposed purchase of the property of the lati Mrs. Gillies (which comprises an area of ten acres with a frontage to Judge's Bay> for the purpose of a park for recreation purposes. It 4s eoanewiat far from the tram Bervice. but still fronte a nice bay. The position is that the property was offered to mc for that purpose at a certain figureAfter inspecting the property yesterday afternoon, the Council declined to buy at the price asked, but 1 was empowered to continue the negotiations wnth the trustees. Personally, I think the Council should certainly, if possibl-e, secure a portion of this e3tate with a frontage to the beach. If we fail in that, it will mean that the hundreds who use that beach will be greatly inconvenienced, and those owning boats may in the future be dispoweseed of the privileges at present allowed them. 1 j th.rnk that the Council will ultimately decide to secure a portion of that property under the Public Works Act, ii it cannot be done by private agreement, j I am still trying to come to a friendiy arrangement with the trustees, but the whole thing turns upon a question of price. Oif conrse, even if I succeed in making a satisfactory ■arrangement, it will etfl! be ea-bject to ratification tiy the ratepayers. "The other proposal we had to consider yesterday afternoon -was one made to mc some time since by Mr. J. H_ Gunson, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. I have had several conversations with Mr. Guneon upon the matter, but am not prepared to give detaiU until they have been submitted •to the Council. " Generally speaking, 1 may say. however, that the proposals, ii carried out. would entail the cutting doum of Campbell's Point to the extent of a-bout three acres, and it is proposed, as compensation for the land so taken,' to hand over to the City Coundi about! a similar area of Kilbryde Eeta-te, that property having been purchased outright I by the Board. I presume the idea" id i to use the spoil from Point' for the eastern tide deflector, and ateo for other reciamation purposes on the I foreshore. No doubt a very great smjprovement would result if Quay Street was carried past Campbells Point to IJudge-s Bay. but I may say that the ■Councillors present yesterday ex- ! pressed very strong "views "against! ■ any scheme which would involve the ■ t destruction of Campbell's Point, and I ; was authorised to make a statement j ;to that effect to tbe Heibour Board. Certaic of the members of the Council ; expressed _Hk- hope that if the Harbour ! Board failed to secure a portion of (Campbell's Point, it would not mean I taking necessary spoil from Kilbryde, (which, besides being beautiful, is really j historic ground, as having been so lon» ■ the home of the late Sir John j Campbell, one of Auckland's greatest benefactors.' .