THE PROPOSED RECREATION GROUND.

Hastings Standard, Issue 365, 6 July 1897, Page 3

THE PROPOSED RECREATION GROUND.

[To The Editor.] Sib, —The question of taking over the Queen's Park is in my humble opinion a step in the direction of making a successful flotation of a company to carry out the recreation ground proposal. If it were possible to purchase the Stortford Lodge property outright then I say don't look any further for a suitable ground; but tied up with restrictions and with no compensation for improvements it is not likely to be taken possession of as a leasehold. I have long considered the Queen's Park a splendid site for a recreation and pleasure ground, and a site that cannot be bettered in the town. With Hastings booming along as it must do in a year or two the property would become very valuable, and the amount spent on the cycling track, ttc., would tend to give a value to the many building sites which could be taken out of the property. A few rustic bridges might be made to span the lagoon, and we would have another Hagley Park, Christchurch's pleasure ground. A company with a capital of £I2OO will make a good investment, and shareholders might reasonably expect 8 per cent, on their outlay, leaving a large sum yearly to be expended on improvements. In floating a company speculators look to a fair return for their money, and Queen's Park will certainly give this. —I am &c., Old Sport.