EVANS BAY SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 125, 29 May 1930, Page 17

EVANS BAY SCHEME

HARBOUR RECLAMATION NO EARLY START v BATHING POOL QUESTION A published misstatement as to the intentions of-the Harbour Board in re-, epeet to its Evans Bay reclamation scheme was corrected by the, ...chairman- (Mr. J., W. M'Ewari). /at, list night's board meeting. The board's position in regard;-to the: scheme, said Mr. M'Ewan,;.would be fully-stated1 in: due-time. If-aijd whdil' the board' decided 40,'g0 on" .with any. reclamation . in Evans-Bay Jit woiiia 'fifst'of all begin; reclaiming -on the ! Mirainar-' side' between ..the ]iower station and ; the «nd the', board's present; seawall, -but \ there was no present intention of going on with, even that part of the wort-, "and any statements made to the effect that the baard' contemplated an early prosecution , ; of.; the Evans Bay reclamation scheme were ■without foundation. The present,position was that certain' representations were; made to\ the board by the^.City Council in regard to swimming facilities . in the bay; that the board on the.-2nd December last conveyed to the council its reply and offer of a fourteen years' lease,' but:that beyond a formal : acknowledgment, no answer had yet been received by the board from ? the City Council. : .'■". .!' ' J- .' , Mr. M'Ewan said that when, the reclamation, work was started the: City Council would have an opportunity :of acquiring an area sufficient for tlie purpose of a laTge bathing pool, and he liad no doubt the council would : not ignore tho fact that a, satisfactoryarrangement could be made with the board in the matter. /Boiled down,; the position was that;the board had considored ths question of reclaiming jmr--tion of the head'of Evans Bay. That might -bo.called the OSo'. 1 scheme. The Ho. 2 reclamation scheme- probably would hot be proceeded with.for.ls or •■26'•■■ years, and in the ■'■ meantime" ') the (jh'ildren of Kirbirnib/ could go on bathing as, at present. That was-we : opinion of officers of the board .who " were fully capable of estimating ? the future--needs-of Eyans Bay ; so i fares' shipping-' was: concerned. - ' .'/: S, MrV H. D. ■Bennett.-said'.he was glad ttier chairman had made the-statement* as the published 'article was, misehier-, (BUS. '•-•* •.--:-.■-.. ■..,;:;■; JLK- /UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION. • Further,' satisfaction.. was expressed : by; Mr. 0. H. Chapmaii, M 3?., who said' thefß would be BO' detriment.to ithe Aboard if it, offered the council;* leMe for^ bathing purposes. , , ... ■ . ■ Mr. •'Bennett: .."That has already teen.done." ' ' • ■ ' • -.''... ■; Mr., Chapman: "Yes, but subject-to : «n-.unsatisfactory condition that ; ; the council should vacate on six: month's» notice being,given." That .didinot aljow. sufficient time,'hesaid,; t6 justify the council: expending .money, on ;the bathing; poolil.He believed'..theije :t»as a {possibility of; a •'compromise -. bfeing reached in the,matter which".wonldibe eattsfactory to all concerned." . " '<■ 'Mr. A.' Fletcher opposed' th© ; idea of tfie board binding itself for a period/of fourteen years. He suggested..; that j if the council intended to spend money /on the erection of a shark-proof'enclosure compensation might be paid in' tlio event,of the board finding.it.nepesiary to reclaim the area, the. aanonnV^diniiiir ishing according ■to the / term ?of } aituai wseiof the area by the council. It (was' the duty of every good citizen, he said,1 ■ to'lielp the city in connection with, aiything that would, be {for- the :bett»rof the city. : " ; "I don't' agree that;w.e. shouldvtie ourselves' to . pay: anything^ at .any .tiiac," said' Mr. C. -M.vTurrell. >,'?! (don't agree'that beeauso we; have ito. resume our property- in a certain-period we should'have to pay the' council compensation. ,I: think it .'is.'possible,; we can safely say we won't want the area for'.;ten years, and ;give .a-"lease;for thatrtimc.^'': , i ,'■:■:■':■* i ■:,- PEEMANENT USE DEBIBBD. ; Mri, C. J; B. iNorwbbd said the: conn-, oil; had asked for -the permanent ;ns« of five acres of water. The six months'; notice applied to tho period which/:it was proposed to allow the council; to -agree :to the terms offered by lib* board. . ,-■■■ . ..,■; -~ ' ..-.-. i. >'■ Captain P. A. Macindo© suggested that- it should- be' pointed out to 'tlie. City Council that there were mor&;desirable: bathing places: than in Evans Bay; there were safer and cleaner, beaches just as conveniently sihi■*ted. ' ;-. . ;.;■ ; ' ' ' ; I" v The chairman: repeated that an offer had beeii made to the council in' December last in the matter of a.licence lor .14 years, but no reply had yet-been received. "The City.Conncirno:donbt will; reply in , due course,"; he : said, "and then we can further:discuss :matter.' J • : : ■ :