SMITH'S BUSH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 19

SMITH'S BUSH.

TAKAPUNA SCENIC RESERVE. ■ GOVERNMENT AID SOUGHT. I TROPERTY TO BE BOUGHT. i I' There is n pretty piece of native bush in the Takapuna' Borough over which ' the local Council has an option. It is j .aid to he tlie only bush remaining on the ! . peninsula, and consists of about 10 acres. The whole area for which the Borough Council is negotiating amoiyits ' to approximately 33 acres. The localityis between Puriri Street and Northcote Koad. just on the boundary line between the two boroughs- Yesterday the Minister of Lands went across to have a;. look at it. The place is an ideal one for picnicker., and has some fine old puriri _, and totara trees in it. with here and ' there pretty kahikatea and other native trees- It ia close handy to Milford Beach, and it is proposed to plant other trees and shrubs in the reserve subsequent to its being purchased. At present it is privately owned, and is under offer to the Takapuna Council for £5000. The Minister was asked to give £1000 towards the purchase money. It was explained by Mr. Morrison, Mayor of Takapuna. that the property consisted of two sections, and one part of it was going to be used as a recreation ground. ' The Commissioner of Crown Lands for North Auckland (Mr. H. J. Lowe) expressed the opinion that the bush should be preserved. . When asked for a £ for £ subsidy, the Minister mentioned that Auckland was most fortunate in that direction. Out of a total annual appropriation for ' domains in the Dominion totalling £47.000, Auckland received £25,000 or £20.000. His Department nad laid down a definite policy that unless there was some special condition the £ for £ subsidies could not go on. Mr. Harris then asked the Minister if i he would give a subsidy of £ for £ on the recreation ground portion, and this could be used in purchasing the bush.

The Minister: Ah! no. Both the bush and the reserve would have to come under separate titles. He went on.to' say that he was open to argument on the question of -a subsidy on the scenic value of the property. But he could not give a lump sum on the lot- He would have to be guided by his officers as to the value. It was purely a scenic reserve, jand in no case would he subsidise on open land. "* Mr. Lowe stated that the Scenic Board had passed a resolution to the effect that Smith's Bush was a scenic reserve. I Mr. Harris, M.P.: How about a subsidy of £ for £ mi .the £3000 cost of the bush, i and not on the £2000 open land ? j The Minister: The whole thing rests ' with Parliament, and I am not prepared to go over the £ for £. Mr.. Harris: if the property was sur- • veyed. would you be prepared to give a £ for £ subsidy ? The Minister: Yes, I'll do that .I; It was further explained by - the ; Minister that if the subsidy were" given the Government would control the bush and the Council would not have the title. The Crown will not accept any mort- • [gaged.,property.. "The.title would have ' to be clear, make no mistake about that," added the Minister. "If you are in a position to notify us that you can find < your portion before the next £ for £ estimates are made ready, then we can go ahead." In order to find the cash the Takapu^" • Borough Council propose subdividing Taharoto Tark. of nine acres, and thus use the proceeds for financing the purchase of Smith's Bush. ;