THE BASIN RESERVE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1903, Page 2

THE BASIN RESERVE.

CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE. "Onlooker" writer : — "In the Basin Reserve question public opinion, it is alleged, demands the new road. In this case public opinion is the clamorous voice of certain residents of Island Bay, Kilbirnie, Seatoun, and far-off Miramar, added to Newtown under the guidance of its political parsons, the main object being the saving of one minute in time and the paltry sum of £150 per annum or thereabouts, which expenditure of time and money is the cost of maintaining the Reserve intact and taking the electric tram round it. Let us, however, assume that power were now obtained to take the road through the Reserve to satisfy our suburban neighbours. What interest would they take in the preservation of the remaining portions of the Reserve? They 'have ample breathing-places — plenty of sea air and reserves — in their immediate neighbourhood. I doubt very much if, by selling or leasing the remaining portions of the Basin Reserve, the reserves in the suburbs within the new boundary could be added to and improved. Those whose voices are now called that of public opinion would waive their present profession of opposition to selling or leasing bhe remaining portions of the Reserve- after the taking of a road through, in favour of completing an act of vandalism." The attitude of those who are agitating for a road through the Basin Reserve is regarded by "Looking Forward" as a, most selfish position for the people of Newtown to assume. The one hundred and fifty yards, at most, of extra distance entailed by having to go round the Reserve is the only argument that can be adduced io warrant (^"irork being undertaken. It is c1!c 1 ! rubb sh to say that the corners will L t difficult for the electric trams to negotiate. Far woise corners will Have to bo de?Jt wifh. in other paits

of the city, such as Cuba-street into Manneis - street, Manners - street into Willivstreet, Hopper-street into Hankeystreet, etc. — in fact, all the other corners present more difficulties than those round the Reserve. All the proposed substitute grounds except one are in favour of tho Newtown residents. Russell-terrace and John-street reserves and Newtown Park are all in Newlown. All of the places mentioned, too, are too far from the main portion of the city to be availablo for daily practice for our cricketers and scholars attending the two colleges and four public schools in the vicinity, who use the Basin Reserve in large numbers, especially during the summer months. Kelburne, the other substitute, is a windriven spot and can never be made to take the place of the , Basin Reserve, being difficult of access, especially where people in large numbers would be likely to require it. The large number of people, especially in the crowded Te Aro and Cook Ward districts, are to be deprived of their only breathing-space. The space winch would be left each side of the proposed road would be anything but a nice place to go to for recreation. Children who might go there would be in consider^ able danger from the fact that the tram would be running right between these pocket-handkerchief "recreation" grounds. The fact of there being the two reserves will give rise to more risk, as children, like fowls, "always want to be in the other place."