WAITANGI GIFT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 257, 13 October 1932, Page 8

WAITANGI GIFT

PLANS FOB IMPROVEMENTS.

LOBD BLEDISLOE’S SUGGESTIONS

Wallington, Oct. 12. Tentative plan g tor tho development »f the site of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi which Lord Bledisloe presented to the nation were outlined by tho Governor-General in an address to tho Victoria League to-day. His Excellency made it clear that there was nothing definite about the proposals, as - he bill concerning the gift had not yet -•nine before Parliament. After referring to the growth of air mindedness,’’ His Excellency said that he and Lady Bledisloe had selected a spot as a landing ground for aeroplanes close to the old residency. Waitangi would thus be brought within a few hours of Wellington. Another thing which had been provisionally decided upon was the creation of an excellent golf course and the turning of the inlet of the sea into a lake of about 80 aeres simply by putting up a small fam. There would be native bush at the head of the lake and it was hoped to get waterfowl and other rare birds to settle, converting the property into n bird sanctuary. The creation of a small museum withtn the residency was also mentioned by Lord Bledisloe. He said it should contain a facsimile of the treaty, which already had been presented, portraits of the principal people concerned in the negotiation of the treaty, also suitable relics. People who possessed relics of the transaction might be persuaded to present them to this museum.