BASIN RESERVE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 59, 11 March 1909, Page 2

BASIN RESERVE.

A FRAGMENT OF ITS HISTORY. By A. F. Wiren. (For The Post.) VI. As was fully set. forth in the preceding chapter, test-cases in the Resident Magistrate's Court and in tho Supreme Court disclosed a flaw in the deed of conveyance signed by the former Superintendent of the Province — a flaw so serious as to invalidate the transfer. But fortunately the Abolition of Provinces Act had made provision for such contingencies, all the rights and duties pertaining ro the obsolete office of Superintendent being now vested in the Crown. Naturally the matter, which intensely interested the citizens, was debated in the City Council, and the discussion was thus reported in the Evejiing Post of Ist August, 1884 :— "An interesting discussion took place at last night's meeting of the City Council, in reference, to tho relation of the corporation to the Basin Reserve, the city solicitor introducing the matter by recounting, in a somewhat elaborate report, tho steps recently taken by him to asaert the right of the Public Reserves Trusteed to prevent football from, being played on the ground. Mr. Martin explained the grounds on which the council had been defeated, both' in the Resident Magistrate's Court and the Supreme Court, and after pointing out that the corporation had now no control over the. Reserve, expressed his opinion that an Act of Parliament was not required to effect a/ thoroughly legal transfer of the property from the Crown to the council. „ "Councillor Fitzgerald urged that no delay should be allowed to take place in settling the difficulty. He moved : 'That a deputation, consisting of the trustees, the Mayor, and Councillor Newman, both of whom were members of Parliament, should be a deputation to wait on the Governor and ask him to declare tho trust.' He also thought that the deputation should try and meet the Cricketers' Association and the Football Union for the purpose of ascertaining whether some arrangement could not be come to with reference to the use of the Reserve by both bodies. "In seconding the motion, Councillor Banks said he should oppose any more money being spent on the Basin Reserve until the control of the property was properly vested in the council. The amount of money spent in improving the ground had been something considerable, and he did not think it was right that any particular section of the community should be now consulted as-to their interests. • "Councillor Wilson, who felt very strongly on the subject, thought football, cricket, and other games should bo prohibited, and the reserve set aside as a breathing-space for ladies, children, and others requiring a little healthy recreation. As things were at present, it was absolutely dangerous for women and children to go about the ground when cricket, football, and other games were proceeding. He thought the cricketers and footballers would be doing a good thing for themselves by obtaining a park of their own, "Councillor S. Brown thought the deputation should make 'the question of football and cricket an open one, and Councillor A. W. Brown expressed his opinion that the late trustees had done their best to carry out the wish of the council. "Councillor Maginnity thought that it was unnecessary to discuss the subject at any great length at present, as it would be necessary to get a Bill introduced into Parliament before the matter could be settled finally. "Councillor Pethcrick said that every word he had uttered on this subject a few weeks ago had proved true. When the question then came before the council the Mayor thought fit to brand him as ignorant, lazy, and unable to read a common deed. (Laughter.) He (the speaker) then said that the council would lose the case, and so it had proved. There were no such people as trustees, and every citizen had a right to do what he liked on the Reserve, so long as he did not do any damage. The council had no jjower whatever to prevent peoplo from using tho ground, and he should oppbse any special section being prohibited fr6m playing manly games upon it. When the subject was discussed before, some councillors thought they were up a tree, but they now found they were down at the roots." "Councillor Danks : You are wanting a cheap advertisement. (Laughter.) "Councillor Petherick : Nothing of the kind. I don't want to advertise myself. I think the Mayor exceeded his duty when he insulted mo about this matter. "Councillor T. M'Kenzie pointed out that the citizens had been placed in a yery peculiar position through the action of the footballers. The land now belonged to the Crown, and could be cut up and sold as building allotments if the authorities so desired. He thought the footballers had killed the goose that laid the golden eggs, and regretted they had done so. He did not see why the footballers should not make an effort to get a ground of their own. There were plenty of sites about the city. "Councillor Fitzgerald said that he thought some of the councillors had misconceived the purposes for which the Basin Reserve had been secured, and were therefore likely to do a grievous harm to the city. There was no other cricket ground in Wellington but the Basin Reserve, and there never would be. He disapproved of cricket and other manly games being stamped out, so that the reserve might be used as a dryingplace fo>* linen and as a playground for all the nursegirls in the neighbourhood, because he thought that every encouragement should be given the youth of the place to make themselves proficient in sports which had placed the English nation at tho head of all others in the world. The resolution was then put and carried." Councillor Fitzgerald, then junior partrffcr in the legal firm of Chapman and Fitzgerald, was one of the most popular find able of 'Wellington's public men of that day. He was a keen lover of football, too, and at the time of his death (which was caused by a chill whilst watching football at Newtown Park) was a vice-president of the Athletic and Poneke Football Clubs. His support of-the cricketers was an important testimony of their rights. A new deed of trust was prepared, and approved by the Governor on 25th September, 1884, and regulations providing for the use of the ground were gazetted on 18th December of that year. These regulations made cricket the leading game, and only when the Englishmen were here in 1888 has Rugby football been sanctioned. The matches with the Englishmen were hotly contested, the first ending in a draw, and the second in favour of our visitors, though in the second spell Wellington, owing to injuries, played two men short. During the progress of the first game a stylish young half-caste woman, about the middle of the second spell, was so carried away with excitement that sho called out from the pavilion : "Kill 'em all, Wellington j kill 'em all." Last winter the council allowed the i Association footballers and lady hockey players to use the ground. In my opinion, their play should cease in the I future at tho end of August, so that tha ground should ba lup^drdMed in en-dor to keep it in a proper condition. Tho

recent agitation in connection with the*proposal to run the trams through'' the ground need not be referred to, except' to say that cricketers and followers of the game were delighted with the ultimate result of these efforts. If tho grand old pastime is to flourish at all, and" our players are to keep pace with those of other cities, they must have a central field to serve as headquarters. The two fine grounds n,t Sydney and Melbourne, where the great test contests are played, were originally gifts from the civic authorities.