A RECREATION GROUND FOR ISLAND BAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 151, 28 June 1901, Page 2

A RECREATION GROUND FOR ISLAND BAY.

PROPERTY UNDER OFFER. A fairly-attended meeting of ratepayers was held at. Island Bay last night to discuss a proposal for securing a recreation ground for the district. The Chairman (Mr. Brunskill) read the following -copy of a letter which had been sent by Mr. R. Keene to the Melrose Borough Council: — "In consideration of your taking, the necessary steps

at once to obtain the sanction of the ratepayers to your purchasing, the property at Island Bay known as the Island Bay racecourse, containing about 54 acres, recently purchased by me from Mr. Jacob Joseph, i hereby place under oSer to you irrevocably for the term of three months from the the date hereof the fee simple of the said' land for the sum of £19,500; or for a portion less about five acre 3 in the south-west corner £18,000; to be paid at the rate of 10 per cent, within, three months of acof the offer, and the balance on Completion of the-" 1 'traftsf er within six months after such acceptance, including 5 per cent, interest to date.' Mr. said that although, in his opinion, the price asked was too high by some £8000, the offer contained in the letter should be considered by the ratepayers, for a recreation ground had become a necessity. A motion was carried suggesting to the Council that £15,000 should be offered for the land, 1 and that if this offer be refused the Counoil should ascertain whether it had power to take the land under i the Public Works Act. 1 A committee was set Up to seek out and purchase a .piece of land suitable for recreation purposes shoitld the Council fail to secure the land under offer. Before adjourning, the meeting authorised the Chairman to circulate a petition to the Borough Council in favour of the resolutions carried at the meeting* Mr. Brunskill was also appointed convener of future meetings.