BOTANIC GARDENS AND CEMETERY RESERVES.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 55, 6 March 1891, Page 3

BO TAN IC GARD ENS AND CEMETERY RESERVES.

BOTH PROPERTIES TO BE VESTED IN THE CORPORATION. j In accordance with an arrangement made j at last night's meeting of the City Coanoil, a deputation, consisting of the Mayor (Mr. A. W. Brown), Councillors Smitb, Clere, Harris, Parsons), Anderson, Willcaton, and the Town Clerk, waited upon the Premier this mornin? to ask that the Botanio Gardecs' and Cemetery Reserves should be banded over to the City Coanoil. Mr. T. W. M'Konzie was also prcßsnt during the interview. The Mayor, in preferring the request, pointed out that the idea of keeping the Botanio Gardens qb a kind of colonial nursery seemed to have been abandoned, and inasmuch as the Board of Governors had virtually no revonue other than the onesixth of the Towu Belt rents (some .£l9O or £W0), it was thought th« City Counoil was the proper body to have control of the gardens. If it were so handed over, the citizens would no doubt be prepared to content to further expenditure in beautifying the grounds. Ah to the cemetery, it was of the utmost importance that it should be I closed as soon afl possible, except as ■gainst snoh near blood relations of thoso already buried as had freshold rights There was also a feeling that it was desirable to absolutely olose the oemetery as early as possible, and something might be arranged in the way of giving to freeholders corresponding rightß in the new burial ground. The portion of the reserve which had not been used for bnrial purposes could be made into a reoreation ground for Ihoxndpn, and if there were any technical objections to giving the Council possession of the whole reserve, the Government might at least let the city have that portion. The Premier said the present Botanio Gardens Board was strongly opposed to the idea of the gardens being handed over, but the ohief reason urged by the Counoil, viz , that the oity provided nearly the whole of the funds for the maintenance of the grounds, was a very strong one. Parliament had discontinued the annual grant of £500 whjoh was formerly granted, and on looking through all the papers on the aubjeot, he had seen very good grounds why the gardens should belong to the city By doing so, the same object would be gained as in the past, beoanse the gardens would still be open to the publio, and thay would be v.ado inalienable. His own opinion that they onarht to bo handed over was supported by the other members of the Government, but he was" not sure whether it would be better done by one of the city representatives introducing a Bill for the purpose, or by the Government legislating on the subject. In either case the Government would assist the projeot to the utmost of their power Another way of proceeding would be that of bringing the grounds undor the Domains Act, in whioh oaso the City Counoil would have to be constituted a Domain Board to spend any moneys that might be voted by the oity. Charges might ho brought against the people of Wellington that they had not done all they could in the past to beautify the oity, but that was no reason why they should not do their duty now seeing that publio opinion had undergono a change. Those who had hid charge of the gardens in the past had made the best use of the means at their disposal, but JB2OO a *year would not do very much. In regard to the Cemetery, ho could see no objeotion to handing it over to tho Corporation as soon as the now Karori Cemetery came into use. As to olosing it altogether, he advised tho Counoil to let that stand over for a few yoars, when sentiment would have less influenoe, and arrangements could bo made much more easily. The portion not yet used for interment should be given to the Corporation to be usod as it pleased He did not ccc bo w it could bo turned to a better purpose than that of recreation. Publio opinion, he gathered, was strongly against permitting burial within the oity to continue. The Government would agree to handing over the reserve subject to the protection of such -rights as the law now proteqted. In subsequent conversation, it was arranged that the Government should bring in the requisite legislation, the City Solioitor rendering aid where it was needed. For iuoh an unusually satisfactory result of a deputation to Ministers, tho Mayor and Councillors returned warm thanks to the Hob. Mr. Ballanoo.

George Thoaw & Co. will wit to-morrow, raft, 40.