MIRAMAR PENLNSULA AS A PUBLIC PARK. AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 1, 1 July 1897, Page 5

MIRAMAR PENLNSULA AS A PUBLIC PARK. AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL.

The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. H. D. Bell) announced this week his intention of laying before the City Council a number of schemes of very considerable importance to this city Amongst them was a proposal for the purchase of the Miramar Peninsula, with the intention of converting it into a public park and recreation ground. The idea is a big one, and at fii>t glance, in view of the city's finances, seemingly an impossible one at present. From what has leaked out concerning it, however, it seems quite possible that the question of finance will not be a very serious matter in the vray Most people are aware that there is a strip of land encircling the city known as the Town Belt, which is set aside as a reserve for the benefit of the citizens. This reserve can practically only be used for purposes of recreation, and a large portion of it in the southern and eastern end of the city is of such a character that it has long been leased for grazing purposes, and in fact this has so far been its chief use. The proposal of the Mayor seems to be to obtain authority of Parliament to do away with this portion of the Town Belt as a reserve, aud to cut it up into building allotments. This would serve a twofold purpose. Firstly, the rents troiu the building sections would pay the interest on the money it would be necessary to raise for the purchase of Miramar Peninsula, and secondly, they would add to the ratable value of the city by providing much-needed building sites within its,, boundaries. At the present time people are being forced into the suburbs owing to the dearth of land in the city for building purposes. Of course one proposal hinges largely on the other. Unless Miramar Peninsula is purchased it is not at all likely that the ratepayers of the city will consent to the Town Belt Eeserves being built upon. It also remains to be seen whether the proposal as a whole will meet with their favour. Of course Newtown Park, which is a portion of the Town Belt, will not be touched, and Mount Victoria, we understand, is also protected. In purchasing tho • Miramar Peninsula the township sites upon it would not be included. Full details of the proposal will be laid before the City Council shortly, when the matter will be fully gone into.