MR. GEORGE’S OFFER

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 59, 4 December 1923, Page 6

MR. GEORGE’S OFFER

CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTS PLANTATION OF 133 ACRES The C'ty Council decided yesterday to accept Mr. w. H. George’s offers of land at Haywards. There were two offers. The first was of his bush land on the northern side of the Pahautanui Road 1 , at thb back of Haywards, and land which gives approach to it (alongside the stream), from the Haywards railway station, also one acre of land at Look-out Point, with the right to traverse the bush to reach that point, altogether approximately 100 acres. On this land is very beautiful native bush, and there is some good camping ground in the open. The offer was made unconditionally, and has been accepted gratefully. The entrance to this land is only 250 yards from Haywards railway station. The second offer was of 33 acres of very fine bush along the hillside and reaching the river on the northern side of the Manor House at Haywards, with a frontage of about six chains. This area connects with the land/ comprised in No. 1 offer by a common right-of-way. All Mr. George asked, in making this second gift, was that the council should in future use its best eu deavours to have the Government scenic reserve adjoining the land, opened up by a roadway for the use of the public. When this land was first offered there were a number of conditions attached, but these were deleted, and now tliie land is added to that contain, ed in the first offer, and with it goes access te the river, which should make it a popular resort for the people of the city. As regards the expenditure of civic moneys on the land, the Mayor said that it would entail little expense, as they would not keep a caretaker on the property. A little fencing might be needed to feep stock out of the bush. The land is being taken over as a plantation, so that it will not be rateable. Mr. George stated last evening that ho was also prepared to hand ovfer the lease of the island (opposite Haywards) in the Hutt River, a very fine piece of 21 acres of almost flat land, most of which is down in grass. This land, which belongs to the Railway Department, would, in Mr, George’s estima-. lion, make an ideal picuio and sports ground.