THE COMMITTEE'S EXPLANATION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12027, 31 October 1904, Page 3

THE COMMITTEE'S EXPLANATION.

Cr. G. Pay!ing, Chairman of the City Council** Eewrvf3 Committee, was seen by a rrp«'snitativo of " The Press" regarding the statement contained in the. above loiter. ' Cr. Paylinp staled that the. reserve, had been into five, sections, the areas being. 2£ acres, 3 acres, 3J acres, 4 acrew, and 6| acre.% and itis p:-o])opccl to lease thorn for a period of tiventy-ono yea.n». If th? holders do nut renew their leases at the end of .that periwl they are to receive compensation for improvemonts they have effected. The reserve hns been lying idle for some considerable time, and the Council has expended on it. in fencing, levelling, anil planting, about £700 It is now .intended to transform it into a. revenue-producing asset, the idea being that if the pections are. offered on reasonable terms they will be taken up and built, upon. Tiro reserve is not suitable either for recreation or beautifying purposes, even >upposin^

thor. - * was any necessity or demand that it should be beautified or prepared for recreation purposes. The. reserve has a. considerable expense- to the Council owinsr to tbo difficulty experienced in keeping it free from broom, and his committee had come to tho concision that it would be easier kept in order if let in smnJl areas. Cr. Paylinp was of opinion tliat if the roscrve is let in the areas proposed, and residences are erected on the Elections, the value of private lands adjoining it will ho greatly enhanced, much more so than if the reserve, was allowed to remain idle. The- committee had no intention of allowing the wetions to be- used as pig farms, and he did not think there was much likelihood of persons engaged in that business taking them up. Tli? conditions of the* leases wilL provide that a. proper class of building shall be erected on th« sections.. The locality might )w suitable for oeTtain kinds of fasiorks. but he was certainly opposed to pig farming being carried on on the reserve. .The land being of a sandy nature would not grow sufficient fond for grazing purposes, and the Reserves Committee considered it much better to Ic6 it in sections than to keep it lying idle.