BASIN RESERVE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 93, 16 October 1914, Page 6

BASIN RESERVE

THE PROPOSED ALTERATIONS AN OPPONENT TO THE ADOPTED SCHEME. Basin Reserve was twice under notice at the meeting of the City Council last evening. The first occasion was when a letter was received from Mr. W. TOnke, stating he had noticed that the council had carried a minor scheme for shifting a fence back, and it appeared to him that the work would ruin the reserve for its original purpose of recreation for the public, especially women and children. The proposal, he contended, would work into the bands of the Cricket Association. He had given the council notice by injunction in the Supreme Court, and had directed his legal adviser to proceed against the council granting the association an agreement for three years. Mr. Morton (the City Engineer) had contended that by talcing the corner off the Basin he could save 60 per cent, wear and tear on the tram-line, but in his (the writer's) opinion this was not so, as the curves round the Basin were fairly good, and far better than some others. The curve at the hotel (south) side and at the shop (north) side were bad, and it was there the improvements were wanted. This land could be bought and the ratepayers pay for it, in place of taking the children's playground and disfiguring the Basin. Should the council attempt to take any part of the reserve it would be absolutely necessary for it to obtain an Order-in-Council, to wHich the public would object and would have the power to stop the whole of the proposed work. The letter was "received." "A PLAYGROUND FOR A HUN« DRED YEARS." Later in the evening Councillor R. Fletcher, pursuant to notice, moved t "That the resolution passed by the Wellington City Council at a special meeting held on the 9th day of October, 1914, approving the scheme of * alterations to the Basin Reserve, as set out in the report of the City Engineer, dated 22nd September, 1914, and shown on plans signed by the City Engineer and dated 21st September, 1914, be rescinded." The mover, in addressing the council, said that the original scheme brought down by Mr. Morton was to cost £12.000, and included a grandstand and & children's playground. The modified scheme adopted at the last special meeting was estimated to cost £3000, of which sum the Carnival Committee had contributed £750, but the latter scheme would be only a "temporary arrangement," and, m addition, it would be necessary to erect a new grandstand costing from £4000 to £5000. This ' would mean a matter of £8000 or £9000 altogether, and he thought it would be far better to carry out the £12,000 i scheme in its entirety, as it would proI vide- a playground for children for the next hundred years, and do away with all fear of the cutting up of the Basin Reserve. It would be far better, if i they could not raise the money at present, to "earmark" the £750 until such time as sufficient funds could be raised to carry out the permanent scheme. Councillor M, Luckie rose to a point of order. Seven days' notice had not been given of the motion, and, as it was desirable for a full council to discuss the rescinding of any motion, tho discussion should be postponed. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) eaid that although he did not ■waut to prevent the matter from being discussed, he would — as Councillor Luckie persisted in his protest— have to rule the motion out of order, and it would lateP come up automatically for discussion.