MIRAMAR PARK.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 148, 23 June 1906, Page 2

MIRAMAR PARK.

. . ■■♦ COUNCIL v. LAND COMPANY. A COMPROMISE AGREED TO. Miramar Park, or that piece of land which Miramar Limited was supposed to have set apart as a park for all time, was again a subject of discussion before the Miramar Borough Council last" evening. The trouble first arose through the council refusing to approve of certain roads proposed to be constructed through the northern end of the area, which it was stated had oviginallj been' set apart as a recreation ground. The details of the case were wt 0 »t m'tne 1 Post a few days ago. When the council met last ' evening, the Mayor (Mr. F. Towneend) said they had had a little flutter in connection with a piece of land proposed to be made a park. The councillors had ta*en up a position which no one could blame them forj nor did he think they were blamed. He thought the ventilation of the grievance had done a great deal of good. Since the last meeting of the council he had consulted with the Chairman of Miramar Limited (Councillor Wardell) and Mr. Morris, and he thought they had been able to come tp an understanding which would ba satisfactory to the whole borough and to the council. It 'w as > °f course, understood that it was never intended to give the proposed park to the council, but to make it' a private park. They had no power to compel Miramar Limited to dedicate the park to the council, nor would they nave any auch power through the compromise now suggested. He then read the following letter addrossed to the council by the company: — "At the outset let me say that in the attitude taken up by my directors in regard to the question of a park at Miramar, they have not lost sight of the interests of the borough, and in proof of this they are prepared to favourably consider the following proposal which has been discussed formally with his Worship the Mayor:— That conditionally on the council agreeing to the proposed plan of roading submitted by Messrs. Seaton and Sladden, and in addition thereto a crescent-ahaped road required to connect Matai-road and Totara-road, as well as a proposed cutting in the saddle between Olive Bay and the flat, Miramar Limited to agree to the following : — Dedication to private trustees as a private park of about 25 or 30 acres of land at present being laid off for that purpose, which will include two acres abutting on sections 37 and 38, block I, Matai-road. Conveyance to the council c^f an area of land for the purposo of water 6upply or otherwise, situated at the northen end of the estate, and which will include two gullies and the watershed thereof as far as it is on my company's land. At the tijne of writing I am unable to definitely ascertain the exact area of these gullies and adjoining land, but it must be 'admitted that it will be of much greater value to the borough than the hilly land which it was the intention of my directors to include in the park area; Miranlar Limited to have the right to call upon the council to extend the electric tramways beyond tho present terminus in Matairoad, provided the company defrays the cost incurred. This letter is, of cOuree, without prejudice, and I trust that the suggestions here made will be agreed to by your council at once so that further .delay in the operations of my company will be avoided. — Wm. C. Stephens, secretary. " The. idea of a watershed, the Mayor continued, was a very good one, and the piece of land now offered was a 6ite which several councillors had their eyes on' lor some -time. If (he land was not usedi by the council for the purpose suggested, it could be devoted to any other use thought fit. He thought the end the council had in view would be attained by accepting the proposal, which he had every confidence in recommending. In reply to a question by Councillor Witt, the Mayor repeated that the offer was a good one. "It should be taken "while it was warm." Councillor Wardell : That, is right. After a conversational discussion, Councillor Richards moved, and Councillor Witt seconded, "That the Mayor should be instructed to enter into an arrangement with the company on the lines suggested in the letter." This was agreed to.