EX-MAYOR EXPLAINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 233, 2 October 1925, Page 10

EX-MAYOR EXPLAINS.

MR. HAYDEN AT TAKAPUNA.

THAT CROWN HILL PURCHASE. OLD COUNCIL DEFENDED. Never before in the history of Takapuna has so much interest been taken in the affairs of that local body, and at present the three burning questions consist of the purchase of the reservoir site, the water supply, and streets and works. ()n Thursday, September 24, the Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J. 1). Morison. and councillors addressed a large meeting of ralepavers, when the previous council's policy was questioned. Last evening in the Foresters' Hall, the ex-Mayor, Mr. W. J. Hayden, addressed a crowded meeting, when he explained and defended the old council's policy. The Mayor and several councillors were present."

Mr. C. C. Chalmers presided, and although there were frequent interjections, the meeting was an orderly one.

Mr. Hayden said that he came forward to address the meeting with some degree of diffidence, and with the sole idea of refuting ihe remarks made about himself and other councillors at the Mayor's meeting last week. He wished it to be plainly understood that he did not intend to seek mayoral honours in Takapuna again. Had it not been for the grave attacks made upon his and the old council's honour, he would not have convened the meeting. The speaker then <_utlined at great length the history of the purchase of the Crown Hill reservoir site. The land, on which the site formed part, was bought from a Takapuna resident for £9*lo. the previous owner having paid £2200 for the property. A first mortgage of £000 was held over the property. It was well known that a first mortgage was never given for more than half the value of a piece of land. The new engineer, Mr. A. Slinger, had not commenced his duties at that time, but shortly afterwards he suggested to Mr. Hayden that it would be necessary to purchase the site. Mr. Slinger laid it down that the Crown Hill site was a:i ideal one. and the only one suitable in the district. The council was warranted in purchasing the site, as it needed pressure for fire fighting purposes.

Four of the- old councillors, said Mr. Hayden, were land agents and men who could be termed experts as far as the value of property in Takapuna was concerned. On June 11 an option over tiie" property was obtained and it was not until September that the purchase was effected. Ho had heard nothing about the matter until the night of the election when Mr. Morison was elected Mayor. Mr. Hayden said that he was standing with some friends in the crowd and he distinctly heard Mr. Mackley and Mr; Greville say, "That the yarns had . worked all right." Mr. Hayden said that he knew for a positive fact that these two councillors had searched tho records iv the Deeds Office, while he also heard that his "integrity was at stake." He challenged Mr. Greville to prove his statement to the effect that information got outside the council for anybody to make a profit over the land. Concerning the letter sent to the At-torney-General by the Takapuna Council as was mentioned by the Mayor at his meeting last Thursday, Mr." Hayden alleged that Mr. Morison had the reply in his possession at the time. Mr.' Morison: That's an absolute lie. Mr. Hayden stated that the two men who valued the land were Mr. H. M. Sheet, a retired Commissioner of Crown Lands, a man who had only been valuing about three years. He was associated with Mr. Greville ■ Mr. Greville: That's a lie. The other valuer was Mr. Tipping of Auckland. Mr. Hayden then read°'e- Xtracts from other valuers, and then read % r ep°y* from Mr. William Wallace, of Auckland, who had stated that he had never seen such a document in his Mc as the other valuers' reports.: Mr' Hallace's valuation was £7"0 _ r ' Thomas Hannah, who was the GovernShorV'l" T ,° r the w - I,ole of the North .Sho re h a d also seen the land and had valued four sections on Crown Hill at

vahialion/ " ** Government don'[- c S yCICn: X don ' fc k »°-" -d I property"X *£ to ° m " eh for «"» Baid'Mr 7 HaVn .'The*" 18 , malice on the ~art nf W ' l ° le thin S is i„. 1 " art of Bon *e ex-eouneil lors and my reputation is at stake i am still on the Power Board, and I want to clear the whole matter. Quite often my sons arrive home and say to mc" Dad, I heard a man on the boat ™y Sj™t f 2OO out of «» Crown Hill site. That is a rotten thing and I appeal for fairplay and British justice There are plenty of people in Takapuna who will give as much as we paid for the Land." (Applause). Continuing, Mr. Hayden said that Mr Thompson's name had been freely mentioned in the matter of the Crown Hill site purchase. But he would tell them all that Mr. Thompson was a straight man who had sacrificed much of his time and business for the public benefit. (Applause). Jn conclusion, Mr. Hayden expressed the hope that some of. the parochial feeling and bitterness would he done away with. Good and clean ewticisrn was quite all right, but not attacks on a man's integrity. (Apjdause).

At the conclusion of the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was accorded tiie chairman, while a motion accepting the explanations made by Mr. Hayden and expressing confidence in the integrity of the ex-Mayor, was carried with only half-a-dozen dissentients. Mr. Hayden was also assured of the esteem and regard of the meeting.